Japanese symbol for “move”
動かす
うごかす
Romaji: ugokasu
to move; to shift; to stir; to budge
In Japanese, move is 動かす, read うごかす (ugokasu).
Before using these characters for a tattoo, check them with a native speaker. Dictionary words often have several meanings, and the right choice depends on context.
Meanings
- v5s, vt to move; to shift; to stir; to budge; to change position
- v5s, vt to inspire; to rouse; to move (e.g. feeling); to influence
- v5s, vt to change; to alter; to deny
- v5s, vt to operate; to set in motion; to get going
- v5s, vt to mobilize (e.g. troops); to mobilise; to deploy
- v5s, vt to manage (e.g. funds)
Kanji and stroke order
Other Japanese words for “move”
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 動き | うごき ugoki | movement; move; motion |
| 技 | わざ waza | technique; art; skill |
| 手 | て te | move (in go, shogi, etc.) |
| 引っ越す | ひっこす hikkosu | to move (house); to change residence |
| 移住 | いじゅう ijuu | migration; move; emigration |
Related words
Words that share a kanji.
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 活動 | かつどう katsudou | activity (of a person, organization, animal, volcano, etc.); action; operation |
| 行動 | こうどう koudou | action; conduct; behaviour |
| 運動 | うんどう undou | exercise; physical training; workout |
| 動物 | どうぶつ doubutsu | animal |
| 移動 | いどう idou | movement; transfer; migration |
| 自動 | じどう jidou | automatic |
See also: Chinese symbol for “move”.
Data: JMdict (CC BY-SA 4.0); KANJIDIC2 (CC BY-SA 4.0); KanjiVG (CC BY-SA 3.0); wordfreq (CC BY-SA 4.0 (data)). Retrieved 2026-10-22.