Meet 動 in 動く and 動かす. The examples connect each word’s reading with a useful context.

The idea

動 has 11 strokes; follow their order in the linked KanjiVG diagram. Learn 動く（うごく） and 動かす（うごかす） as complete words: a character’s reading depends on the word.

Patterns to compare
Japanese wordReadingExample in context
動くうごくThis clock no longer works.
動かすうごかすI move the desk near the window.
動物どうぶつI saw pictures of animals in a library book.
運動うんどうI exercise every day for my health.

Examples

  • この時計とけいはもう動うごきません。This clock no longer works.
  • 机つくえを窓まどの近ちかくに動うごかします。I move the desk near the window.
  • 電車でんしゃがゆっくり動うごき始はじめました。The train began to move slowly.
  • 動物どうぶつの写真しゃしんを図書館としょかんの本ほんで見みました。I saw pictures of animals in a library book.
  • 健康けんこうのために毎日まいにち運動うんどうします。I exercise every day for my health.
  • このドアは自動じどうで開あきます。This door opens automatically.

Read-aloud uses a synthetic Japanese voice available on your device. Voice quality and availability vary; it does not assess your pronunciation.

Watch out

動く is intransitive: something moves. 動かす is transitive: someone moves something. 動物 means animal, not movement. Compare the shapes of 動 and 働; they are different characters.

Try it yourself

  1. Write the reading of 動く in hiragana.

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    うごく

    動く is read うごく. In context: This clock no longer works.

  2. Write the reading of 動かす in hiragana.

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    うごかす

    動かす is read うごかす. In context: I move the desk near the window.

  3. Write the missing kanji: ＿く（うごく）.

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    動

    動 completes 動く, read うごく. In context: This clock no longer works.

  4. Choose the form that fits: 机つくえを（動きます／動かします）。

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    動かします

    動かします. The desk marked by を is the object moved; 動かす takes an object, unlike 動く.

Use it today

Cover the table, write 動 from memory, read 動く and 動かす aloud, then make a sentence with one of them.