1.
to wave, to swing
To move something back and forth.
手を振る。
To wave one's hand.
犬が尻尾を振って喜んでいる。
The dog is wagging its tail happily.
電車が出ると、ホームにいた子どもたちが大きく手を振った。
When the train departed, the children on the platform waved their hands widely.
2.
to shake, to sprinkle
To scatter by shaking.
塩を振る。
To sprinkle salt.
焼き魚にレモンを絞って塩を振った。
I squeezed lemon and sprinkled salt on the grilled fish.
料理の仕上げに胡椒を少し振ると、風味がぐっとよくなる。
Sprinkling a little pepper as a finishing touch greatly improves the flavor.
振る is a godan verb meaning to wave, shake, or sprinkle.
CONJUGATION:
振らない (neg), 振ります (polite), 振って (te-form), 振った (past)
COMMON EXPRESSIONS:
- 手を振る: to wave (one's hand)
- 首を振る: to shake one's head (disagreement)
- 尻尾を振る: to wag one's tail
- 塩を振る: to sprinkle salt
- サイコロを振る: to roll dice
- 振り向く: to turn around
DON'T CONFUSE:
- 振る: to wave, shake (transitive)
- 降る: to fall (rain/snow) (intransitive)
RELATED COMPOUNDS:
- 振動: vibration
- 振替: transfer, exchange