1.
to row; to paddle
To propel a boat through water using oars or paddles.
湖でボートを漕いだ。
I rowed a boat on the lake.
川を上るためにオールを漕いだ。
I rowed the oars to go upstream.
授業中に舟を漕いでいる学生がいた。
There was a student nodding off during class.
舟を漕ぐ is an idiom for dozing off, from the head-nodding motion resembling rowing.
2.
to pedal
To operate a bicycle or swing by moving one's legs.
自転車を一生懸命漕いで坂を上った。
I pedaled hard and climbed the hill.
子供がブランコを漕いでいる。
The child is swinging on the swing.
向かい風の中、自転車を漕ぐのは大変だった。
Pedaling the bicycle into the headwind was tough.
漕ぐ is a transitive verb (他動詞) used for rowing boats or pedaling bicycles/swings.
ASPECT (ている):
漕いでいる indicates rowing or pedaling is ongoing.
PARTICLE PATTERNS:
- [boat]を漕ぐ — to row [boat]
- [bicycle]を漕ぐ — to pedal [bicycle]
COMMON PATTERNS:
- 舟を漕ぐ (row a boat)
- 自転車を漕ぐ (pedal a bicycle)
- ブランコを漕ぐ (swing on a swing)
- オールを漕ぐ (row with oars)
IDIOMATIC:
船を漕ぐ when describing someone's head nodding while dozing (head moves like rowing motion).
OFTEN IN HIRAGANA:
This verb is frequently written as こぐ.