How do you say "run" in Japanese?

走る

hashiru

Verb Kanji

In Japanese, "run" is 走る (hashiru).

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Pronunciation

Hashiru has three even syllables, ha-shi-ru, with a soft rolled r closing the word rather than a hard English one.

Writing and usage

走る is written using kanji. It's a verb, and this word is also taught inside the Noun Town language learning game, where it appears in interactive lessons alongside hundreds of other everyday words.

Example sentence

毎朝公園でランニングをしています。

maiasa kouen de ranningu woshiteimasu.

I run in the park every morning.

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How to remember 走る

Hashiru contains 'hash', as in hashing out a fast pace, since running is exactly what hashiru means.

Related words

Browse all Japanese words in the glossary.

Questions about 走る

How do you pronounce 走る?

Hashiru has three even syllables, ha-shi-ru, with a soft rolled r closing the word rather than a hard English one.

Is 走る formal or casual?

走る is a neutral, everyday word that works in both casual and polite speech. The level of formality comes from the sentence structure around it, not from the word itself.

How is 走る written in Japanese?

走る is written using kanji. Romanised, it reads as hashiru.

Where can I practice Japanese words for free?

You can play free Japanese minigames in your browser on the Noun Town online games page, with no sign-up needed. Every word in the Japanese glossary also has native audio and an example sentence you can revisit any time.

"Run" in other languages

Curated by Jack Ratcliffe

This word is part of the vocabulary taught in the Japanese language learning game Noun Town, where words are introduced through play rather than memorisation. Want to play the full game? Get Noun Town on Steam.

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