“To fly” in Japanese is 飛ぶ (とぶ), pronounced tobu.
Pronunciation
The word has 2 beats (morae), each about the same length. Tap a syllable to hear it, or play the whole word:
How to use it
To fly (of birds and planes), and also to jump.
Example sentences
- 鳥が飛んでいます。とりがとんでいます。Birds are flying.
- 飛行機が飛びました。ひこうきがとびました。The plane took off.
Conjugation
The most useful forms of 飛ぶ. The rules are explained in Japanese verbs: the ます form.
| Form | Japanese | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Dictionary (plain) | 飛ぶ とぶ | fly |
| Polite present | 飛びます とびます | fly |
| Polite negative | 飛びません とびません | don’t fly |
| Polite past | 飛びました とびました | past of “fly” |
| Plain negative (ない) | 飛ばない とばない | don’t fly (casual) |
| Plain past (た) | 飛んだ とんだ | past of “fly” (casual) |
| て-form | 飛んで とんで | fly and… / please fly (+ください) |
| Want to (たい) | 飛びたい とびたい | want to fly |
Quick practice
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Which word means “to exist (things)”?
Related words: Everyday verbs
押すto push引くto pull運転するto drive踊るto danceあるto exist (things)いるto exist (people & animals)食べるto eat飲むto drink
FAQ
How do you say to fly in Japanese?
To fly in Japanese is 飛ぶ (とぶ), pronounced “tobu”.
How do you write to fly in Japanese?
It's written 飛ぶ with kanji, or とぶ in hiragana. Both are read tobu.
Is 飛ぶ on the JLPT?
Yes. 飛ぶ (tobu) is a common word at JLPT N4 level, so it's worth learning early.