漕ぎ出す

• Reading: こぎだす
• Romaji: kogidasu
• Kanji breakdown: 漕 (sō/ko) — to row, paddle; 出 (shutsu/da) — to exit, set out
• Pronunciation: /ko.ɡi.da.sɯ/

Meaning

To set sail; to row out from shore; to launch; to embark on a new venture. Carries a sense of courageous departure into the unknown.

A Group 1 (godan) compound verb (漕ぐ + 出す). Literally means to row or paddle a vessel away from shore. Figuratively used for embarking on a new project, career, or life phase — the image being one of pushing off from familiar ground into open, uncertain water. Often implies a decisive, courageous commitment at the start of something significant.

Examples

1. 小舟に乗り込み、静かな湖へと漕ぎ出した。 They boarded a small boat and rowed out onto the calm lake.
2. 彼女は未知の分野に向かって果敢に漕ぎ出す覚悟を決めた。 She resolved to boldly venture into an unfamiliar field.
3. 起業という荒波に漕ぎ出すには相当の覚悟が必要だ。 Launching into the rough seas of entrepreneurship requires considerable resolve.

Usage Guide

Context: boating, new ventures, entrepreneurship, exploration

Tone: courageous

Origin & History

Compound of 漕ぐ (to row or paddle) and 出す (to go out, set out). The kanji 漕 combines the water radical (氵) with a component evoking the working of oars.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal