走る

• Reading: はしる
• Romaji: hashiru
• Kanji breakdown: 走 (sou/hashi) — to run
• Pronunciation: /ha.ɕi.ɾɯ/

Meaning

To run. The primary verb for running and moving quickly on foot.

A Group 1 (godan) intransitive verb with an r-stem. The te-form is 走って. Used for both exercise running and running to catch something. Can also describe vehicles moving (バスが走る). Note: despite ending in -iru, this is a Group 1 verb, not Group 2 — a common point of confusion for learners.

Examples

1. 毎朝三十分走ります。 I run for thirty minutes every morning.
2. バスに乗るために走った。 I ran to catch the bus.
3. 子どもたちが校庭を走っている。 The children are running around the schoolyard.

Usage Guide

Context: exercise, daily life, sports

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

From Old Japanese. The kanji 走 depicts a person with arms spread and legs in motion, directly illustrating the act of running.

Cultural Context

Era: Ancient

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal