ハグ
hagu[ha̠ɡɯ̟]
The English word 'hug' can be translated into Japanese as ハグ (hagu). Wiktionary also lists 抱擁 (hōyō).
Meaning: affectionate embrace (noun)
Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| ハグ | hagu | [ha̠ɡɯ̟] (narrow) |
| 抱擁 | hōyō | [ho̞ːjo̞ː] (narrow) |
The most common way to refer to a hug in daily conversation is ハグ.
Which one should you use?
ハグ is the common, informal term used in daily life. In contrast, 抱擁 is a more formal and literary term for 'embrace', often found in written works or more dramatic contexts.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
You can create a verb from the noun ハグ by adding する, resulting in ハグする.
How do you pronounce it?
hagu
Did you know?
- If you want to describe a hug that is specifically a 'squeeze' or a tight embrace, Japanese speakers often use the word ギュッとする (gyu-tto suru), which mimics the onomatopoeic sound of pressing something tightly.
- In Japanese, the concept of a hug is often expressed through the verb 抱く (idaku), which can mean to hold someone in one's arms, but it also carries the poetic meaning of 'to harbor a thought' or 'to cherish a feeling' in one's heart.
- In many Japanese contexts, rather than a full 'hug', people might use the phrase 肩を組む (kata o kumu), which means 'to put arms around shoulders', a common way for men to show camaraderie.
Examples in context
- ハグしない？How about a hug?This sentence shows how to suggest a hug using ハグ.Tatoeba #9777107 by small_snow, translation #2871763 by CK
- ハグしたい。I want to hug you.This sentence expresses a desire to hug using ハグ.Tatoeba #9944533 by small_snow, translation #9937317 by DJ_Saidez
- トムにハグして。Hug Tom.This sentence gives a command to hug someone using ハグ.Tatoeba #5955876 by tatoebane, translation #2203860 by CK
- 彼女に抱きしめられて、本当に幸せだと感じました。When she hugged me, I truly felt happy.
- 14 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Misaki and Kenta are saying goodbye at the station.
- 美咲 Misaki最後にもう一度ハグしよう。Saigo ni mou ichido hagu shiyou.Let's hug one more time at the end.
- 健太 Kentaいいよ。あー、寂しくなるな。Ii yo. Aa, sabishiku naru na.Sure. Ah, I'm going to miss you.
- 美咲 Misaki私も。最高のハグをありがとう。Watashi mo. Saikou no hagu o arigato.Me too. Thanks for the best hug.
- 健太 Kentaまたすぐに会おうね。Mata sugu ni aou ne.Let's meet again soon.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “hug” translations and entries ハグ, 抱擁, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
