振ります（ふります、furimasu）
- to swing

The Japanese word 振ります (*furi-masu*) is a versatile verb with several related meanings, all revolving around the idea of “to wave,” “to shake,” “to swing,” or “to sprinkle.” Its specific meaning depends heavily on the context in which it's used. The base form is 振る (*furu*). The *masu* form is the polite form.

⚫︎ 手を振ります Translation: I wave my hand. ⚫︎ 塩を振ります Translation: I sprinkle salt. ⚫︎ 首を振ります Translation: I shake my head.

⚫︎ You use 振ります to describe the action of moving something back and forth, up and down, or side to side. ⚫︎ The object being moved or shaken is often specified by the particle を (*o*). For example, 手をを振ります (to wave one's hand), here 手 (*te* - hand) is the object. ⚫︎ 振ります can also describe the act of scattering or sprinkling something, such as salt or pepper, using the particle を (*o*) again. ⚫︎ It can also be used to express actions like shaking one's head in disagreement (using 首 *kubi* - neck, head) or swinging a bat.

⚫︎ The base form is 振る (*furu*). ⚫︎ The polite form is 振ります (*furi-masu*). ⚫︎ Kanji: 振. ⚫︎ Hiragana: ふります. ⚫︎ The okurigana is standard: 振る.

⚫︎ 揺らす (*yurasu*) - to shake, to rock, to sway (more general, often with gentle movements). ⚫︎ 揺する (*yusuru*) - to shake, to jiggle (similar to 揺らす, but often implies more vigorous shaking). ⚫︎ 振るう (*furuu*) - to wield, to brandish (used for things like swords or flags).

There isn't a direct antonym for 振ります because the meaning is so broad. However, consider the opposite actions: ⚫︎ 止める (*yameru*) - to stop, to cease. (if 振る means to wave). ⚫︎ 置く (*oku*) - to put, to place (opposite of sprinkling or scattering).

友達に会って手を振ります。 ・Translation: I wave my hand when I see my friend. ・Explanation: This sentence uses 振ります to describe waving.

料理に胡椒を振ります。 ・Translation: I sprinkle pepper on the dish. ・Explanation: Here, 振ります means to sprinkle.

The etymology is uncertain, but it is believed that 振る (*furu*) originally described the action of something moving to and fro or oscillating. The kanji 振 itself is composed of the radicals for "hand" (扌) and "to move" (辰), which reflects its meaning related to actions using the hand and other movements.