動かします（うごかします、ugokashimasu）
- to move (transitive)

The Japanese verb 動かします (うごかします) means "to move," "to operate," "to run," or "to activate" something. It implies the action of causing something to change its position, function, or state. It is the polite or formal form of the verb 動く (うごく), which means "to move" or "to work" (intransitive – something moves by itself). 動かします is a transitive verb, meaning it requires a direct object (the thing being moved or operated). The 動かします action is often deliberate and involves an external force or agent causing the movement.

⚫︎ 車を動かします。 Translation: I move the car. ⚫︎ 機械を動かします。 Translation: I operate the machine. ⚫︎ 心臓を動かします。 Translation: I move (or make the) heart beat (figuratively).

⚫︎ Use 動かします when you are performing the action of moving, operating, or activating something. ⚫︎ The subject of the sentence (the "doer") would typically be a person or entity capable of causing the movement. ⚫︎ It is the polite form, appropriate for formal situations or when speaking to someone you respect. ⚫︎ Follow 動かします with the direct object marked by the particle を. ⚫︎ Remember to conjugate the verb appropriately for tense and politeness. For example: * 動かしました (うごかしました) - moved/operated (past tense, polite) * 動かさない (うごかさない) - will not move/operate (negative, informal) * 動かしますか (うごかしますか) - will you move/operate? (question, polite)

⚫︎ The base form is written as 動かす (うごかす) in dictionary form. ⚫︎ The polite form, 動かします, is written in hiragana as うごかします. ⚫︎ The kanji 動 (dō/ugoku) means "to move," and かす is a verb ending indicating a causative or transitive form. ⚫︎ The okurigana (hiragana following the kanji) is かします. There are no other ways to write the verb with different okurigana.

⚫︎ 動かす (うごかす) - the plain (informal) form of the verb. ⚫︎ 運転する (うんてんする) - to drive (a vehicle). ⚫︎ 操作する (そうさする) - to operate/manipulate. ⚫︎ 起動する (きどうする) - to start up/activate (a machine or system).

⚫︎ 止める (とめる) - to stop/halt. ⚫︎ 動かない (うごかない) - does not move/is not operating. (the negative form of 動く)

エンジンを動かします。 ・Translation: I start the engine. ・Explanation: This sentence describes the action of operating the engine of a car or machine.

そのスイッチを動かしてください。 ・Translation: Please flip/activate that switch. ・Explanation: This is a polite request to activate a switch. It uses the imperative form of 動かす, adding ください (kudasai) which means "please".

The verb 動かします is derived from the verb 動く (ugoku - to move), combined with the causative suffix -す (-su), which transforms the intransitive verb into a transitive one. The origin of the kanji 動 (dō/ugoku) itself comes from combining the radicals for "power" or "effort" with "heavy object" or "work", suggesting the essence of motion, force and action.