移動

いどう

migration, movement

JLPT N3

Character Breakdown

Meaning and Usage

"移動" (いどう) primarily means "movement" or "migration" and is used to describe the act of moving from one place to another. It can refer to physical movement of people, animals, or objects.

Common Contexts

It is often used in everyday situations such as commuting, traveling, or relocating within a building or area. It also appears in scientific contexts, like studying animal migration or movement patterns.

Collocations and Patterns

  • 移動する: to move or relocate (common verb form)
  • 移動時間: travel or transit time
  • 移動手段: means of transportation
  • 移動中: while moving or in transit

Register and Nuance

"移動" is a neutral and formal noun, often used in written and spoken Japanese in both casual and professional contexts. It is more formal than casual verbs like "行く" (to go) when emphasizing the act of moving.

Common Mistakes

Learners sometimes confuse "移動" with "引っ越し" (moving house). "移動" is broader and can refer to any movement, not just changing residence. Use "引っ越し" specifically for moving homes.

Example Sentences

でんしゃでのいどうはべんりです。

Traveling by train is convenient.

かいぎしつへのいどうはエレベーターをつかってください。

Please use the elevator to move to the conference room.

どうぶつのいどうパターンをけんきゅうしています。

I am studying the movement patterns of animals.