Ultimate Japanese Action Verbs for Kids: Dance, Jump & Sing Along
Action verbs bring language to life, especially for energetic learners. When children dance (踊る, odoru), jump (跳ぶ, tobu), and spin (回る, mawaru) in Japanese, they link movement to meaning. This guide turns verbs into a playful soundtrack for learning—no sitting still required!
Core Action Verbs
Introduce a handful at a time, pairing each with a gesture:
踊る (odoru, to dance)
跳ぶ (tobu, to jump)
走る (hashiru, to run)
歩く (aruku, to walk)
歌う (utau, to sing)
回る (mawaru, to spin)
Say the verb and perform the action together—「みんなで踊る！」 (Let’s all dance!)—so kids link word to movement instantly.
Activities & Games
Dance Freeze
Play a favorite Japanese children’s song. When the music stops, shout a verb—「跳ぶ！」—and everyone must jump in place. Restart the music, then pause again for a new action. This game sharpens listening skills and reinforces each verb.
Verb Charades
Write six action verbs on cards. Children draw one and silently act it out. Others guess the verb in Japanese—「走る！」 (run!)—practicing both recognition and pronunciation in context.
Practice Corner
Create a “Verb Jar” on a low shelf. Each morning, let a child pull a card—say, 歌う—and challenge the family to use that verb in a sentence or action at least five times throughout the day. Celebrate with stickers when they succeed.
After play, open Dinolingo for verb-focused follow-ups. One family plan unlocks 50+ languages and 40 000+ activities—animated movement videos, tracing drills, and surprise badges—organized by age band (2–5, 6–10, 11–14). Kids revisit each action verb through engaging mini-games while parents track real-time progress on an ad-free dashboard.
Final Thoughts
Moving to Japanese turns verbs into lasting memories. By dancing, jumping, and singing in another language, children absorb new words joyfully. Blend these active games with Dinolingo’s interactive reviews, and watch your little learners leap into Japanese with confidence.
Sources
- JapanesePod101 – The 100+ Most Common Japanese Verbs
- Tofugu – Introduction to Japanese Verbs