The Meaning of hakadoru [捗る] In Japanese

捗る
はかどる
Romaji: hakadoru N3

What does 捗る mean?

Translation and Meaning

to progress, to go smoothly, to advance

Definition

What does 捗る mean? It means to make progress on a task or project as work proceeds smoothly and efficiently. The term conveys momentum and productive movement in ongoing effort, whether at work, study, or planning, indicating activities are moving forward effectively.

Type

verb (godan)

Stroke Order

Meanings

  • to make steady progress on a task or project, especially when momentum builds
  • to describe productivity gains resulting from good organization, routine, or favorable conditions
  • to indicate that a plan, study schedule, or workflow is advancing smoothly

Composition

  • 捗 meaning: progress or advancement; the left-hand hand radical suggests action by hand, while the right-side component contributes the sense of movement forward, together conveying active effort yielding forward momentum

Usage

Used in both formal and casual contexts to describe progress on ongoing tasks, projects, studying, or planning. Typical grammar places が after the subject (subject が 捗る), and the expression often appears in productivity reports, project updates, and study planning notes.
💡 Tips
Mnemonic: imagine the left hand actively driving tasks forward; link the sound hakadoru with hand-on-work momentum to recall that progress comes from active effort.

Variations

  • 進む (susumu) — to proceed or advance
  • 順調に進む (junchō ni susumu) — to progress smoothly
  • 滞る (todokōru) — to stagnate, the opposite sense

Example Phrases

  • 資料を整理すると 作業が 捗る ので 効率が上がる。
    Shiryō o seiri suru to sagyō ga hodoru node kōritsu ga agaru.
    Organizing materials makes the work progress smoothly, so efficiency improves.
    Lista:
    • 資料を整理すると (Shiryō o seiri suru to) – If you organize materials
    • 作業が (sagyō ga) – the work
    • 捗る (hodoru) – progresses smoothly
    • ので (node) – so
    • 効率が上がる (kōritsu ga agaru) – efficiency improves
    Core grammar: 「捗る」 is an intransitive verb; here 作業が「捗る」 describes the work progressing smoothly.
捗る