To Shake Something
To Wave Something, To Swing Something, To Break Up With Someone
transitive verb, godan verb
Because the hiragana ends with an う sound, you know this word is a verb. The kanji itself means shake and this verb is transitive, meaning that you're shaking something. So this verb means to shake something, to wave something, or to swing something. You'll often see it paired with 手, as in 手を振る, meaning "to wave one's hand" or, as we'd usually say in English, simply "to wave".
This word can also be used when you shake someone off in the less physical way, as in to break up with someone.
Since this word consists of a kanji with hiragana attached, you can bet that it will use the kun'yomi reading. You didn't learn that reading with this kanji, so here's a mnemonic to help you:
Someone is trying to shake something. And unfortunately, that something is you. The most unfortunate thing here is that you're totally full (ふる), and you throw up because of the shaking (and you're full, gross!).
よく振ってから飲んでください。
Please shake it well before drinking.
赤ちゃんがバイバイと手を振るのが可愛かったです。
It was cute when the baby waved goodbye.
うちの犬は、私を見るといつも思いっきりシッポを振るんですよ。
My dog always wags its tail vigorously when it sees me.
コウイチは首をたてに振ったが、ビエトは首を横に振った。
Koichi nodded his head, but Viet shook his head.
「彼に振られたなんて信じられない。」「あんた、浮気してたんでしょ。自業自得だよ。」
"I can’t believe he broke up with me." "You cheated on him. You had it coming."