撫(な)でるto brush gently, to stroke, to caress

赤(あか)ちゃんの柔(やわ)らかい顔(かお)を撫(な)でる。

To stroke the soft face of a baby.

あなたが撫(な)でている猫(ねこ)は雄(おす)？それとも雌(めす)？

Is the cat you're patting male or female?

僕(ぼく)の父(ちち)には考(かんが)え事(ごと)をする時(とき)に顎(あご)を撫(な)でる癖(くせ)があります。

My father has a habit of stroking his chin when he's deep in thought.

いくら力(ちから)を込(こ)めて髪(かみ)を撫(な)でても、静電気(せいでんき)が収(おさ)まる事(こと)はなかった。

No matter how much I tried to vigorously stroke my hair, the static electricity wouldn't go away.

息子(むすこ)が小(ちい)さかった頃(ころ)は私(わたし)が息子(むすこ)の頭(あたま)を撫(な)でてあげないとよく泣(な)いていたものだ。

When my son was little, he would often cry unless I stroked his head.