How to say "arms" in Japanese

• 兵器へいきJLPT N1approx.Common
  nounCovers 'arms' as military hardware: weapons and ordnance viewed as the equipment of armed forces. Typical contexts include arms production, arms exports, and nuclear arms.
  核兵器かくへいきを全面的ぜんめんてきに禁止きんしして初はじめて、兵器へいき競争きょうそうを止とめさせることができる。↗

  Only by prohibiting nuclear weapons altogether can we stop the arms race.
• 武器ぶきJLPT N3approx.Common
  nounThe all-purpose word for a weapon: any means of attacking or defending, from a single gun or blade to military arms. It also works figuratively, as when a strength is called one's weapon.
  その軍隊ぐんたいは十分じゅうぶんな武器ぶきを持もっていた。↗

  The troops had plenty of arms.
• 武装ぶそうJLPT N1approx.Common
  noun, suru verb, intransitive verbCovers 'arms' as being armed or equipping with weapons: arming oneself, taking up arms, armament. It fits contexts like armed uprisings or a nation's armaments — the arming rather than the hardware itself.
  彼かれらは銃じゅうで武装ぶそうした。↗

  They armed themselves with guns.
• 実力じつりょくJLPT N2approx.Common
  nounFor 'arms' it covers only force: armed strength brought to bear rather than negotiation. Its core meaning is real ability or effectiveness, so it is seldom the word you want for weapons.
• 矛ほこCommon
  nounNames a specific weapon — a long-shafted, blade-tipped spear. As a translation of 'arms' it is marginal: reach for it only when the spear itself is meant, not for arms in general.

Choose 武器 for weapons in general, 兵器 for military hardware and ordnance, 武装 for arming oneself or taking up arms, 実力 only for force as against negotiation, and 矛 for the spear itself.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• 兵器へいきarms
• 武器ぶきweapon
• 武装ぶそうarms
• 武具ぶぐarms
• 甲兵こうへいarms
• 兵仗ひょうじょうarms
• 上肢じょうしupper limbs
• 剣戟けんげきweapons
• 兵戈へいかswords
• 干戈かんかweapon
• 弓箭きゅうせんbow and arrow
• 実力じつりょくarms
• 矛ほこweapon
• 弓矢ゆみやweapon