How to say "attack" in Japanese

• 攻撃こうげきJLPT N3approx.Common
  noun, suru verb, transitive verbThe default word for an attack in nearly any sense — assault, raid, or onslaught — working as both noun and verb. When you simply mean 'attack', reach for this one.
  敵てきは夜よるに私達わたしたちを攻撃こうげきした。↗

  The enemy attacked us at night.
• 攻めるせめるJLPT N2approx.Common
  ichidan verb, transitive verbA verb for going on the offensive against an enemy, town, or position — pressing an attack rather than defending. Fits descriptions of warfare, sieges, or offensive play in games.
  彼かれは私にその問題もんだいをいかに攻せめるべきかについて教おしえてくれた。↗

  He enlightened me on how I should attack the subject.
• 襲うおそうJLPT N1approx.Common
  godan verb, transitive verbA verb for attacking a target directly, often by surprise or with force — raiding, assaulting, or pouncing, as when bandits strike a village or an animal goes after prey.
  奇妙きみょうな病気びょうきが町まちを襲おそった。↗

  A curious disease struck the town.
• アタックCommon
  noun, suru verb, transitive verb, intransitive verbThe loanword, heard mostly in sports and similar fields: an attack on the goal, a summit, or a record attempt. For a general or military attack, 攻撃 remains the usual choice.
• せめJLPT N1approx.Common
  nounA noun meaning attack or offence, contrasted with defence; by itself it is not the word you reach for to say 'attack' — for that, 攻撃 is the usual choice.

Use 攻撃 as the general word for an attack; 「攻める」 and 「襲う」 are verbs, for pressing an offensive and for striking a target respectively; 「アタック」 is the sports loanword; 「せめ」 is a marginal noun for offence.

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

• 攻撃こうげきattack
• 攻めるせめるto attack
• 襲うおそうto attack
• アタックattack
• せめattack
• やっつけるto beat
• 出撃しゅつげきsortie
• 発作ほっさfit
• 攻め込むせめこむto invade
• 襲来しゅうらいinvasion
• 進攻しんこうattack
• 討つうつto attack
• 殴り込みなぐりこみraid
• 討ち入りうちいりstorming (e.g. an enemy's castle)
• 攻略こうりゃくcapture (of enemy territory)
• 突撃とつげきcharge
• 非難ひなんcriticism
• 襲いかかるおそいかかるto attack
• 打って掛かるうってかかるto attack
• いてこますto attack
• 打ち寄せるうちよせるto break onto (shore)
• 討ち入るうちいるto storm (a house, castle, etc.)
• 襲撃事件しゅうげきじけんraid
• 凸るとつるto charge
• 凸するとつするto charge
• 襲撃しゅうげき(surprise) attack
• 来襲らいしゅう(incoming) attack
• 糾弾きゅうだんcensure
• 叩くたたくto attack
• 見舞うみまうto attack
• 切り込みきりこみraid
• 火の手ひのてattack
• 掛かりかかりattack (esp. a corner approach)
• 切り込むきりこむto cut one's way into (an enemy position)
• 飛ばすとばすto attack (e.g. with a leg manoeuvre)
• 突くつくto attack
• チャージcharge
• 仕掛けしかけchallenge