How to say "explosion" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- 爆発ばくはつnoun, suru verb, intransitive verbThe general word for an explosion as an event — something going off with a bang, as a bomb or gas cylinder does. When you just mean that an explosion happened, this is the word.
- 爆破ばくはnoun, suru verb, transitive verbThe deliberate act of blowing something up with explosives — blasting rock or demolishing a structure. It names the operation, not the bang, so it is not the word for an accidental explosion.
- 破裂はれつnoun, suru verb, intransitive verbBursting or rupturing — a tire, pipe or balloon giving way under pressure. Though glossed 'explosion', it is not the word for a bomb going off; use it when something tears apart rather than detonates.
- 急増きゅうぞうnoun, suru verb, transitive verb, intransitive verbThe figurative 'explosion': a rapid increase or surge in numbers, as of population or demand. It has nothing to do with blasts, so never use it for a literal explosion.
- 起爆きばくnoun, suru verb, intransitive verbA technical word for triggering a detonation — setting an explosive off. It names the act of initiation, not the blast itself, so it is seldom the word you want for an explosion.
Use 爆発 for an explosion as an event, 爆破 for deliberately blasting something up, 破裂 for bursting under pressure, 急増 for a figurative surge in numbers, and 起爆 for technically triggering a detonation.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
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