How to say "gunfire" in Japanese

• 砲火ほうかCommon
  nounGunfire in the sense of cannon or artillery fire — the heavy guns of an army rather than handheld firearms. Typical of descriptions of warfare, where troops come under fire from artillery positions.
  敵てきは我々われわれの砲火ほうかに応酬おうしゅうした。↗

  The enemy answered our fire.
• 銃火じゅうかCommon
  nounGunfire from firearms such as rifles and pistols, as opposed to artillery. The word for the shooting in a firefight or shootout, where two sides exchange gunfire.
  指揮官しきかんは部下ぶかを銃火じゅうかにさらした。↗

  The commander exposed his men to gunfire.

Both words mean gunfire in battle, but they differ in the weapon: 砲火 is the fire of cannons or artillery, while 銃火 is the fire of guns such as rifles — choose according to the weapon firing.

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

• 砲火ほうかgunfire
• 銃火じゅうかgunfire
• 発砲音はっぽうおんsound of a shot
• 鉄火てっかgunfire