How to say "impulse" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- 衝撃しょうげきnounFor 'impulse' in the physical sense — the force of a blow, collision, or sudden impact. It also means shock, but it is not the word for a sudden urge to act; that is 衝動.
- 衝動しょうどうnounThis is the word for 'impulse' as a sudden inner urge that drives a person to act, often without planning — the urge to buy something on the spot, for instance.
- 思いつきおもいつきnounHere 'impulse' is a whim: an idea or plan that pops into your head, often half-formed. Acting on this kind of impulse means acting offhand, on whatever suddenly occurred to you.
- 刺激しげきnoun, suru verb, transitive verbCovers 'impulse' in the sense of a stimulus or spur — something that prompts action, effort, or growth from outside. It is not a sudden urge of one's own; for that, see 衝動.
- nounCovers 'impulse' via momentum: the force a moving object or unfolding situation carries, and, by extension, doing something on the spur of the moment. Usually written in kana alone.
Use 衝動 for a sudden urge to act, 衝撃 for physical impact or shock, 「思いつき」 for a whim or offhand idea, 刺激 for a stimulus that prompts action, and 「はずみ」 for momentum or the spur of the moment.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
See also
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