How to say "invasion" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- 侵入しんにゅうnoun, suru verb, intransitive verbThe broadest word for physically entering or intruding into a place — a building, property, network, or another's territory. For the invasion of a country as a political act, 侵略 or 侵攻 fits better.
- 侵攻しんこうnoun, suru verb, transitive verb, intransitive verbSpecifically the advance of an armed force into another country or territory; a military word. Use it for armies marching in, not for trespassing or abstract encroachment.
- 侵略しんりゃくnoun, suru verb, transitive verb, intransitive verbThe invasion of one country by another, viewed as an act of aggression; the word of history and politics. It carries a strong sense of condemning the invading side.
- 襲来しゅうらいnoun, suru verb, intransitive verbFrames an invasion as an attack descending on you: an enemy force or a calamity arriving at one's place. Seldom the neutral word for one country's invasion of another — that is 侵略 or 侵攻.
- 侵害しんがいnoun, suru verb, transitive verbNot a physical invasion at all: it means infringing or violating rights, interests, or privacy. English 'invasion' as in 'invasion of privacy' corresponds to this word, not to the military terms.
Use 侵略 for a country's invasion as an act of aggression, 侵攻 for a military advance into territory, 侵入 for intruding into a place, 襲来 for an attack or calamity arriving, and 侵害 for infringing rights.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
- 侵入しんにゅうinvasion
- 侵攻しんこうinvasion
- 侵略しんりゃくinvasion (e.g. of a country)
- 襲来しゅうらいinvasion
- 侵害しんがいinfringement
- 侵食しんしょくencroachment
- 侵犯しんぱんviolation (of foreign territory, rights, etc.)
- 来襲らいしゅう(incoming) attack
- 打ち込みうちこみdriving
- 進攻しんこうattack
- 侵襲しんしゅうinvasion
- 入冦にゅうこうinvasion
- 来攻らいこうinvasion
- 来冦らいこうinvasion
- 入寇にゅうこうinvasion
- 来寇らいこうinvasion
- 蚕食さんしょくencroachment
See also
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