How to say "penetrating" in Japanese

• 貫通かんつうCommon
  noun, suru verb, transitive verb, intransitive verbThe common word for physical penetration: something such as a bullet or a tunnel going right through a solid object or barrier. Choose this for the concrete 'penetrating, piercing' sense.
  矢やが厚あつい板いたを貫通かんつうした。↗

  The arrow pierced the thick board.
• 看破かんぱ
  noun, suru verb, transitive verbCovers 'penetrating' only figuratively: seeing through someone's lies or reading their thoughts. It implies detecting what a person is concealing, not any physical passage through something.
• 通貫つうかん
  noun, suru verbAlso describes something piercing or perforating right through, the same physical territory as 貫通, but it is less common; for the physical sense, 貫通 is normally the word to reach for.
• 炯々けいけい
  taru-adjective, adverb (with と)Describes glaring, piercing eyes — 'penetrating' only in the sense of a gaze. It does not apply to physical penetration or to insight, and it is less common.
• 透徹したとうてつした
  prenominal modifierUsed of the mind: 'penetrating' in the sense of clear, lucid insight or thought that goes deep. It is less common and never describes physical penetration.

Take 貫通 for physical penetration such as a bullet or tunnel, 看破 for seeing through lies or thoughts, 炯々 for a piercing gaze, 「透徹した」 for lucid penetrating insight, and 通貫 only as a rarer synonym of 貫通.

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

• 貫通かんつうpassing through (of a tunnel, bullet, etc.)
• 看破かんぱseeing through (e.g. someone's lies)
• 通貫つうかんpiercing through
• 炯々けいけいglaring (eyes)
• 透徹したとうてつしたclear
• 穿ったうがったshrewd
• ぴんぴんpiercing (e.g. sound)
• 鋭いするどいkeen (intuition, sense of smell, etc.)