How to say "piercing" in Japanese

• 貫通かんつうCommon
  noun, suru verb, transitive verb, intransitive verbCovers the physical sense of piercing: something actually going right through a material object, such as a bullet or a tunnel passing through a mountain. It is about penetration through a solid body, not about sharpness of sensation.
  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.
• 鋭いするどいJLPT N3approx.Common
  i-adjectiveCovers figurative piercing qualities: sharp or stabbing pain, an acute tone, a piercing gaze, or cutting remarks and criticism. It describes intensity or keenness perceived through the senses or felt in words, not literal penetration.
  ここに鋭するどい痛いたみがあります。↗

  I have a sharp pain here.

Use 貫通 for physical piercing through solid objects like tunnels or bullets, and 「鋭い」 for figuratively piercing sensations such as sharp pain, a piercing gaze, or cutting remarks.

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.)
• けたたましいpiercing
• ピアッシングpiercing
• 身を切るようみをきるようpiercing (cold)
• ピアスホールpiercing (esp. in the ear)
• ピアス穴ピアスあなpiercing (esp. in the ear)
• きんきんshrill
• ぐさぐさstabbing (repeatedly)
• 炯々けいけいglaring (eyes)
• 刺突しとつstabbing
• 絹を裂くようきぬをさくようshrill
• 凛冽りんれつbiting (cold)
• ぴんぴんpiercing (e.g. sound)
• 突貫とっかんpenetration
• 刺しさしstabbing
• 鋭いするどいsharp (pain, tone, etc.)
• 深々しんしんpiercing (cold)
• 串刺しくしざしpiercing (and killing; with a spear, etc.)
• ぷつりpiercing (e.g. with a needle)
• 凛々りんりんbiting
• 凛然りんぜんbitter (cold)