How to say "shoot" in Japanese

• 放つはなつCommon
  godan verb, transitive verbFor the verb sense of shooting, this covers firing a gun or an arrow, and figuratively firing questions at someone. It also means to hit, as in baseball, and to break wind.
  彼かれはその兵士へいしをねらって矢やを放はなった。↗

  He shot an arrow at the soldier.
• 芽めJLPT N3approx.Common
  nounThe botanical noun: a shoot is new growth on a plant, so this fits gardening or spring scenes. It also covers 'sprout' and 'bud', and has nothing to do with firing anything.
  木々きぎは芽めを出だし始はじめた。↗

  The trees are beginning to bud.
• 射るいるCommon
  ichidan verb, transitive verbThe verb for shooting arrows and the like: an arrow, bolt or dart aimed at a target. Picture an archer drawing a bow.
  あなたは私にとってヨーダのような存在そんざいでした、あなたの的まとを射いたアドバイスを恋こいしく思おもうでしょう。↗

  You were my Yoda and I'll miss your right-on-target advice.
• チェッCommon
  interjectionNot a verb at all: it renders the tongue-click of annoyance, the equivalent of saying 'Shoot!' or 'Darn!' when things go wrong. It has nothing to do with firing anything.
• 新芽しんめCommon
  nounAlso a plant noun: a shoot as fresh, newly emerged growth, the sort of bud or sprout that has just appeared. Like 芽, it is about plants, not about shooting.
  春はる、カキの新芽しんめがふき出だしたころのことを思おもうとすばらしい。↗

  It is wonderful to think of Spring, when the new buds of the persimmon burst forth.

For the verb, 「放つ」 covers firing guns and arrows (and questions), while 「射る」 is for shooting arrows and the like; for the plant noun choose 芽 or 新芽, and 「チェッ」 is only the exclamation 'Shoot!'.

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

• 放つはなつto fire (gun, arrow, questions, etc.)
• 芽めsprout
• 射るいるto shoot (arrow, bolt, dart)
• ちぇっtsk
• 新芽しんめsprout
• 撃つうつto shoot (a gun, person, etc.)
• 飛ばすとばすto let fly
• 苗条びょうじょうshoot
• 芽吹きめぶきbud
• 若枝わかえだyoung branch
• ぶっ放すぶっぱなすto fire (a gun)
• シュートshoot (of a tree or plant)
• 撮るとるto record (audio or video)
• 躍り出るおどりでるto jump (e.g. into first place)
• 走るはしるto flash (of lightning)
• 発するはっするto shoot (an arrow or bullet)
• 写すうつすto take (a photo)