How to say "strike" in Japanese

• 打つうつJLPT N4approx.Common
  godan verb, transitive verbThe general verb for hitting and striking, with knocking and beating also among its senses. When you simply mean to hit or strike something, this is the word to reach for.
  階段かいだんから落おちて背中せなかを強つよく打うちました。↗

  I fell down the stairs and hit my back very hard.
• ぶつJLPT N3approx.Common
  godan verb, transitive verbA verb for hitting a person; it also covers striking and beating. It is usually written in kana alone rather than with kanji.
  ぶたれて耳鳴みみなりがした。↗

  My ears were ringing from being beaten.
• 当たるあたるJLPT N3approx.Common
  godan verb, intransitive verbThe intransitive member of this group: for being hit, and for something striking against something else. Use it when the blow reaches you or an object, not when you deliver it yourself.
  私は顔かおに冷つめたい風かぜが当あたるのを感かんじた。↗

  I felt a cold wind on my face.
• 叩くたたくJLPT N3approx.Common
  godan verb, transitive verbStriking, hitting, beating and knocking, often with repeated blows: knocking on a door, beating a drum. Turn to this when the English sense is knock or beat rather than a plain hit.
  見知みしらぬ人ひとが玄関げんかんのドアをしきりにたたいた。↗

  A stranger beat urgently at the front door.
• 殴るなぐるJLPT N2approx.Common
  godan verb, transitive verbHitting a person: a punch, a beating. When the blow is aimed at someone to hurt them, this is the natural verb to use.
  ジョージは彼かれの腹はらを殴なぐった。↗

  George hit him in the stomach.

Use 「打つ」 for hitting or striking in general, 「叩く」 for knocking or beating, 「殴る」 for punching or beating a person, 「当たる」 for being hit or for one thing striking another, and 「ぶつ」 for hitting someone.

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

• 打つうつto hit
• ぶつto hit (someone)
• 当たるあたるto be hit
• 叩くたたくto strike
• 殴るなぐるto strike
• 擦るするto rub
• ストライクstrike (e.g. in baseball, bowling)
• ストstrike (i.e. industrial action)
• ストライキstrike (i.e. industrial action)
• ぶつけるto hit (e.g. one's head)
• 打撃だげきblow
• 根付くねづくto take root
• 掘り当てるほりあてるto strike (gold, oil, etc.)
• 殴打おうだhit
• 争議そうぎdispute
• 襲うおそうto attack
• ぶつかるto bump into
• 労働争議ろうどうそうぎlabor dispute
• 叩きつけるたたきつけるto throw violently against
• しばくto strike (with a stick, whip, etc.)
• 打突だとつstrike (kendo)
• どやしつけるto strike
• 同盟罷業どうめいひぎょうstrike
• 罷業ひぎょうstrike
• 打ち掛かるうちかかるto strike (at)
• 走向そうこうstrike
• ひっぱたくto slap
• 打ち鳴らすうちならすto ring (a bell)
• ぶっつけるto hit (e.g. one's head)
• 魚信ぎょしんbite (of a fish on a hook)
• 争議行為そうぎこういdirect action
• 打って掛かるうってかかるto attack
• 受け壺うけつぼpart of a lock that receives the latch
• 職場放棄しょくばほうきwalkout
• ショットshot
• 見舞うみまうto attack
• 突くつくto poke
• 闘争とうそうstruggle (for rights, higher wages, etc.)
• 擦り付けるこすりつけるto strike (a match)
• ぶっ飛ばすぶっとばすto send flying
• 挿すさすto plant (a cutting)
• 落ちるおちるto strike (of lightning)
• あたりbite (of a fish on a hook)
• 打ち出すうちだすto strike (a drum indicating the end of a performance)
• あてblow