弾丸|だんがんdangan[0]heiban (flat)

1. nounbullet; shot; shell
   その犬いぬは弾丸だんがんのように去さった。↗

   The dog went away like a shot.

• Synonym銃弾じゅうだんNeutralSpecifically bullets fired from a gun, common in news reports as in 「銃弾を受ける」; unlike 「弾丸」 it does not cover artillery shells.
• Synonym鉄砲玉てっぽうだまCasualColloquial word for a gun bullet, plainer than 「銃弾」; also figuratively someone sent off never to return, as in 「鉄砲玉の使い」.
• Synonym銃丸じゅうがんWrittenWritten, old-fashioned word for a bullet, rarely seen today; say 「銃弾」 in everyday speech.
• Synonym砲丸ほうがんNeutralCannonballs or the metal ball in the shot put, as in 「砲丸投げ」; it never refers to bullets from a gun.
• Related玉たまNeutralCommon in speech, it covers balls, beads and the like as well as bullets; far broader in range than 「弾丸」.
• RelatedミサイルNeutralLoanword for a missile, typically a self-propelled, guided weapon; this sets it apart from 「弾丸」, a projectile simply fired off.
• Related弾道弾だんどうだんWrittenMilitary term for a ballistic missile; quite different from the ordinary bullets and shells 「弾丸」 covers.

「弾丸」 is the general term for bullets and shells, also in figures of speech like 「弾丸ツアー」. Use 「銃弾」 for gun bullets, common in news; 「砲丸」 for cannonballs and the shot put; 「ミサイル」 for missiles. 「鉄砲玉」 is colloquial, 「銃丸」 and 「弾道弾」 written; 「玉」 is much broader.

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

1. 古代こだい中国ちゅうごくで使用しようされた弾たま弓ゆみのたま。
2. 砲弾ほうだん、銃弾じゅうだんの総称そうしょう。
3. （弾丸だんがんが速はやく飛とぶことから）速はやいこと。急いそぐこと。