Translation guide
The English verb 'blow' has several distinct meanings, from moving air to exploding. This guide covers the most common uses for learners.
To expel air from the mouth, often to cool something, play an instrument, or extinguish a flame.
General verb for blowing air from the mouth. Used for blowing on food, blowing out candles, playing wind instruments, etc.
I blew on the hot soup to cool it down.
彼はろうそくの火を吹き消した。
He blew out the candle.
Literally 'to blow breath onto something'. Used when the action is gentle or directed at a surface.
メガネに息を吹きかけて拭いた。
I breathed on my glasses and wiped them.
To describe the wind moving or causing something to move.
The same verb is used for wind blowing. The subject is the wind.
風が強く吹いている。
The wind is blowing strongly.
風で帽子が飛ばされた。
My hat was blown off by the wind.
To explode, burst, or be destroyed by an explosion.
Standard verb for 'to explode'. Used for bombs, gas, etc.
ガス管が爆発した。
The gas pipe blew up.
Means 'to burst' or 'to rupture', often for tires, balloons, or blood vessels.
タイヤが破裂した。
The tire blew out.
Intransitive verb meaning 'to be blown away' or 'to be blasted away', often by an explosion.
To clear mucus from the nose by blowing air through it.
The standard expression for blowing one's nose. Note: it uses 'かむ', not 'ふく'.
Do not use 吹く for blowing your nose; it sounds unnatural.
彼はハンカチで鼻をかんだ。
He blew his nose with a handkerchief.
To spend a lot of money quickly and often carelessly.
Means 'to use up money'. Can be used for blowing money.
彼は給料を全部使い果たした。
He blew his entire paycheck.
A somewhat formal term meaning 'to squander money' or 'to waste money'.
彼はパチンコで散財した。
He blew his money on pachinko.
To fail to take advantage of a chance or to ruin something.
Literally 'to miss a chance'. The most natural way to express blowing an opportunity.
彼は絶好のチャンスを逃した。
He blew a golden opportunity.
Means 'to ruin' or 'to spoil'. Can be used when someone ruins a situation.
彼は試験を台無しにした。
He blew the exam.
To leave a place quickly or abruptly.
Means 'to leave quickly'. Conveys the sense of blowing out of a place.
彼は会議からさっと立ち去った。
He blew out of the meeting.
Slang for 'to slip away' or 'to beat it'. Very casual.
彼はパーティーからずらかった。
He blew the party.
To produce sound by blowing into a whistle, horn, or similar device.
While 吹く covers many 'blow' meanings, it cannot be used for blowing your nose (鼻をかむ), blowing money (使い果たす), or blowing a chance (逃す). Always check the specific meaning.
爆発する is for violent explosions (bombs, gas), while 破裂する is for bursting due to internal pressure (tires, balloons).
風が落ち葉を吹き飛ばした。
The wind blew the leaves around.
面接を台無しにしたと思う。
I think I blew the interview.
The windows were blown out by the explosion.
He blew the horn.