Translation guide
How to express 'break through' in Japanese, covering physical breakthroughs, overcoming barriers, and achieving breakthroughs in various contexts.
To forcefully pass through a physical barrier, such as a wall, door, or line of defense.
The most common and versatile verb for 'break through' in a physical sense, also used metaphorically.
敵の防御線を突破した。
We broke through the enemy's defensive line.
The police broke through the barricade.
Literally 'strike and break', implies forceful destruction of a barrier. Often used for breaking through doors, walls, or enemy lines.
消防士がドアを打ち破って中に入った。
The firefighters broke through the door and entered.
To thrust through, pierce, or break through by poking or stabbing. More specific than 突破する.
彼は壁を突き破って隣の部屋に出た。
He broke through the wall into the next room.
To overcome obstacles, limitations, or difficult situations, such as breaking through a plateau or a deadlock.
Also used metaphorically for overcoming difficulties, barriers, or limits.
やっと難関を突破した。
I finally broke through the difficult barrier.
売り上げが100万円の大台を突破した。
Sales broke through the 1 million yen mark.
To overcome, surmount. Focuses on getting past a difficulty rather than breaking it. Common for personal challenges.
To break a deadlock or find a way out of a difficult situation. Often used for stalemates or impasses.
交渉の行き詰まりを打開する必要がある。
We need to break through the negotiation deadlock.
To achieve a significant advance or discovery after effort.
The loanword 'breakthrough' is commonly used in scientific and technical contexts.
研究者たちはがん治療でブレークスルーを達成した。
The researchers achieved a breakthrough in cancer treatment.
To make epoch-making progress. A more formal Japanese expression for a breakthrough.
この発見は画期的な進歩を遂げた。
This discovery made a breakthrough.
To push one's way through a crowd or line of people.
To push one's way through a crowd by physically parting people.
彼は人混みを押し分けて進んだ。
He broke through the crowd.
Similar to 押し分ける, but implies a more vigorous pushing aside, often with hands.
To emerge or penetrate through a surface.
To pierce or break through a surface from one side to the other.
歯が歯茎を突き破って生えてきた。
The tooth broke through the gum.
氷を突き破って水に落ちた。
He broke through the ice and fell into the water.
General verb for tearing or breaking, can be used for breaking through thin surfaces like paper or fabric.
To penetrate the opponent's defense in sports.
Standard term for breaking through a defensive line in sports like soccer, rugby, etc.
彼はディフェンスを突破してシュートを決めた。
He broke through the defense and scored.
Literally 'slash through', used metaphorically for a player cutting through the defense with speed or skill.
彼のドリブルが相手の守備を切り裂いた。
His dribbling broke through the opponent's defense.
突破する implies actively breaking through a barrier, often with force or effort. 乗り越える focuses on getting over or past an obstacle, emphasizing the result of overcoming rather than the act of breaking. Use 突破する for physical or metaphorical barriers that are 'broken', and 乗り越える for difficulties that are 'surmounted'.
壊す (こわす) means 'to break' as in destroying or damaging something. It does not convey the sense of passing through a barrier. Use 突破する or other specific verbs instead.
彼は多くの困難を乗り越えて成功した。
He broke through many difficulties and succeeded.
彼女は群衆を掻き分けて前に出た。
She broke through the crowd to get to the front.
I broke through the paper and looked at the other side.