Translation guide
The English word 'breakthrough' can refer to a major advance or discovery, or to an act of breaking through a barrier. This guide covers natural Japanese expressions for both meanings.
Expressing a significant development, innovation, or discovery in science, technology, medicine, or other fields.
A common and natural way to say 'breakthrough' as a major advance. Literally 'epoch-making progress'.
これは医学における画期的な進歩だ。
This is a breakthrough in medicine.
Describing the literal action of breaking through a wall, barrier, or obstacle.
The most direct translation for breaking through a physical barrier, such as a wall or enemy lines.
Both mean 'breakthrough' in the sense of a major advance. 画期的な進歩 is a native Japanese phrase and sounds slightly more formal or academic. ブレイクスルー is a loanword and is very common in business and tech contexts, often used in news headlines.
この新薬は画期的な進歩です。
This new drug is a breakthrough.
ブレイクスルーを達成した。
We achieved a breakthrough.
While 突破 can be used metaphorically (突破口), it is not natural to say 突破 alone for a scientific breakthrough. Use 画期的な進歩 or ブレイクスルー instead.
The loanword from English, commonly used in business and technology contexts.
AIの分野で大きなブレイクスルーがあった。
There was a major breakthrough in the field of AI.
Literally 'breach' or 'opening', often used metaphorically for a breakthrough that opens the way to further progress.
その発見が問題解決の突破口となった。
That discovery became a breakthrough in solving the problem.
Literally 'great discovery', used when the breakthrough is specifically a discovery.
その研究者は物理学で大発見をした。
The researcher made a breakthrough in physics.
警察はバリケードを突破した。
The police broke through the barricade.
Literally 'smash and break', used for forcefully breaking through a barrier or defense.
敵の防御線を打ち破った。
They broke through the enemy's defensive line.
✕ 科学の突破
scientific breakthrough (unnatural)
○ 科学の画期的な進歩
scientific breakthrough (natural)
✕ 科学の突破
scientific breakthrough (unnatural)
○ 科学の画期的な進歩
scientific breakthrough (natural)