Translation guide
The English word "bust" has several distinct meanings. This guide covers the most common uses for learners: a sculpture of a person's head and shoulders, a woman's chest, a police raid, and the verb meaning to break or fail. Each meaning has different Japanese equivalents.
Referring to a sculpture or statue depicting a person's head, neck, and upper chest.
The standard term for a bust sculpture. Used in art and formal contexts.
美術館にベートーベンの胸像が展示されている。
A bust of Beethoven is on display at the art museum.
Literally 'half-body statue', can refer to a bust but is less common than 胸像. Sometimes used for portraits from the waist up.
その彫刻家は有名な政治家の半身像を制作した。
The sculptor created a bust of a famous politician.
Referring to a woman's breasts, often in contexts of clothing size or informal speech.
Common loanword used for bust size, clothing measurements, and in fashion contexts. Neutral and widely understood.
彼女はバストが大きい。
She has a large bust.
このドレスのバストサイズを測ってください。
Please measure the bust size of this dress.
General word for chest or breasts. Can be used in everyday conversation but is broader than just 'bust'.
Slang/informal term for breasts, similar to 'boobs'. Used casually among friends or in very informal settings. Not appropriate in polite conversation.
Very informal; avoid in formal or professional contexts.
Referring to a police operation to catch criminals or seize illegal items.
Common term for a police raid or crackdown, especially on illegal activities like gambling or drugs.
警察が違法カジノに手入れを行った。
The police conducted a bust on an illegal casino.
Refers to the exposure or uncovering of illegal activity, often resulting in arrest. Used for busts of operations like drug manufacturing.
Slang term for a police raid or search. Derived from 'search' (ガサ). Used in crime dramas or informal talk.
To break something, or to cause a plan, system, or person to fail.
General verb for breaking physical objects. Can also be used metaphorically for ruining plans or relationships.
彼は怒って椅子を壊した。
He got angry and busted the chair.
そのスキャンダルが彼のキャリアを壊した。
The scandal busted his career.
To cause something to fail, like a plan or attempt. More formal than 壊す for non-physical things.
彼のミスが計画を失敗させた。
His mistake busted the plan.
To cause a system, organization, or plan to collapse or go bankrupt. Stronger and more formal.
不正会計が会社を破綻させた。
The accounting fraud busted the company.
When something breaks down, fails, or goes bankrupt by itself.
Intransitive verb for something breaking or becoming broken. Used for machines, objects, and metaphorically for plans.
To fail, for plans, attempts, or endeavors. Common and neutral.
事業が失敗した。
The business went bust.
To collapse or go bankrupt, used for companies, systems, or relationships. Formal.
銀行が破綻した。
The bank went bust.
The English word 'bust' covers many unrelated concepts. Always identify the intended meaning before choosing a Japanese equivalent. Using バスト for a sculpture would be incorrect, and 胸像 for a woman's chest would be strange.
壊す is transitive (someone breaks something), while 壊れる is intransitive (something breaks by itself). Choose based on whether there is a direct actor causing the breakage.
警察が麻薬組織を摘発した。
The police busted the drug ring.
このドレスのためにバストを測らないといけない。
I need to measure my bust for this dress.
その会社はスキャンダルの後、破綻した。
The company went bust after the scandal.
Having a large bust makes my shoulders stiff.
You have a big bust, huh.
麻薬工場が摘発された。
A drug lab was busted.
Apparently there was a bust at the neighbor's house yesterday.