Translation guide
The English word 'cracking' can refer to the process of breaking something with a cracking sound, the sound itself, or the act of solving a code or problem. This guide covers natural Japanese expressions for these meanings.
To describe the action of something breaking or being broken, often with a sharp sound, like cracking a nut, an egg, or a bone.
General verb for breaking or splitting something hard or brittle, such as an egg, nut, or glass. Often implies a cracking sound.
卵を割ってボウルに入れてください。
Please crack the egg into the bowl.
彼はクルミを割るのが上手だ。
He is good at cracking walnuts.
To crush or smash into pieces, often with force. Used for harder materials like ice or rocks, or metaphorically for breaking someone's spirit.
To cause something to develop cracks or fissures, like a wall or pavement. Emphasizes the resulting cracks rather than the action.
地震が壁をひび割れさせた。
The earthquake cracked the wall.
To describe the sharp sound itself, like a whip cracking, knuckles cracking, or thunder cracking.
Onomatopoeic phrase for a sharp cracking or snapping sound, like knuckles or a whip.
指をポキポキ鳴らすのは癖だ。
Cracking my knuckles is a habit.
鞭がパチンと鳴った。
The whip cracked.
To figure out a code, password, or difficult problem, often implying a breakthrough.
To decipher or decode a code, cipher, or encrypted message.
彼らは敵の暗号を解読した。
They cracked the enemy's code.
To tell a joke, especially in a casual or spontaneous way.
Standard phrase for telling a joke. Not specifically 'cracking', but the most natural equivalent.
彼はよく冗談を言ってみんなを笑わせる。
He often cracks jokes and makes everyone laugh.
To succumb to stress or pressure, losing composure or control.
To lose to pressure, give in. Common in sports and work contexts.
彼はプレッシャーに負けてミスをした。
He cracked under pressure and made a mistake.
The English phrase 'crack a joke' does not translate directly. Use 冗談を言う or ジョークを飛ばす instead of a literal verb for 'crack'.
冗談を言う
to crack a joke
割る is for splitting something along a natural line or with a single sharp action (eggs, nuts). 砕く implies crushing into many small pieces with force (ice, rocks).
I cracked the ice and made a cocktail.
Describes a loud, continuous cracking or tearing sound, like ice breaking or something being ripped apart.
氷がバリバリと音を立てて割れた。
The ice cracked with a loud noise.
To roar or resound, used for thunder or loud explosive sounds. Literary or dramatic.
雷鳴がとどろいた。
Thunder cracked.
To solve a puzzle, problem, or mystery. More general than 解読する.
その探偵は難事件を解いた。
The detective cracked the difficult case.
To break through security, a password, or a barrier. Often used in tech contexts.
ハッカーがパスワードを突破した。
The hacker cracked the password.
Casual phrase for cracking a joke, often implying a quick, witty remark.
会議中に彼がジョークを飛ばした。
He cracked a joke during the meeting.
To be mentally overwhelmed or beaten. More emotional nuance.
長時間の尋問で容疑者が精神的に参った。
The suspect cracked under the long interrogation.