Translation guide
Describes something wide open, often in a way that is striking, empty, or shocking. Covers physical openings like holes and mouths, as well as figurative gaps.
Describing a physical opening that is large, deep, or conspicuously open.
Describing a mouth that is open wide, often due to surprise, yawning, or figurative hunger.
Describes a mouth hanging open in surprise or bewilderment. ぽかん is an onomatopoeia for a dazed or stunned expression.
彼はその光景に口をぽかんと開けて見入っていた。
He stared at the scene with his mouth gaping.
Describing a large and conspicuous difference or emptiness in non-physical contexts, such as wealth, knowledge, or logic.
Means 'a wide gap' or 'great disparity'. Used for differences in opinion, income, or understanding.
両者の間には、まだ大きな隔たりがある。
There is still a gaping divide between the two sides.
An adverb often used with 開く (あく) to describe something opening wide, like a hole or gap. Conveys a sense of emptiness or suddenness.
地面にぽっかりと穴が開いていた。
There was a gaping hole in the ground.
Literally 'widely opened'. A straightforward way to describe something gaping, like a wound or entrance.
大きく開いた傷口から血が流れていた。
Blood was flowing from the gaping wound.
A noun meaning 'fissure' or 'gaping crack', often used for tears in fabric, earth, or skin.
壁に大きな裂け目ができていた。
There was a large gaping crack in the wall.
Literally 'open one's mouth wide'. Can be used for yawning, eating, or figurative greed.
ライオンが大口を開けてあくびをした。
The lion yawned with its mouth gaping.
Onomatopoeic expression for a mouth wide open in shock or amazement. Slightly more vivid than ぽかん.
そのニュースを聞いて、みんなあんぐりと口を開けた。
Everyone's mouth gaped open when they heard the news.
Refers to a gap in status, income, or quality. Often used in social or economic contexts.
貧富の格差が広がっている。
The gap between rich and poor is widening (gaping).
Means 'blank' or 'void'. Can describe a gaping hole in a story, memory, or record.
彼の経歴には大きな空白がある。
There is a gaping hole in his career history.