Translation guide
The English word "gun" refers to a firearm. In Japanese, the most common and general word is 銃 (じゅう). However, there are specific terms for different types of guns, and some expressions are used in idiomatic or metaphorical ways. This guide covers the main ways to express "gun" in Japanese, from everyday use to technical and slang terms.
Referring to a gun in a general sense, such as a handgun, rifle, or any firearm.
The most common and general word for 'gun'. It can be used for any type of firearm.
He has a gun.
銃の所持は法律で規制されている。
Possession of guns is regulated by law.
A slightly older or more colloquial term for 'gun', originally meaning 'matchlock'. Still used in some contexts, like children's play or historical references.
子供たちが水鉄砲で遊んでいる。
The children are playing with water guns.
Loanword from English, used in some compound words or in contexts influenced by English, but not the primary word for 'gun'.
彼はガンコレクターだ。
He is a gun collector.
Referring to a particular kind of gun, such as a pistol, rifle, or machine gun.
Handgun or pistol. The standard term for a small firearm held in one hand.
警察官は拳銃を携帯している。
Police officers carry handguns.
Rifle. Loanword from English, commonly used.
Machine gun. A fully automatic firearm.
Shotgun. Literally 'scatter bullet gun'.
Air gun. Used for air rifles or airsoft guns.
Referring to a toy gun, water gun, or replica firearm.
Toy gun. A straightforward phrase.
子供がおもちゃの銃で遊んでいる。
The child is playing with a toy gun.
Water gun. Literally 'water gun', using the older 鉄砲 term.
夏祭りで水鉄砲を買った。
I bought a water gun at the summer festival.
Model gun. A realistic replica, often used by collectors.
Referring to a device that shoots something, like a glue gun or nail gun.
The suffix ガン is used for many tools that resemble or function like a gun, such as グルーガン (glue gun) or ネイルガン (nail gun).
グルーガンで接着する。
Glue it with a glue gun.
ネイルガンで釘を打つ。
Drive nails with a nail gun.
Expressions where 'gun' is used figuratively, such as 'jump the gun' or 'gun down'.
Equivalent to 'jump the gun', meaning to start too early. Literally 'do a flying (start)'.
彼はまたフライングをした。
He jumped the gun again.
To gun down or shoot at someone. A verb meaning 'to fire a gun at'.
警官は犯人を銃撃した。
The police officer gunned down the criminal.
To hold a gun to someone, literally 'thrust a gun at'.
強盗は店員に銃を突きつけた。
The robber held a gun to the clerk.
In English, 'gun' can be used as a verb (e.g., 'gun the engine'). This does not translate directly to Japanese. Use specific verbs like エンジンをふかす (rev the engine).
銃 is the modern, standard word for 'gun'. 鉄砲 is older and can sound childish or historical. Use 銃 in most situations, but 鉄砲 appears in words like 水鉄砲 (water gun) or 鉄砲玉 (bullet, or a person used as a pawn).
He sniped with a rifle.
機関銃の音が戦場に響いた。
The sound of machine guns echoed across the battlefield.
彼は散弾銃でクレー射撃をする。
He shoots clay pigeons with a shotgun.
空気銃で的を撃つ。
Shoot a target with an air gun.
彼はモデルガンのコレクションを持っている。
He has a collection of model guns.