Translation guide
The English word 'spike' has several distinct meanings. This guide covers the most common ones for learners: a sharp point, a sudden increase, and a sports action. It also touches on specialized uses like track shoes and volleyball.
A sharp, pointed object or projection, like on a fence or a shoe.
Loanword from English, commonly used for spikes on sports shoes or sharp metal projections.
彼はスパイクを履いて試合に出た。
He wore spikes for the game.
Refers to thorns, splinters, or sharp points on plants or objects. More general than 'spike' but often used for small sharp projections.
この植物にはとげがある。
This plant has spikes.
Means 'needle' or 'spine'. Can be used for very thin, sharp spikes like those on a porcupine.
ハリネズミの針は鋭い。
A hedgehog's spikes are sharp.
A sharp, temporary rise in something like prices, numbers, or activity.
Means 'sudden increase' or 'surge'. Commonly used for spikes in statistics, cases, or demand.
感染者数が急増した。
There was a spike in the number of infections.
Verb form of the loanword, used in contexts like data spikes or electrical surges.
アクセスが急にスパイクした。
Access suddenly spiked.
Means 'jump up' or 'leap', often used for sudden price hikes.
In volleyball, to hit the ball forcefully downward into the opponent's court.
The standard term for a spike in volleyball. Also used as a verb with する.
彼は強烈なスパイクを決めた。
He made a powerful spike.
Literally 'to hit a spike', a common verb phrase.
彼女は高い打点からスパイクを打った。
She spiked the ball from a high point.
Shoes with metal or plastic points on the sole for grip, used in sports like track and field.
Full term for spiked shoes. Often shortened to スパイク.
彼は新しいスパイクシューズを買った。
He bought new spikes.
Short for スパイクシューズ, commonly understood in context.
A style where hair stands up in sharp points.
Describes hair styled to stick up sharply. ツンツン is an onomatopoeia for something prickly or spiky.
彼は髪をツンツンに立てている。
He has his hair spiked up.
Loanword from English 'spiky hair', used in fashion contexts.
スパイキーヘアが流行った。
Spiky hair was trendy.
While スパイク is used for data spikes, in many natural Japanese sentences, verbs like 急増する or 急上昇する are preferred. Using スパイクする can sound like technical jargon.
交通事故が急増した。
Traffic accidents spiked.
Literally 'sudden rise', often used for prices, temperatures, or graphs.
株価が急上昇した。
Stock prices spiked.
物価の跳ね上がりが問題だ。
The spike in prices is a problem.
スパイクを履いて走る。
Run wearing spikes.