Japanese word

拳銃

Pronunciation

Romajikenjū

Meaning

  • nounhandgun

Example

博物館で拳銃を見ました。haku butsu kan de ken jū o mi ma shi ta

I saw a handgun at the museum.

Illustration for 拳銃 (handgun)

More examples

映画の撮影では、拳銃の模型が使われています。ei ga no satsu ei de wa ken jū no mo kei ga tsuka wa re te i ma su

A model handgun is used in film production.

Core concept

Refers to a firearm compact enough for direct use in the hand rather than from the shoulder.

Common phrases

  • 拳銃を撃つken jū o u tsu

    fire a handgun

  • 拳銃を抜くken jū o nu ku

    draw a handgun

Similar words

ピストルpisutoru: A widely used loanword for a relatively small firearm held in the hand.
短銃tanjū: A bookish or official term for a compact hand-held firearm.
ハンドガンhandogan: A recent loanword used as a neutral term for a firearm operated by hand.

Definition in Japanese

手に持って使用する小型の銃。te ni mo tte shi yō su ru ko gata no jū

Word origin

拳銃 (kenjū, "handgun") is a Sino-Japanese compound of 拳 (ken, "fist") and 銃 (jū, "gun"), linking the weapon to hand use.

Usage tips

  • English uses handgun as a neutral category term in expressions such as handgun safety and handgun training.

Other meanings

  • pistolnoun

Word lists with this word