Japanese word

武装

Pronunciation

Romajibusō

Meaning

  • nounarms

Example

兵士たちは武装を解きました。hei shi ta chi wa bu sō o to ki ma shi ta

The soldiers laid down their arms.

Illustration for 武装 (arms)

More examples

政府は住民の自衛のための武装を認めています。sei fu wa jū min no ji ei no ta me no bu sō o mito me te i ma su

The government permits residents to arm themselves for self-defense.

Core concept

Centers on having weapons ready as protection or preparation for fighting.

Common phrases

  • 武装を解除するbu sō o kai jo su ru

    disarm

  • 武装を解くbu sō o to ku

    lay down one's arms

  • 武装を強化するbu sō o kyō ka su ru

    strengthen one's armaments

  • 武装を放棄するbu sō o hō ki su ru

    abandon one's arms

Similar words

装備sōbi: The equipment, including weapons, carried or used by a person or group.
兵装heisō: The weapons and military equipment carried by a ship, aircraft, or military unit.
軍備gunbi: The military forces and weapons maintained by a state.

Definition in Japanese

戦闘のために武器を身に着けたり備えたりすること。また、そうして戦える状態にあること。sen tō no ta me ni bu ki o mi ni tsu ke ta ri sona e ta ri su ru ko to ma ta sō shi te tataka e ru jō tai ni a ru ko to

Word origin

武装 (busō) is a Sino-Japanese compound of 武 (bu, "martial") and 装 (sō, "equip"), linking military force with the equipment used for it.

Usage tips

  • In English, arms meaning weapons is normally plural, as in the fixed expression take up arms, while an individual weapon is usually called a weapon.

Other meanings

  • arming oneselfnoun

Opposites

  • 非武装hibusōunarmed statusnoun

Related words

  • 武装するbusōsuruarm oneselfverb
  • 武装化busōkamilitarizationnoun
  • 再武装saibusōrearmamentnoun

Word lists with this word