Japanese word

衝突

Pronunciation

Romajishōtotsu

Meaning

  • nouncollision

Example

二台の車が衝突しました。ni dai no kuruma ga shō totsu shi ma shi ta

Two cars collided.

Illustration for 衝突 (collision)

More examples

雨の日は、車の衝突が起こりやすいので、いつもより車間距離を取ります。ame no hi wa kuruma no shō totsu ga o ko ri ya su i no de i tsu mo yo ri sha kan kyo ri o to ri ma su

Since collisions are more likely on rainy days, I leave more space than usual between my car and the one ahead.

Core concept

Describes a forceful meeting in which two moving sides strike each other or come into serious opposition.

Common phrases

  • 正面衝突shō men shō totsu

    a head-on collision

  • 衝突を避けるshō totsu o sa ke ru

    avoid a collision

  • 衝突が起きるshō totsu ga o ki ru

    a collision occurs

Similar words

激突gekitotsu: A forceful crash between moving objects or a fierce clash between opposing sides.
対立tairitsu: A condition in which people or groups are firmly opposed to each other.

Definition in Japanese

物や人などが激しくぶつかり合うこと。また、意見や立場が対立すること。mono ya hito na do ga hage shi ku bu tsu ka ri a u ko to ma ta i ken ya tachi ba ga tai ritsu su ru ko to

Word origin

衝突 (shōtotsu, "collision") is a Sino-Japanese compound of 衝 (shō, "to strike against") and 突 (totsu, "to thrust"), expressing a forceful meeting.

Usage tips

  • English uses "collision course" for two sides moving toward a likely conflict, so the phrase can describe politics or relationships without a literal crash.

Other meanings

  • crashnoun
  • conflictnoun

Related words

  • 衝突するshōtotsusurucollideverb

Word lists with this word