Japanese word

開戦

Pronunciation

Romajikaisen

Meaning

  • nounstart of a war

Example

私は開戦の日を覚えています。watashi wa kai sen no hi o obo e te i ma su

I remember the day the war started.

Illustration for 開戦 (start of a war)

More examples

政府は開戦の理由を国民に説明しました。sei fu wa kai sen no ri yū o koku min ni setsu mei shi ma shi ta

The government explained the reason for starting the war to the people.

Core concept

Describes the point at which a war begins and peaceful relations give way to fighting.

Common phrases

  • 開戦を宣言するkai sen o sen gen su ru

    declare the start of a war

  • 開戦直後kai sen choku go

    immediately after the outbreak of war

  • 開戦前kai sen mae

    before the outbreak of war

Similar words

戦端sentan: The formal opening of hostilities between opposing sides.

Definition in Japanese

国家や勢力の間で戦争が始まること。kok ka ya sei ryoku no aida de sen sō ga haji ma ru ko to

Word origin

開戦 (kaisen) combines 開 (kai, "open") and 戦 (sen, "war or battle") to name the beginning of a war.

Usage tips

  • In historical and news writing, 開戦 (kaisen) is a formal term, whereas everyday speech more often says that a war starts.

Other meanings

  • outbreak of warnoun

Opposites

Word lists with this word