爆発する
bakuhatsu suru
The English phrase "blow up" is translated into Japanese as 爆発する (bakuhatsu suru).
爆発する is an intransitive verb used to describe the action of blowing up or exploding.
Meaning: to explode (intransitive) (verb)
Which one should you use?
While 爆発する is the standard term for an explosion, other terms exist for specific contexts. 破裂する is used specifically when referring to a sudden bursting or a rupture. If you are using "blow up" to describe a person losing their temper, you would use different terms depending on the register: 激怒する describes extreme rage, while the slang terms ブチギレる or キレる describe someone losing their temper or expressing frustration.
How do you pronounce it?
bakuhatsu suru
When do people say it?
When expressing personal emotional limits, the phrase もう爆発しそうだ can be used to mean "I feel like I'm going to explode."
Did you know?
- While 爆発する means 'to explode', the word 爆発 is often used in Japanese sports commentary to describe a sudden, massive surge in a player's scoring or performance.
- While 爆発する describes a physical explosion, the slang verb キレる comes from the verb 'to snap' or 'to cut'. It describes a person whose patience has 'snapped' like a string, causing them to lose their temper.
- The kanji for 'explode', 爆, contains the radical for 'fire' (火) on the left side. This visualizes the heat and combustion inherent in the concept of an explosion.
Examples in context
- 彼の怒りは爆発しました。His anger blew up.
- 爆弾が破裂しました。The bomb blew up.
- 彼はブチギレて怒鳴り散らしました。He blew up and started yelling.
- もうキレそうになっている。I'm about to blow up.
- ガスが爆発する。Gasu ga bakuhatsu suru.The gas explodes.
- 火山が爆発する可能性がある。Kazan ga bakuhatsu suru kanousei ga aru.There is a possibility that the volcano will explode.
Example conversation
Watching a movie with explosions.
- 陽太 Yotaあ、あそこで車が爆発するよ！a, asoko de kuruma ga bakuhatsu suru yo!Oh, the car is going to blow up over there!
- 陽葵 Himari本当だ、すごい迫力だね。hontou da, sugoi hakuryoku da ne.You're right, it's so powerful.
- 陽太 Yota今の爆発、本物みたいだった。ima no bakuhatsu, honmono mitai datta.That explosion just now looked real.
- 陽葵 Himari陽太、びっくりしすぎだよ。Youta, bikkuri shisugi dayo.Youta, you're too surprised.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “blow up” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
