手榴弾
shuryūdan[ɕɨɾʲɨːdã̠ɴ]
The English phrase "grenade" is translated into Japanese as 手榴弾 (shuryūdan). Wiktionary also lists 擲弾 (tekidan) and 榴弾 (ryūdan).
Meaning: small explosive device (noun)
Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 手榴弾 | shuryūdan | [ɕɨɾʲɨːdã̠ɴ] (narrow) [te̞ ɾʲɨːdã̠ɴ] (narrow) |
| 擲弾 | tekidan | [te̞kʲidã̠ɴ] (narrow) |
| 榴弾 | ryūdan | [ɾʲɨːdã̠ɴ] (narrow) |
| グレネード | gurenēdo |
The term for a small explosive device varies depending on whether you are referring to a hand-thrown weapon or heavy artillery, and whether you are using native Japanese vocabulary or a loanword.
What does it mean word for word?
The word 手榴弾 (shuryūdan) is composed of 手 (hand), 榴 (a type of pomegranate/explosive-sounding kanji) and 弾 (projectile/bullet).
Which one should you use?
手榴弾 is the standard Japanese term. In contrast, グレネード is a katakana loanword often used in video games or modern military contexts. Finally, 榴弾 specifically refers to artillery shells or heavy explosive projectiles, whereas 手榴弾 refers to a hand-thrown grenade. The form 擲弾 is also a way to refer to a grenade.
How do you pronounce it?
shuryūdan
Did you know?
- The kanji 榴 in 手榴弾 refers to a pomegranate, because the fruit's shape and the way it bursts open resemble an exploding grenade.
- It is historically unclear whether the term 手榴弾 was originally coined in Japan and borrowed by China and Korea, or if it originated in China first.
- The word 榴 is rarely used in modern Japanese outside of the word for pomegranate and terms related to explosive shells.
Examples in context
- 僕には手榴弾がある。I have a grenade.This sentence shows the use of 榴弾 to mean a grenade.Tatoeba #1117800 by Scott, translation #1117802 by Scott
- 兵士から5メートル離れてグレネードが爆発した。The grenade exploded five metres from the soldiers.This sentence shows how to use the loanword グレネード.Tatoeba #4562563 by Kiraness, translation #4580215 by pinkfreud
- 彼は手榴弾を投げた。Kare wa shudangan o nageta.He threw a grenade.
Example conversation
Two friends are playing a realistic combat video game.
- 結衣 Yuiあそこに手榴弾があるよ！Asoko ni shudangan ga aru yo!There is a grenade over there!
- 健太 Kenta結衣、伏せて！Yui, fusete!Yui, get down!
- 結衣 Yui健太、危なかったね。Kenta, abunakatta ne.Kenta, that was close.
- 健太 Kenta本当にびっくりしたよ。Hontō ni bikkuri shita yo.I was really surprised.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “grenade” translations and entries 手榴弾, 擲弾, 榴弾, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 手榴弾, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
