Translation guide
This guide covers how to express the action of breaking something open in Japanese, including splitting, cracking, prying, and bursting open. It focuses on natural verbs and phrases for different objects and situations.
To break open something with a hard shell or rind by applying force, often to access the inside.
General verb for breaking or splitting something hard or brittle, such as eggs, nuts, or glass. Transitive.
卵を割ってください。
Please break open the egg.
彼はクルミを石で割った。
He cracked open the walnut with a stone.
Intransitive counterpart of 割る; something breaks open or cracks on its own or from an external force.
落として卵が割れた。
I dropped it and the egg broke open.
To smash or break open by striking, often with a tool. More forceful than 割る.
ハンマーで岩を叩き割った。
He smashed open the rock with a hammer.
To open something that is stuck, locked, or sealed by applying leverage or force.
To pry open or force open using a tool or leverage. Commonly used for doors, windows, lids.
泥棒は窓をこじ開けた。
The burglar pried open the window.
缶詰をこじ開けるのに苦労した。
I struggled to pry open the can.
To break open by pushing forcefully, often used for doors or barriers.
彼はドアを押し破って部屋に入った。
He broke open the door and entered the room.
To tear or break through something like paper, cloth, or a seal. Can imply breaking open a sealed container.
To break open suddenly due to internal pressure or a sharp object.
To burst or rupture. Used for balloons, tires, blood vessels, etc. Intransitive.
風船が破裂した。
The balloon burst open.
To be torn or ripped open; can be used for bags or paper bursting. Intransitive.
袋が破れて中身が落ちた。
The bag burst open and the contents fell out.
To burst open from being stretched too much; often used figuratively for emotions, but literally for things like overfilled bags.
To forcibly open something that is locked or sealed shut.
To break a lock; somewhat technical or formal.
鍵をなくしたので、錠を破錠した。
I lost the key, so I broke open the lock.
To break a seal; used for official seals or metaphorical barriers.
彼は封印を破って手紙を読んだ。
He broke the seal and read the letter.
Use 割る for brittle objects that crack or split (eggs, glass). Use こじ開ける when you need to apply leverage to force something open (doors, lids).
The English phrase 'break open' is often not translated as a single word. Choose the verb based on the object and the type of action (splitting, prying, bursting).
I tore open the envelope and took out the contents.
袋が張り裂けそうだ。
The bag is about to burst open.