Translation guide
How to express 'break wind' (fart) in Japanese, from polite to casual.
Express the act of passing gas in a neutral or everyday context.
The most common and neutral way to say 'fart'. Literally 'do a fart'. Suitable for most situations.
すみません、おならをしてしまいました。
Sorry, I broke wind.
赤ちゃんがおならをした。
The baby farted.
Literally 'a fart comes out'. Often used when it happens involuntarily or to describe the fact that gas is passing.
お腹が張って、おならが出そう。
My stomach is bloated and I feel like I'm going to break wind.
A very casual, somewhat vulgar expression. Used mainly among close friends or in rough speech.
誰か屁をこいた？
Did someone break wind?
Refer to breaking wind in a more polite or indirect way, suitable for formal situations or when you want to be discreet.
Literally 'gas comes out'. A common euphemism, often used in medical or polite contexts.
お腹にガスがたまって、ガスが出ました。
Gas built up in my stomach and I passed gas.
Formal, technical term for 'break wind'. Used in medical or scientific contexts.
食後に放屁することがあります。
I sometimes break wind after meals.
Describe the sound or smell associated with breaking wind.
The sound of a fart.
おならの音が大きかった。
The sound of the fart was loud.
The smell of a fart.
おならの匂いがきつい。
The fart smells strong.
The English phrase 'break wind' is an idiom. Do not translate it literally as 風を壊す (kaze wo kowasu), which means 'break the wind' and is nonsensical in Japanese.
おなら (onara) is the standard, polite word. 屁 (he) is crude and should be avoided in polite company. おならをする is the safest choice for learners.