Translation guide
The English word 'breaker' has several distinct meanings. This guide covers the most common ones for learners: a large wave, a circuit breaker, and a person or thing that breaks something.
Referring to a wave that breaks into foam on the shore or rocks.
A wave that breaks, often used in poetic or descriptive contexts.
砕け波が岩に当たっている。
Breakers are hitting the rocks.
The crest of a wave, often used when it's breaking. More literary.
白い波頭が立っている。
White breakers are rising.
A descriptive phrase meaning 'breaking wave'. More straightforward than 砕け波.
海岸に砕ける波の音が聞こえる。
I can hear the sound of breakers on the shore.
An electrical safety device that interrupts the flow of current.
The standard loanword for an electrical circuit breaker in a home or building.
ブレーカーが落ちた。
The breaker tripped.
ブレーカーを上げてください。
Please flip the breaker back on.
Technical term for a circuit breaker, used in engineering contexts.
Someone or something that breaks objects, rules, records, etc.
Japanese often forms agent nouns by combining a verb stem with a noun. For 'breaker' in the sense of one who breaks something, use ～破り (for abstract things like rules, records) or ～壊し (for physical breaking).
A formal term for 'destroyer' or 'breaker', often used in serious contexts.
In many cases, it's more natural to describe the action rather than use a noun like 'breaker'. For example, 'He is a breaker of promises' becomes 'He often breaks promises'.
彼はよく約束を破る。
He often breaks promises. (He is a promise breaker.)
The loanword ブレーカー only refers to an electrical circuit breaker. For a breaking wave, use 砕け波 or a descriptive phrase.
✕ 海にブレーカーが見える。
Intended: I can see breakers in the sea. (Incorrect)
◯ 海に砕け波が見える。
I can see breakers in the sea.
この遮断器は高電圧用です。
This breaker is for high voltage.
彼は秩序の破壊者だ。
He is a breaker of order.