Translation guide
How to express the idea of 'breaking into' in Japanese, covering physical forced entry, starting a new field or career, and interrupting.
To enter a building, room, or vehicle illegally or by force.
The most common verb for breaking into a building to commit a crime like robbery. Often used in news reports.
昨夜、銀行に強盗が押し入った。
Last night, a robber broke into the bank.
A more formal term for illegal entry or trespassing. Used in legal contexts and news.
不審者が学校に侵入した。
A suspicious person broke into the school.
To pry open or force open a door, window, or lock. Emphasizes the physical act of breaking the barrier.
泥棒は窓をこじ開けて家に入った。
The thief broke into the house by prying open the window.
To break through or tear down a barrier. Can be used for breaking into a fortified place, but less common for burglary.
敵が城壁を破って侵入した。
The enemy broke through the castle walls and invaded.
To enter a profession, industry, or market, especially when it is difficult.
To enter a market or industry. Common in business contexts.
新興企業がスマホ市場に参入した。
A startup broke into the smartphone market.
To make inroads into a market or field, often implying gaining a foothold against established players.
その会社は海外市場に食い込もうとしている。
That company is trying to break into overseas markets.
To carve out or pioneer a new path, career, or field. Emphasizes creating opportunities where none existed.
To debut or make one's first appearance in a field like entertainment or sports. Borrowed from English.
彼は去年プロの世界にデビューした。
He broke into the professional world last year.
To suddenly start speaking or join an ongoing conversation or activity.
To cut in or interrupt a conversation, line, or activity. Can be used for both physical and verbal interruption.
彼は話に割り込んで自分の意見を言った。
He broke into the conversation and gave his opinion.
To interject or butt into a conversation. Literally 'insert one's mouth'. Slightly less forceful than 割り込む.
会議中に彼が口を挟んだ。
He broke into the discussion during the meeting.
To cut someone off or interrupt them while speaking. Emphasizes stopping the other person's flow.
To suddenly begin doing something, often involuntarily.
Attach to the masu-stem of a verb to mean 'break into doing' or 'suddenly start'. Very common for actions like laughing, crying, running.
彼女は突然笑い出した。
She suddenly broke into laughter.
子供たちは走り出した。
The children broke into a run.
Also means 'start doing', but less sudden than 〜出す. More neutral for beginning an action.
彼は急に歌い始めた。
He suddenly broke into song.
押し入る implies a crime is being committed (robbery, assault), while 侵入する is a broader term for trespassing or illegal entry, not necessarily involving theft or violence.
空き巣が家に押し入った。
A burglar broke into the house.
ハイカーが私有地に侵入した。
Hikers trespassed on private property.
破る means 'break through' or 'tear down' and is too dramatic for a simple break-in. Use 押し入る or こじ開ける instead.
泥棒が窓をこじ開けた。
The thief broke open the window.
彼女は女性として初めてその分野を切り開いた。
She broke into that field as the first woman.
彼女は私の話を遮って質問した。
She broke into my story and asked a question.