Translation guide
The English word 'bunker' has several distinct meanings: a military fortification, a golf hazard, a fuel storage container, and a protective shelter. This guide covers how to express each in Japanese.
A reinforced underground shelter used for defense in warfare.
Standard term for a military bunker or dugout. Used in historical and modern contexts.
The soldiers hid in the bunker.
Loanword from Russian, referring to a small concrete pillbox or bunker. Often used in WWII contexts.
Pillboxes were built along the coastline.
Literally 'underground dugout'. Can refer to a bunker or tunnel used for shelter or storage.
That underground bunker was used during the war.
Direct loanword from English, but primarily used for golf or sometimes fuel contexts. For military bunkers, it's less common and may sound foreign.
Not the first choice for military bunkers; use 掩蔽壕 instead.
They attacked the enemy bunker.
A sand-filled obstacle on a golf course.
A large container for storing fuel, especially on ships or at depots.
General term for a fuel tank, including large storage bunkers.
The ship's bunker is filled with heavy oil.
Also used for fuel bunkers, especially in maritime or industrial contexts. Often combined with 重油 (heavy oil) or 燃料 (fuel).
Specifically an oil storage tank or reservoir. More formal and technical.
Inspect the oil bunker.
A general shelter for protection against bombs, natural disasters, or other threats.
Specifically an air-raid shelter. Commonly used for WWII or modern bomb shelters.
They evacuated to the bunker during the air raid warning.
Loanword for 'shelter'. Used for modern protective bunkers, including nuclear shelters.
General term for an evacuation shelter or dugout. Can be used for natural disaster bunkers.
掩蔽壕 (えんぺいごう) is the most general term for a military bunker. トーチカ specifically refers to a small concrete pillbox, often with firing ports. 地下壕 (ちかごう) emphasizes the underground aspect and can be used for non-military dugouts as well.
While バンカー is understood, it's primarily associated with golf. For military contexts, 掩蔽壕 or トーチカ are more natural and precise.
He made a great escape from the bunker.
バンカー重油の価格が上昇した。
The price of bunker fuel rose.
核シェルターを自宅に設置する。
Install a nuclear bunker at home.
A bunker was built to escape tsunamis.