Translation guide
The English word "bust" has several distinct meanings. This guide covers the most common uses for learners: a sculpture of a person's head and shoulders, a woman's chest, a police raid, and the verb meaning to break or fail. Each meaning has different Japanese equivalents.
Referring to a sculpture or statue depicting a person's head, neck, and upper chest.
The standard term for a bust sculpture. Used in art and formal contexts.
A bust of Beethoven is on display at the art museum.
Literally 'half-body statue', can refer to a bust but is less common than 胸像. Sometimes used for portraits from the waist up.
The sculptor created a bust of a famous politician.
Referring to a woman's breasts, often in contexts of clothing size or informal speech.
Common loanword used for bust size, clothing measurements, and in fashion contexts. Neutral and widely understood.
She has a large bust.
Please measure the bust size of this dress.
General word for chest or breasts. Can be used in everyday conversation but is broader than just 'bust'.
Slang/informal term for breasts, similar to 'boobs'. Used casually among friends or in very informal settings. Not appropriate in polite conversation.
Very informal; avoid in formal or professional contexts.
Referring to a police operation to catch criminals or seize illegal items.
Common term for a police raid or crackdown, especially on illegal activities like gambling or drugs.
The police conducted a bust on an illegal casino.
Refers to the exposure or uncovering of illegal activity, often resulting in arrest. Used for busts of operations like drug manufacturing.
Slang term for a police raid or search. Derived from 'search' (ガサ). Used in crime dramas or informal talk.
To break something, or to cause a plan, system, or person to fail.
General verb for breaking physical objects. Can also be used metaphorically for ruining plans or relationships.
He got angry and busted the chair.
To cause something to fail, like a plan or attempt. More formal than 壊す for non-physical things.
To cause a system, organization, or plan to collapse or go bankrupt. Stronger and more formal.
When something breaks down, fails, or goes bankrupt by itself.
Intransitive verb for something breaking or becoming broken. Used for machines, objects, and metaphorically for plans.
To fail, for plans, attempts, or endeavors. Common and neutral.
The business went bust.
To collapse or go bankrupt, used for companies, systems, or relationships. Formal.
The bank went bust.
The English word 'bust' covers many unrelated concepts. Always identify the intended meaning before choosing a Japanese equivalent. Using バスト for a sculpture would be incorrect, and 胸像 for a woman's chest would be strange.
壊す is transitive (someone breaks something), while 壊れる is intransitive (something breaks by itself). Choose based on whether there is a direct actor causing the breakage.
He busted the window.
The window busted.
The police busted the drug ring.
I need to measure my bust for this dress.
The company went bust after the scandal.
胸が大きいと肩が凝る。
Having a large bust makes my shoulders stiff.
おっぱいが大きいね。
You have a big bust, huh.
麻薬工場が摘発された。
A drug lab was busted.
昨日、隣の家にガサ入れがあったらしい。
Apparently there was a bust at the neighbor's house yesterday.
The scandal busted his career.
His mistake busted the plan.
The accounting fraud busted the company.
The plan went bust.