Translation guide
The English word "crack" has many meanings. This guide covers the most common ones for learners: a narrow opening, a sudden sharp sound, a break or fracture, a joke, an attempt, and more. Each meaning is organized with natural Japanese expressions.
To refer to a thin space between things, like a crack in a wall or door.
General word for a gap or crack between objects, such as in a door or wall.
ドアの隙間から光が漏れている。
Light is leaking through the crack in the door.
A crack or fissure, often in a solid surface like rock or ice.
地震で壁に割れ目ができた。
A crack appeared in the wall due to the earthquake.
A fine crack or fissure, often in glass, ceramics, or skin.
窓ガラスにひびが入っている。
There is a crack in the window glass.
To describe a loud, sharp noise like a whip or thunder.
Onomatopoeia for a sharp cracking or snapping sound.
鞭がパチッと鳴った。
The whip cracked.
Onomatopoeia for a loud cracking sound, like breaking wood.
枝がバキッと折れた。
The branch cracked and broke.
A roaring or thunderous sound, used for thunder or explosions.
To describe something breaking partially, like a bone or a nut.
To develop a crack (intransitive). Used for bones, glass, etc.
転んで肋骨にひびが入った。
I fell and cracked a rib.
To crack or break something open (transitive), like an egg or a nut.
卵を割ってボウルに入れる。
Crack the egg into a bowl.
To crush or crack into pieces, often for hard objects like ice or nuts.
To tell a funny or sarcastic comment.
A joke or jest. Often used with 言う (to say).
彼はいつも冗談を言って人を笑わせる。
He always cracks jokes to make people laugh.
A witty or flippant remark, often quick and clever.
To make an attempt at something, often for the first time.
To take on a challenge or try something.
新しいスポーツに挑戦してみたい。
I want to have a crack at a new sport.
To give something a try, casual.
料理を作るのをやってみた。
I had a crack at cooking.
To figure out a difficult problem or code.
To decipher or decode.
彼らは暗号を解読した。
They cracked the code.
To solve a problem or case.
探偵は事件を解決した。
The detective cracked the case.
To become unable to control emotions under pressure.
To be mentally overwhelmed or crack under pressure.
彼はプレッシャーで精神的に参ってしまった。
He cracked under the pressure.
To give up or admit defeat, often due to stress.
厳しい訓練に彼は音を上げた。
He cracked under the tough training.
To open something just a little bit.
To open a door or window a crack.
窓を少し開けて空気を入れ替えた。
I cracked the window to let in some fresh air.
English "crack" has many meanings that don't map to a single Japanese word. Always choose the expression based on the specific meaning you want to convey.
雷の轟音が響いた。
The crack of thunder resounded.
Crack the ice to make a cocktail.
彼女は軽口を叩いて場を和ませた。
She cracked a witty remark to lighten the mood.