Translation guide
A flashbang is a non-lethal explosive device that produces a blinding flash of light and a loud noise to disorient people. This entry covers how to refer to the device itself and related concepts in Japanese.
Referring to the actual flashbang grenade used by military or police.
Standard term for 'flashbang' or 'stun grenade'. Literally 'flash bullet/shell'. Used in news and technical contexts.
警察は閃光弾を使って突入した。
The police used a flashbang to break in.
Loanword from English 'stun grenade'. Common in games and military contexts.
スタングレネードを投げろ！
Throw a stun grenade!
Direct loanword from English 'flashbang'. Used mainly in gaming or subculture contexts.
フラッシュバンで敵をひるませる。
Stun the enemy with a flashbang.
Describing the disorienting effect of a flashbang, not the device itself.
Literally 'flash and explosion sound'. Used to describe the effect.
閃光と爆音で一瞬何が起きたかわからなかった。
I couldn't tell what happened for a moment because of the flash and bang.
More descriptive: 'blinding and roaring sound'. Slightly literary.
目くらましと轟音が部屋を包んだ。
A blinding flash and a roar filled the room.
Expressing the action of deploying a flashbang.
Standard way to say 'use a flashbang'.
突入前に閃光弾を使う。
Use a flashbang before entering.
Literally 'throw a flashbang'. Natural when the action involves throwing.
閃光弾を部屋に投げ込んだ。
They threw a flashbang into the room.
In English, 'flashbang' and 'stun grenade' are often used interchangeably. In Japanese, 閃光弾 (flash shell) is the standard term. スタングレネード is understood but less formal. フラッシュバン is gaming slang.