Translation guide
The explosive powder used in firearms, fireworks, and historical weapons. In Japanese, the most common word is 火薬 (kayaku), but there are also specific historical and technical terms.
The standard term for gunpowder as a substance, used in modern contexts like firearms, ammunition, and fireworks.
The most common and general word for gunpowder or explosive powder. Used in both everyday and technical contexts.
火薬の匂いがした。
There was a smell of gunpowder.
火薬を扱うには免許が必要だ。
You need a license to handle gunpowder.
Specifically the old-style black powder used in matchlock guns, cannons, and early firearms in Japanese history.
Literally 'black-colored gunpowder'. The technical term for black powder, often used in historical contexts.
火縄銃には黒色火薬が使われていた。
Matchlock guns used black powder.
An archaic term for gunpowder, literally 'smoke saltpeter'. Rarely used today, mainly in historical documents.
Modern gunpowder used in cartridges, which produces little smoke.
Smokeless powder. The standard term in firearms and military contexts.
現代の弾薬には無煙火薬が使われる。
Modern ammunition uses smokeless powder.
Used figuratively to describe a volatile or dangerous atmosphere.
Literally 'gunpowder magazine'. Often used metaphorically for a place or situation that could explode into conflict.
その地域は民族対立の火薬庫だ。
That region is a powder keg of ethnic conflict.
火薬 (kayaku) generally refers to propellants and low explosives like gunpowder, while 爆薬 (bakuyaku) refers to high explosives like dynamite or TNT. For 'gunpowder', always use 火薬.
The method of making gunpowder was kept secret.
A four-character idiom meaning 'a touch and it will explode', describing a situation that could erupt at any moment. Not a direct translation of 'gunpowder', but conveys the same idea.
会議室は一触即発の雰囲気だった。
The meeting room had a powder-keg atmosphere.