Translation guide
How to express 'point-blank' in Japanese, covering both literal close-range shooting and figurative blunt directness.
Describing shooting or attacking from extremely close distance.
Saying something in a very direct, frank, or blunt manner, often without softening.
Rejecting something outright, without any room for negotiation.
Means 'to refuse flatly' or 'point-blank'. きっぱり is an adverb indicating a clear, decisive manner.
彼はその申し出をきっぱりと断った。
He point-blank refused the offer.
Both mean 'frankly', but ずばり is more about hitting the nail on the head with a concise, direct statement, while はっきり言って is a more general 'to be honest' that can introduce a blunt opinion.
ずばり、いくら欲しいの？
Point-blank, how much do you want?
はっきり言って、その服は似合わない。
To be blunt, those clothes don't suit you.
There is no single Japanese adverb that covers both the literal and figurative senses of 'point-blank'. Using 至近距離で figuratively would be unnatural. Choose the appropriate expression based on context.
Means 'point-blank range' or 'extremely close distance'. Used as a noun, often with particles like で or から.
至近距離から撃たれた。
He was shot at point-blank range.
至近距離で発砲した。
He fired at point-blank range.
Literally 'zero distance', used in gaming or military contexts for point-blank shots. More colloquial and technical.
ゼロ距離でヘッドショットを決めた。
I got a headshot at point-blank range.
Means 'right in front of one's eyes'. Can imply point-blank range in context, but is less specific to shooting.
犯人は目の前で銃を発砲した。
The criminal fired the gun point-blank right in front of me.
Adverb meaning 'frankly', 'directly', 'point-blank'. Used when stating something clearly and without beating around the bush.
ずばり言うと、その計画は失敗だ。
To put it point-blank, that plan is a failure.
彼はずばりと核心を突いた質問をした。
He asked a question that got straight to the point.
A な-adjective or adverb meaning 'straight to the point', 'without preamble'. Often used with に.
単刀直入に申し上げますと、お断りします。
To be point-blank, I must decline.
Means 'frankly speaking' or 'to be honest'. Used to introduce a blunt statement.
はっきり言って、それは無理だ。
Point-blank, that's impossible.
Noun or する-verb meaning 'speaking frankly' or 'point-blank statement'. More formal and less common in daily speech.
彼は上司に直言した。
He told his boss point-blank.
Means 'to refuse curtly' or 'point-blank', implying a brusque, blunt refusal.
彼女はにべもなく断った。
She refused point-blank.