Translation guide
How to express the idea of causing something or someone to be propelled through the air, often forcefully or unexpectedly, in Japanese.
Expressing a forceful impact that sends the object or person flying.
A common, somewhat rough way to say 'send flying' or 'blast away'. Often used for hitting something hard enough to make it fly.
彼はボールを吹っ飛ばした。
He sent the ball flying.
車がガードレールを吹っ飛ばした。
The car sent the guardrail flying.
A more emphatic, rougher version of 吹っ飛ばす. Often used in manga or very casual speech.
あいつをぶっ飛ばしてやる！
I'll send him flying!
To flick or send something flying with a sharp motion, like a spring or a flick.
彼は指でコインを弾き飛ばした。
He flicked the coin and sent it flying.
To hit and send flying, often used in sports like baseball or golf.
彼はホームランを打ち飛ばした。
He hit a home run, sending the ball flying.
Expressing that something is dispersed into the air by wind, explosion, or force.
To blow away, often by wind or explosion. Can be used literally or figuratively.
風が帽子を吹き飛ばした。
The wind sent my hat flying.
爆発で窓ガラスが吹き飛ばされた。
The explosion sent the window glass flying.
To send something flying upward, like dust or leaves, often by wind.
風が落ち葉を舞い上げた。
The wind sent the fallen leaves flying.
A general verb meaning 'to let fly' or 'to send flying'. Can be used for many contexts, but often needs additional context.
Describing a person being knocked through the air by a punch, kick, or collision.
Same as above, but specifically for people. Very common in action scenes.
彼は相手を吹っ飛ばした。
He sent his opponent flying.
Even more forceful and aggressive version.
To send flying by a sudden impact, like being hit by a car. Often used for accidents.
The English phrase 'send flying' is often idiomatic. In Japanese, you usually need a compound verb with 飛ばす (tobasu) or a more specific verb. Simply translating 'send' and 'flying' separately will sound unnatural.
吹っ飛ばす (futtobasu) is more colloquial and forceful, often used for hitting something. 吹き飛ばす (fukitobasu) is more about blowing away by wind or explosion. They are not always interchangeable.
風で帽子が吹き飛ばされた。
My hat was sent flying by the wind.
パンチで相手が吹っ飛ばされた。
The opponent was sent flying by the punch.
He sent the paper airplane flying.
あの喧嘩で彼は三人ぶっ飛ばした。
In that fight, he sent three guys flying.
車が歩行者を跳ね飛ばした。
The car sent the pedestrian flying.