Translation guide
The English verb "shoot" covers many meanings, from firing a weapon to filming a movie to scoring in sports. This guide organizes the most useful Japanese equivalents by meaning, with notes on natural usage.
To discharge a firearm or other projectile weapon
The most common verb for shooting a gun or firearm.
He shot a pistol.
Often used for shooting arrows or in archery contexts, but can overlap with 撃つ.
Formal term for discharging a firearm, often used in news or legal contexts.
The police fired shots.
To record moving images or take a photograph
General verb for taking photos or filming video.
To attempt to score a goal or point by kicking, throwing, or hitting a ball
Loanword from English, used in many sports like soccer, basketball, hockey.
He shot at the goal.
To move suddenly and quickly in a direction
To inject an illicit drug
Slang term for injecting drugs, similar to 'shoot up'.
To send a message, look, or question rapidly
Used for sending messages, emails, etc. quickly.
A new growth from a plant
General word for bud or sprout.
English uses 'shoot' metaphorically for quick movement (e.g., 'shoot up', 'shoot out'), but Japanese uses specific verbs like 飛び出す (tobidasu) or 急に上がる (kyuu ni agaru). Avoid direct translation with 撃つ (utsu) unless firearms are involved.
撮る (toru) is the everyday verb for taking photos or filming. 撮影する (satsuei suru) is more formal and often used in professional contexts or written language.
He shot an arrow.
映画を撮る。
To shoot a movie.
May I take a photo?
More formal or technical term for filming or photography.
To shoot on location.
Used in baseball (batting) or golf (hitting the ball).
To hit a home run.
Specifically for kicking a ball, as in soccer.
To kick the ball.
To dash out or spring out suddenly.
The cat shot out of the room.
A more literal 'move suddenly', but less idiomatic than 飛び出す.
He shot forward suddenly.
彼はヘロインを打った。
He shot heroin.
彼にメールを送った。
I shot him an email.
To shoot a glance.
She shot him a cold look.
New shoots came out.
Specifically young shoots or sprouts.
Young shoots appear in spring.