Translation guide
A guide to expressing the English word "strike" in Japanese, covering physical hitting, labor strikes, sudden ideas, and more.
To hit someone or something, or to attack.
He struck me.
To hit, strike, or beat. Used in broader contexts, including hitting with an object or striking in sports.
He struck the ball.
To hit, slap, or knock. Often implies a slapping or pounding motion.
He struck the desk.
To attack. More formal or military, used for strikes in warfare or organized attacks.
They struck the enemy.
A work stoppage by employees as a form of protest.
To suddenly think of something or have an idea.
To ignite a match or create a spark.
To assume a posture or adopt a particular attitude.
To reach an agreement or make a bargain.
To find a compromise or equilibrium between two things.
In baseball, to fail to hit the ball three times and be called out.
The English verb "strike" has many meanings that do not translate directly to a single Japanese word. Always consider the specific context and use the appropriate Japanese expression.
殴る (naguru) specifically means to punch with a fist. 打つ (utsu) is a general verb for hitting or striking, often with an instrument or in sports. 叩く (tataku) implies slapping or pounding, and can be used for hitting surfaces or people.
The workers are on strike.
ストライキ or スト for labor strikes.
A thought struck me.
Use 浮かぶ or ひらめく for sudden ideas.
I was late because of the bus strike.
Formal term for a labor strike, rarely used in everyday speech.
A strike was carried out.
突然、解決策がひらめいた。
Suddenly, a solution struck me.
At that moment, an idea struck me.
I struck a match and lit a fire.
We need to strike a balance between supply and demand.
The pitcher struck out the batter.