Translation guide
A toy gun is a play weapon that resembles a real firearm but is harmless. In Japanese, the most common term is おもちゃの銃, but there are also specific words for water guns, airsoft guns, and cap guns.
A generic toy gun, often made of plastic, used for play.
The most straightforward and common way to say 'toy gun'. おもちゃ means 'toy' and 銃 means 'gun'. This is neutral and widely understood.
子供がおもちゃの銃で遊んでいる。
The child is playing with a toy gun.
That toy gun looks very realistic.
A more formal or technical term for 'toy gun', using the kanji 玩具 (toy) and 銃 (gun). Often seen in product descriptions or regulations.
この玩具銃は安全基準を満たしている。
This toy gun meets safety standards.
Refers specifically to replica model guns, often highly detailed and used by collectors. Not typically given to young children. Borrowed from English 'model gun'.
彼はモデルガンのコレクターだ。
He is a collector of model guns.
A toy gun that shoots water, used in water fights.
The standard word for 'water gun'. Literally 'water gun' (水 = water, 鉄砲 = gun). Used by all ages.
夏には水鉄砲で遊ぶのが楽しい。
Playing with water guns in summer is fun.
水鉄砲を買ってプールに行こう。
Let's buy water guns and go to the pool.
An alternative reading of the same kanji. Both みずでっぽう and みずてっぽう are used, but みずでっぽう is slightly more common.
水鉄砲で的を狙う。
Aim at the target with a water gun.
A realistic-looking gun that shoots plastic BBs, used in survival games.
The most common term for airsoft guns. Borrowed from English 'air gun'. Used in the context of survival games (サバイバルゲーム).
週末に友達とエアガンでサバイバルゲームをする。
On weekends, I play survival games with friends using airsoft guns.
A toy gun that uses caps to make a loud noise.
A traditional term for cap guns that use paper caps. Literally 'paper gunpowder gun'. Not commonly used today; often replaced by キャップガン.
昔は紙火薬鉄砲でよく遊んだ。
I used to play with cap guns a lot in the old days.
The modern loanword for 'cap gun'. More commonly used today than the traditional term.
子供がキャップガンを鳴らしている。
The child is firing a cap gun.
In Japan, realistic toy guns (especially airsoft guns) are strictly regulated. They must have orange tips or other markings to distinguish them from real firearms. When referring to such items, be aware that モデルガン and エアガン may imply a level of realism that could cause alarm if used in public.
おもちゃの銃 is the everyday term, while 玩具銃 is more formal and often used in written contexts like laws or product safety information. In casual conversation, stick with おもちゃの銃.
A more precise term for airsoft guns, often used in official contexts or by enthusiasts. Less common in everyday speech.
このエアソフトガンは最新モデルだ。
This airsoft gun is the latest model.