Refers to large firearms, especially cannons and artillery. Often used as a suffix in compounds like ～砲 (e.g., 機関砲 'machine cannon', 迫撃砲 'mortar').
The soldiers fired the cannon at the enemy.
The enemy's cannons opened fire.
This tank is equipped with a powerful main gun.
The battleship trained its guns on the enemy ship.
This is an old-fashioned way to count 砲 (cannons/guns), typically expressed as counters like 一門, 二門, etc.
firing; discharge of a gun
cannon; gun; artillery · home-run hitter; slugger
bombardment; shelling
gun; firearm · wooden pole for sumo practice · puffer fish
gunfire; artillery fire
main battery; main armament · best hitter; center of the offense
gun turret
shell; cannonball
gun battery; fort
The kanji 砲 combines 石 (stone) and 包 (wrap/contain), originally referring to ancient stone-throwing catapults. The modern meaning 'gun/cannon' developed after the introduction of firearms.
artillery; gunner
blank ammunition; blank cartridge; firing a blank
huge gun; large cannon
gun barrel; barrel of a gun
gunner; artilleryman
guns; firearms
gun salute; salute of guns
signal gun; starting gun
bazooka
cannonball · shot (shot put)
gunnery; artillery
gun platform; artillery mount
gunboat
gun; artillery; cannon
gunport; embrasure; muzzle
heavy artillery
artillery battle; gun duel
mountain gun
armament; ordnance; military equipment
secondary armament; secondary battery; secondary gun
noon gun; noonday gun