also: つむじかぜ · つじかぜ
whirlwind; dust devil
Literal meteorological phenomenon: a small, spinning column of wind. Can be read せんぷう, つむじかぜ, or つじかぜ depending on the spelling.
A small whirlwind sprang up in the schoolyard, sending fallen leaves swirling into the air.
つむじ風で帽子が飛ばされた。
My hat was blown off by a whirlwind.
Only with reading せんぷう
Figurative use, restricted to the reading せんぷう. Describes a person, event, or thing that causes a sudden, widespread excitement or upheaval, like a whirlwind sweeping through.
彼のデビュー作は出版界に旋風を巻き起こした。
His debut work caused a sensation in the publishing world.
新製品が市場に旋風を起こしている。
The new product is creating a stir in the market.
The rookie player's performance caused a sensation in the baseball world.
A small whirlwind arose in the desert.
She is a young singer who caused a huge sensation in the music world.
firestorm; fire whirl
Tatsumaki Senpūkyaku; Hurricane Kick
Kana-kanji mixed spelling for the literal whirlwind sense. Common in everyday writing.
Rarely used kanji form for the literal whirlwind sense.