東とう北ほく地ち方ほう太たい平へい洋よう沖おき地じ震しん

noun

2011 Tōhoku earthquake; Great East Japan Earthquake

Refers specifically to the magnitude 9.0 earthquake that struck off the Pacific coast of Tōhoku on March 11, 2011. Often used in formal or news contexts; the disaster is also commonly called 東日本大震災.

• 東とう北ほく地ち方ほう太たい平へい洋よう沖おき地じ震しんは2011年ねん3月がつ11日にちに発はっ生せいした。

  The Tōhoku region Pacific coast earthquake occurred on March 11, 2011.

• 東とう北ほく地ち方ほう太たい平へい洋よう沖おき地じ震しんによる津つ波なみで大おおきな被ひ害がいが出でた。

  The tsunami caused by the Tōhoku earthquake caused extensive damage.