鉄砲
Meanings
1
General term for a gun or firearm, from matchlock to modern rifles. Can also appear in compounds.
He has fired a gun before.
Maintenance of a firearm is important.
2
wooden pole for sumo practice
In sumo, a thick wooden pole that wrestlers strike with their hands to build power and technique.
Sumo wrestlers practice daily with the wooden pole.
3
puffer fish
Colloquial term for puffer fish (fugu), from the idea that eating it can be as dangerous as being shot.
See also: フグ
If you get hit by a puffer fish, you're done for.
Usage patterns
- 鉄砲を撃つto fire a gun
The hunter fired his gun in the mountains.
- 鉄砲を突くto strike the practice pole (in sumo training)
Every morning the sumo wrestler strikes the pole to train his body.
- 鉄砲を構えるto aim/level a gun
The soldier leveled his gun and waited.
Expressions
- 闇に鉄砲acting without a clear goal; shooting in the dark
- 闇夜の鉄砲shot in the dark; aimless attempt; crapshoot
- 鳩が豆鉄砲を食ったようwide-eyed in shock; dumbfounded
- 下手な鉄砲も数撃ちゃ当たるeven a poor marksman will hit the target with enough shots; persistence can lead to accidental success
- 下手な鉄砲も数撃てば当たるeven the unskilled can succeed by a fluke given enough tries; even a poor marksman will hit the target with enough shots