鉄てっ砲ぽう

て

っ

ぽ

う

Common wordJLPTN2Freq.FrequencyTop 20,000

Meanings

1

noun

gun; firearm

General term for a gun or firearm, from matchlock to modern rifles. Can also appear in compounds.

彼かれは鉄てっ砲ぽうを撃うったことがある。

He has fired a gun before.

鉄てっ砲ぽうの手て入いれは大たい切せつだ。

Maintenance of a firearm is important.

2

noun

wooden pole for sumo practice

sumo

In sumo, a thick wooden pole that wrestlers strike with their hands to build power and technique.

力りき士しは毎まい日にち鉄てっ砲ぽうで稽けい古こする。
Sumo wrestlers practice daily with the wooden pole.

3

noun

puffer fish

colloquial

Colloquial term for puffer fish (fugu), from the idea that eating it can be as dangerous as being shot.

Usage patterns

鉄てっ砲ぽうを撃うつto fire a gun
猟りょう師しが山やまで鉄てっ砲ぽうを撃うった。
The hunter fired his gun in the mountains.
鉄てっ砲ぽうを突つくto strike the practice pole (in sumo training)
力りき士しは毎まい朝あさ鉄てっ砲ぽうを突ついて体からだを鍛きたえる。
Every morning the sumo wrestler strikes the pole to train his body.
鉄てっ砲ぽうを構かまえるto aim/level a gun
兵へい士しは鉄てっ砲ぽうを構かまえて待まった。
The soldier leveled his gun and waited.

Expressions

闇やみに鉄てっ砲ぽうacting without a clear goal; shooting in the dark
闇やみ夜よの鉄てっ砲ぽうshot in the dark; aimless attempt; crapshoot
鳩はとが豆まめ鉄でっ砲ぽうを食くったようwide-eyed in shock; dumbfounded
下手へたな鉄てっ砲ぽうも数かず撃うちゃ当あたるeven a poor marksman will hit the target with enough shots; persistence can lead to accidental success
下手へたな鉄てっ砲ぽうも数かず撃うてば当あたるeven the unskilled can succeed by a fluke given enough tries; even a poor marksman will hit the target with enough shots

Kanji

鉄iron
砲cannon, gun
炮burn, roast

Related words

銃じゅうN3sense 1
銃 is the more technical, modern word for a gun, while 鉄砲 is an older, broader term that can include matchlocks and traditional firearms.
フグ sense 3
河豚 is the standard, neutral word for puffer fish, while 鉄砲 is a jocular slang term alluding to the danger of its poison.
猟りょう銃じゅう
鉄砲 is an older, more colloquial word for a gun, whereas 猟銃 is the formal legal term specifically for hunting firearms.

Don't confuse with

大たい砲ほうN1sense 1
鉄砲 refers to a hand-held gun or rifle, while 大砲 is a large artillery piece like a cannon, so the two share the 砲 kanji but differ greatly in scale.
拳けん銃じゅう
鉄砲 is an older, broader word that can mean any gun including rifles, whereas 拳銃 specifically means a handgun.

Counted with

丁ちょう
Guns and rifles like 鉄砲 are traditionally counted with 丁.

Word family· 21

水みず鉄でっ砲ぽう
water pistol; squirt gun; water gun
無む鉄てっ砲ぽう
rash; reckless; foolhardy
鉄てっ砲ぽう玉だま
gunshot; bullet · messenger who doesn't return; one-way messenger · bull's-eye candy
鉄てっ砲ぽう水みず
flash flood

Written forms

鉄てっ砲ぽうUsage93%
Standard kanji spelling for gun and related senses.
テッポウUsage3%
鉄てっ炮ぽうUsage3%
rarely-used kanji form
Rarely used variant kanji form.
てっぽうUsage1%

Etymology

Originally referred to matchlock guns introduced to Japan in the 16th century. The kanji 鉄 (iron) and 砲 (cannon) reflect the weapon's material and function. The sumo and puffer fish senses are metaphorical extensions.

豆まめ鉄でっ砲ぽう

peashooter

Show 10 more

竹たけ鉄でっ砲ぽう
bamboo pop gun; bamboo toy gun
紙かみ鉄でっ砲ぽう
paper popgun; origami popgun
肘ひじ鉄でっ砲ぽう
elbowing; elbow strike · rejection; rebuff; cold shoulder
鉄てっ砲ぽう座ざ
gunmakers guild
鉄てっ砲ぽう虫むし
longhorn beetle grub
テッポウエビ
snapping shrimp; pistol prawn
鉄てっ砲ぽう雨あめ
pelting rain; torrential rain; downpour
テッポウウオ
archerfish
鉄てっ砲ぽう和あえ
salad of minced Welsh onions, seafood, and vinegared miso
テッポウユリ
Easter lily; Lilium longiflorum

See all 21 in Explore →