How do you say "to shoot" in Japanese?

撃つ

utsu

Verb Kanji

In Japanese, "to shoot" is 撃つ (utsu).

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Pronunciation

撃つ is written using kanji. Romanised as utsu, it sounds roughly like "oo-tsoo" to an English ear.

Writing and usage

The kanji 撃 uses a hand element combined with a phonetic suggesting forceful striking or shooting, often used for firearms.

Example sentence

私は撃つことが好きです。

Watashi wa utsu koto ga suki desu.

I enjoy shooting.

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How to remember 撃つ

A forceful hand action. Picture pulling a trigger or launching a projectile with force.

Related words

Browse all Japanese words in the glossary.

See more Japanese verbs.

Questions about 撃つ

How do you pronounce 撃つ?

撃つ is romanised as utsu. Say it roughly like "oo-tsoo" in English. Each Japanese syllable has even weight, so keep the rhythm steady.

Is 撃つ formal or casual?

撃つ is a neutral, everyday word that works in both casual and polite speech. The level of formality comes from the sentence structure around it, not from the word itself.

How is 撃つ written in Japanese?

撃つ is written using kanji. The kanji 撃 uses a hand element combined with a phonetic suggesting forceful striking or shooting, often used for firearms..

Where can I practice Japanese words for free?

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"To shoot" in other languages

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