Meaning
弾 centers on a single idea: stored energy released with precision. At its most literal, it means bullet or projectile — anything fired from a gun or launched from a weapon.
Beyond weapons, 弾 covers three related actions: to flick (snapping something away with a fingertip), to bounce or spring back (a ball rebounding off a hard surface), and to play a stringed or keyboard instrument — piano, guitar, shamisen, koto. What connects them? A bow draws back, stores tension, then releases. A pianist's fingers do the same. Energy builds, snaps — that is 弾.
Structurally, 弾 combines 弓 (bow) on the left with 単 (single, simple) on the right. The 弓 radical carries the visual meaning — launching, projecting — while 単 contributes the phonetic sound DAN. One draw, one release.
弾 has 12 strokes and belongs to the middle school (中学校) curriculum. On the JLPT scale, it sits at N1 — the exam's top tier. Even so, it appears often: in news about weapons and military affairs, in music contexts, and in everyday speech about bouncing objects, lively conversations, and political crackdowns.
Readings
On'yomi (音読み) — Chinese-derived readings
The on'yomi is ダン (DAN), used in compound words across military, political, physics, and music vocabulary.
弾丸 (dangan) — bullet, cannonball. Also appears in 弾丸ツアー (dangan tsuaa): a whirlwind trip that packs many destinations into very little time.
弾力 (danryoku) — elasticity, resilience. The springiness of rubber or a similar material; metaphorically, the capacity to adapt under pressure. The formal scientific variant is 弾力性 (danryokusei).
弾圧 (dan'atsu) — suppression, crackdown. Forceful crushing of dissent or protest by a government or authority. Common in news coverage of authoritarian actions.
爆弾 (bakudan) — bomb. Combines 爆 (explosion) with 弾 (projectile). Also used figuratively: 爆弾発言 is a shocking or inflammatory remark.
糾弾 (kyuudan) — public condemnation, censure. Formally calling out serious wrongdoing before an audience or institution.
連弾 (rendan) — piano duet. Two pianists side by side at a single instrument. 連 (together, in series) pairs with 弾 in its musical sense.
Kun'yomi (訓読み) — Native Japanese readings
Four kun'yomi readings each capture a different dimension of the character.
はじ・く (haji-ku) — to flick, to repel. A finger snapping something away, or a surface shedding water rather than absorbing it.
水を弾く (mizu wo hajiku) — to repel water; water beads up and rolls off a treated surface instead of soaking in. Describes waterproof fabrics and coatings.
そろばんを弾く (soroban wo hajiku) — to use an abacus; by extension, to calculate quickly in one's head.
ひ・く (hi-ku) — to play a stringed or keyboard instrument. Use this for piano (ピアノを弾く), guitar (ギターを弾く), or traditional instruments like shamisen and koto. The distinction matters: 吹く (fuku) is for wind instruments, 叩く (tataku) is for percussion.
弾き語り (hikigatari) — singing while playing an instrument. A solo performer accompanying themselves, seen across folk, pop, and traditional genres.
たま (tama) — bullet (standalone noun). Note that たま can also be written 玉 (decorative ball, gem) or 球 (sports ball). The choice of kanji distinguishes meaning in context.
はず・む (hazu-mu) — to bounce, to grow lively. A ball bounces off a surface; a conversation picks up energy; a mood lifts. 心が弾む (kokoro ga hazumu) — the heart leaps with excitement or joy.
Common Words & Compounds
弾 appears in compounds spanning military, music, physics, and political vocabulary:
Weapons & Military
- 弾丸 (dangan) — bullet, cannonball; also used metaphorically in 弾丸ツアー (whirlwind tour)
- 爆弾 (bakudan) — bomb, explosive device
- 砲弾 (houdan) — artillery shell, cannon shell
- 銃弾 (juudan) — gun bullet, rifle round
- 弾薬 (danyaku) — ammunition, munitions
- 流れ弾 (nagaredama) — stray bullet
Music
- 連弾 (rendan) — piano duet (two players at one piano)
- 弾き語り (hikigatari) — singing while playing an instrument
- 弾き方 (hikikata) — how to play a particular instrument
Physics & Motion
- 弾力 (danryoku) — elasticity, resilience, springiness
- 弾性 (dansei) — elasticity (physics term, as in elastic deformation)
- 弾む (hazumu) — to bounce, to spring, to be buoyant with energy
Social & Political
- 弾圧 (dan'atsu) — suppression, oppression, political crackdown
- 糾弾 (kyuudan) — public condemnation, formal denunciation
- 弾劾 (dangai) — impeachment (of a public official for misconduct)
Example Sentences
彼は毎日ピアノを弾く。
Kare wa mainichi piano wo hiku.
He plays the piano every day.
子供たちはボールが弾むのを見て喜んだ。
Kodomotachi wa booru ga hazumu no wo mite yorokonda.
The children were delighted watching the ball bounce.
この生地は水を弾く素材でできている。
Kono kiji wa mizu wo hajiku sozai de dekite iru.
This fabric is made of a water-repellent material.
爆弾が発見されたため、建物から人々が避難した。
Bakudan ga hakken sareta tame, tatemono kara hitobito ga hinan shita.
When a bomb was discovered, people evacuated from the building.
政府は反対運動を弾圧した。
Seifu wa hantai undou wo dan'atsu shita.
The government suppressed the opposition movement.
彼女はギターを弾きながら歌を歌った。
Kanojo wa gitaa wo hiki nagara uta wo utatta.
She sang a song while playing the guitar.
友達との話が弾んで、時間を忘れてしまった。
Tomodachi to no hanashi ga hazunde, jikan wo wasurete shimatta.
The conversation with my friend grew so lively that I completely forgot about the time.
その議員は汚職で弾劾された。
Sono giin wa oshoku de dangai sareta.
That politician was impeached for corruption.
弾丸ツアーで三日間に五つの都市を回った。
Dangan tsuaa de mikkakan ni itsutsu no toshi wo mawatta.
We visited five cities in three days on a whirlwind tour.
コインを指先で弾くと、遠くまで飛んだ。
Koin wo yubisaki de hajiku to, tooku made tonda.
When I flicked the coin with my fingertip, it flew far away.
Memory Tip
Picture the 弓 (bow) on the left — it stores energy when drawn, then releases in a single snap. That release is 弾 in every form: a bullet leaving a barrel, a finger flicking a coin, a ball bouncing off the floor, a pianist's hand striking a key, a government crushing dissent. The 単 on the right means single — one draw, one snap, one 弾. It is not just a bullet. It is the moment the bow lets go.