津波(つなみ)

つなみ
noun
tsunami
1. tsunami, tidal wave
A series of large ocean waves typically caused by underwater earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, or landslides, capable of causing devastating destruction in coastal areas.
津波(つなみ)が来(く)る！
A tsunami is coming!
津波(つなみ)が海岸(かいがん)の町(まち)を襲(おそ)った。
The tsunami hit the coastal town.
津波(つなみ)が来(き)たら高台(たかだい)に避難(ひなん)してください。
If a tsunami comes, please evacuate to higher ground.
大(おお)きな地震(じしん)の後(あと)、津波(つなみ)警報(けいほう)が出(で)た。
A tsunami warning was issued after the large earthquake.
2011年(ねん)の東日本大震災(ひがしにほんだいしんさい)では、大(おお)きな津波(つなみ)が太平洋(たいへいよう)沿岸(えんがん)の広(ひろ)い地域(ちいき)に甚大(じんだい)な被害(ひがい)をもたらした。
In the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake, a massive tsunami caused devastating damage across a wide area along the Pacific coast.

The Japanese word 津波(つなみ) has been adopted internationally as the standard term for this phenomenon. The kanji literally mean "harbor wave" (津(つ) = harbor, 波(なみ) = wave).

COMMON COLLOCATIONS:

  • 津波(つなみ)警報(けいほう) (tsunami warning)
  • 津波(つなみ)注意報(ちゅういほう) (tsunami advisory)
  • 津波(つなみ)が来(く)る (a tsunami is coming)
  • 津波(つなみ)に襲(おそ)われる (to be hit by a tsunami)
  • 津波(つなみ)避難(ひなん) (tsunami evacuation)

RELATED TERMS:

  • 地震(じしん) (earthquake)
  • 高台(たかだい) (high ground)
  • 避難(ひなん) (evacuation)

Related Words

Related: 洪水(こうずい) (flood)
core
Added 2026.1.16 11:32 · Revised 2026.3.7 13:40
05000/05064_tsunami