断層(だんそう)

だんそう
noun
fault (geological), gap
1. fault (geological)
A fracture or zone of fractures between two blocks of rock that have moved relative to each other.
活断層(かつだんそう)の上(うえ)に建物(たてもの)を建(た)てるのは危険(きけん)だ。
It's dangerous to build structures on top of an active fault.
断層(だんそう)がずれて地震(じしん)が発生(はっせい)した。
An earthquake occurred when the fault slipped.
この地域(ちいき)には大(おお)きな断層(だんそう)が走(はし)っている。
A major fault runs through this area.
2. gap, discontinuity
A significant gap or break between groups, generations, or concepts.
世代間(せだいかん)の断層(だんそう)が広(ひろ)がっている。
The generational gap is widening.
都市部(としぶ)と地方(ちほう)の間(あいだ)には経済的(けいざいてき)な断層(だんそう)がある。
There is an economic gap between urban and rural areas.
技術(ぎじゅつ)の進歩(しんぽ)が早(はや)すぎて、世代(せだい)による情報(じょうほう)リテラシーの断層(だんそう)が生(う)まれている。
Technology is advancing so fast that a gap in information literacy between generations is emerging.

Usage: In Japan, 断層(だんそう) is an important term due to the country's seismic activity. Many major earthquakes are caused by fault movements.

Common collocations

  • 断層(だんそう)がずれる (a fault slips)
  • 活断層(かつだんそう) (active fault)
  • 断層帯(だんそうたい) (fault zone)
  • 断層線(だんそうせん) (fault line)

Types of faults

  • 正断層(せいだんそう) - normal fault
  • 逆断層(ぎゃくだんそう) - reverse fault
  • 横(よこ)ずれ断層(だんそう) - strike-slip fault

Figurative usage: 断層(だんそう) is commonly used figuratively to describe gaps between generations (世代間(せだいかん)の断層(だんそう)), social classes, or cultural values.

Related to earthquakes: Japan has many 活断層(かつだんそう) (active faults), and the study of faults is crucial for earthquake preparedness.

Related Words

Related: 地層(ちそう) (stratum)
Related: 断面(だんめん) (cross-section)
Related: 構造線(こうぞうせん) (tectonic line)
Compare: 褶曲(しゅうきょく) (fold)
general
Added 2026.1.17 20:31 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01
06000/06367_dansou