突破口(とっぱこう)

とっぱこう
noun
breakthrough, opening
militaryaction
1. breach, gap (in defenses)
A hole or opening broken through fortifications or enemy lines in military contexts.
敵陣(てきじん)に突破口(とっぱこう)を開(ひら)く。
Open a breach in enemy lines.
軍(ぐん)は突破口(とっぱこう)から一気(いっき)に攻(せ)め込(こ)んだ。
The army rushed in through the breach at once.
防御(ぼうぎょ)の突破口(とっぱこう)を探(さが)す。
Search for a gap in the defenses.
2. breakthrough, opening, way out
A means of escape from a difficult situation; a key that opens up new possibilities.
突破口(とっぱこう)を見(み)つける。
Find a breakthrough.
この技術(ぎじゅつ)が問題(もんだい)解決(かいけつ)の突破口(とっぱこう)になるかもしれない。
This technology might be the breakthrough to solving the problem.
交渉(こうしょう)の突破口(とっぱこう)を開(ひら)くために、条件(じょうけん)を緩(ゆる)めた。
I relaxed the conditions to break the deadlock in the negotiations.

突破口(とっぱこう) literally means 'breach opening' — a gap made by breaking through. Originally military, it is now commonly used figuratively for any breakthrough or way out of a difficult situation.

Etymology

突破(とっぱ) (breakthrough) + 口(こう) (opening/mouth)

Common collocations

Usage

The figurative sense (sense 2) is far more common in everyday Japanese than the military sense. Often used in business, negotiations, and problem-solving contexts.

Related Words

Synonym: 打開(だかい) (breakthrough)
general
Added 2026.2.1 16:52 · Revised 2026.10.2 9:45
09000/09348_toppakou