ラッシュ

らっしゅ
noun
rush, rush hour
1. rush hour, peak commuting time
The period of heavy traffic and crowded trains during morning and evening commutes.
(あさ)のラッシュは大変(たいへん)だ。
The morning rush is tough.
ラッシュ()電車(でんしゃ)身動(みうご)きが()れない。
You can't move on rush-hour trains.
ラッシュを()けて(はや)めに(いえ)()た。
I left home early to avoid the rush.
2. rush, surge, wave
A sudden increase or concentrated period of activity, orders, or events.
注文(ちゅうもん)ラッシュが()た。
A rush of orders came in.
年末(ねんまつ)忘年会(ぼうねんかい)ラッシュだ。
The end of the year is a rush of year-end parties.
ゴールデンウィーク(まえ)予約(よやく)ラッシュで電話(でんわ)()りっぱなしだった。
Before Golden Week, there was a reservation rush and the phone kept ringing nonstop.

ラッシュ is used in two main contexts in Japanese.

SENSE 1 — COMMUTING:

(あさ)ラッシュ (morning rush) and 夕方(ゆうがた)ラッシュ (evening rush) are familiar concepts for anyone commuting in Japanese cities.

  • ラッシュ(): rush hour
  • ラッシュアワー: rush hour (less common than ラッシュ())
  • 通勤(つうきん)ラッシュ: commuting rush

SENSE 2 — SURGE:

Used with another noun to describe a concentrated burst of something.

  • 注文(ちゅうもん)ラッシュ: rush of orders
  • 結婚(けっこん)ラッシュ: wave of weddings
  • ベビーラッシュ: baby boom