開戦(かいせん)

かいせん
noun / verb (suru)
outbreak of war; start of hostilities
1. outbreak of war; start of hostilities; commencement of battle
The beginning of armed conflict or war. Refers to the moment fighting officially starts between nations or forces.
開戦(かいせん)の知(し)らせが届(とど)いた。
News of the outbreak of war arrived.
外交(がいこう)交渉(こうしょう)が決裂(けつれつ)し、開戦(かいせん)に至(いた)った。
Diplomatic negotiations broke down and led to the outbreak of war.
開戦(かいせん)から七十年(ななじゅうねん)が経(た)った今(いま)でも、戦争(せんそう)の記憶(きおく)は人々(ひとびと)の心(こころ)に残(のこ)っている。
Even seventy years after the war began, memories of the conflict remain in people's hearts.

A compound of 開(かい) (to open, to start) and 戦(せん) (war, battle).

COMMON COLLOCATIONS:

  • 開戦(かいせん)に踏(ふ)み切(き)る (to decide to go to war)
  • 開戦(かいせん)に至(いた)る (to lead to war)
  • 開戦(かいせん)直前(ちょくぜん) (just before the outbreak of war)
  • 開戦(かいせん)当初(とうしょ) (at the start of the war)
  • 開戦(かいせん)を回避(かいひ)する (to avoid war)

The antonym is 終戦(しゅうせん) (end of war). Related terms include 宣戦(せんせん) (declaration of war) and 休戦(きゅうせん) (ceasefire).

Related Words

Antonym: 終戦(しゅうせん) (end of war)
Related: 休戦(きゅうせん) (ceasefire)
general
Added 2026.3.4 13:03
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