(じしんそくほう)

じしんそくほう
noun
earthquake alert; earthquake bulletin
1. earthquake alert; earthquake bulletin
An urgent notification about an earthquake, including early warnings issued before shaking arrives and post-earthquake bulletins. A critical part of Japan's disaster preparedness infrastructure.
地震速報(じしんそくほう)()った。
The earthquake alert went off.
スマホの地震速報(じしんそくほう)確認(かくにん)した。
I checked the earthquake alert on my smartphone.
緊急地震速報(きんきゅうじしんそくほう)(なが)れた瞬間(しゅんかん)全員(ぜんいん)(つくえ)(した)(もぐ)った。
The moment the emergency earthquake alert sounded, everyone dove under their desks.

A compound of 地震(じしん) (earthquake) and 速報(そくほう) (bulletin/breaking news). In Japan, the full system is called 緊急地震速報(きんきゅうじしんそくほう) (Earthquake Early Warning), operated by the 気象庁(きしょうちょう) (Japan Meteorological Agency).

COMMON COLLOCATIONS:

  • 緊急(きんきゅう)地震速報(じしんそくほう): emergency earthquake alert (official name)
  • 地震速報(じしんそくほう)()る: an earthquake alert sounds
  • 地震速報(じしんそくほう)()()る: to receive an earthquake alert
  • 地震速報(じしんそくほう)(なが)れる: an earthquake alert is broadcast

CULTURAL CONTEXT:
Japan's earthquake early warning system is one of the most advanced in the world. Alerts arrive on smartphones, TVs, and public speakers seconds before shaking hits. The distinctive alarm sound is immediately recognizable to anyone living in Japan. People in Japan regularly experience these alerts and are trained to respond quickly.