1.
epicenter (the point on the earth's surface directly above the focus of an earthquake)
The technical term for the point on the ground surface directly above where an earthquake originates. Distinct from the hypocenter (震源), which is the underground point of origin.
震央は海底だった。
The epicenter was on the seabed.
震央に近い地域では被害が大きかった。
Damage was severe in areas close to the epicenter.
気象庁の発表によると、震央は千葉県南部で、震源の深さは約30キロだった。
According to the Japan Meteorological Agency's announcement, the epicenter was in southern Chiba Prefecture, with a hypocenter depth of approximately 30 kilometers.
Composed of 震 (earthquake/tremor) + 央 (center). This is the technical seismological term for the surface point above the earthquake origin. In everyday Japanese, 震源 or 震源地 are used more loosely to mean "epicenter" even though they technically refer to the underground origin point.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 震央付近: near the epicenter
- 震央からの距離: distance from the epicenter
- 震央分布: epicenter distribution
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 震源: seismic focus; hypocenter — the underground point where the earthquake originates
- 震源地: the place of origin — often used loosely as a synonym for epicenter, and also used figuratively for the source of a problem