時限爆弾(じげんばくだん)

じげんばくだん
noun
time bomb
1. time bomb
a bomb designed to explode at a preset time
時限爆弾(じげんばくだん)が発見(はっけん)された。
A time bomb was discovered.
警察(けいさつ)は時限爆弾(じげんばくだん)を爆発(ばくはつ)前(まえ)に処理(しょり)した。
The police disposed of the time bomb before it exploded.
映画(えいが)では、主人公(しゅじんこう)が残(のこ)り三十秒(さんじゅうびょう)で時限爆弾(じげんばくだん)を解除(かいじょ)するシーンが定番(ていばん)だ。
In movies, it's a classic scene where the protagonist disarms the time bomb with thirty seconds left.
2. time bomb (figurative); ticking time bomb
a situation, problem, or condition that is expected to cause serious trouble at some point in the future
少子高齢化(しょうしこうれいか)は社会保障(しゃかいほしょう)にとって時限爆弾(じげんばくだん)だ。
The declining birthrate and aging population is a time bomb for social security.
老朽化(ろうきゅうか)したインフラは時限爆弾(じげんばくだん)のようなものだ。
Aging infrastructure is like a ticking time bomb.
専門家(せんもんか)は、放置(ほうち)された空(あ)き家(や)の問題(もんだい)を「地域(ちいき)の時限爆弾(じげんばくだん)」と呼(よ)んでいる。
Experts are calling the problem of abandoned houses a 'ticking time bomb for local communities.'

Composed of 時限(じげん) (time limit; timed) + 爆弾(ばくだん) (bomb). In the literal sense, it refers to an explosive device with a timer. The figurative sense is widely used in news, commentary, and everyday conversation to describe looming crises.

Common collocations

Similar words

  • 爆弾(ばくだん): bomb — general term for any explosive device
  • 地雷(じらい): landmine — also used figuratively for hidden dangers or social taboos
  • 不発弾(ふはつだん): unexploded ordnance — a bomb that failed to detonate

Related Words

Compare: 地雷(じらい) (landmine)
general
Added 2026.5.1 0:29 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:02
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