弾(たま)

たま
noun
bullet; shot; ammunition
1. bullet; shot; round of ammunition
A bullet or projectile fired from a gun. When read 弾(たま), the character refers to ammunition; the same character is read 弾(だん) in compounds such as 弾丸(だんがん) (bullet).
弾(たま)が切(き)れた。
I'm out of ammo.
弾(たま)を込(こ)めて構(かま)えた。
I loaded a round and took aim.
撃(う)った弾(たま)は的(まと)を外(はず)れ、壁(かべ)に当(あ)たった。
The bullet I fired missed the target and hit the wall.

When read 弾(たま), this character means a bullet or round of ammunition. The same sound is written 玉(たま) (ball, sphere) or 球(たま) (ball) for other senses — the 弾(たま) spelling specifically signals ammunition.

COMMON COLLOCATIONS:

  • 弾(たま)を込(こ)める: to load a bullet
  • 弾(たま)が切(き)れる: to run out of ammunition
  • 弾(たま)を撃(う)つ: to fire a shot

RELATED:

  • 弾丸(だんがん): bullet — the standard compound noun (音読(おんよ)み reading)
  • 実弾(じつだん): live ammunition
general
Added 2026.5.26 11:06
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