炸弹

• Pinyin: zhà dàn
• Hanzi breakdown: 炸 = 火 (fire) + 乍 (phonetic); 弹 = 弓 (bow) + 单 (single, phonetic)

Meaning

Bomb; an explosive weapon designed to detonate and cause destruction.

Primarily refers to military explosives or terrorist devices. Figuratively, can describe shocking news or information that causes a major stir. Also used in card games to refer to a powerful hand that beats other cards.

Examples

1. 拆弹专家小心翼翼地拆除了藏在汽车底盘下的炸弹。 The bomb disposal expert carefully dismantled the bomb hidden under the car chassis.
2. 她在会议上抛出了一颗重磅炸弹，宣布公司将进行大规模重组。 She dropped a bombshell at the meeting, announcing that the company would undergo major restructuring.
3. 二战期间，这座城市遭受了无数次炸弹袭击。 During World War II, this city suffered countless bombing attacks.

Usage Guide

Context: military, news, figurative

Tone: serious

Do Say

• 警方成功排除了一枚定时炸弹。(The police successfully defused a time bomb.)
• 这个消息简直就是一颗炸弹。(This news is basically a bombshell.)

Don't Say

• 我买了一个炸弹来庆祝。(Inappropriate — 炸弹 is not for celebrations; perhaps you mean 礼花弹 for fireworks)

Origin & History

Compound of 炸 (to explode) and 弹 (projectile, ammunition). A relatively modern term that emerged with the development of explosive weapons.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal