暴く

• Reading: あばく
• Romaji: abaku
• Kanji breakdown: 暴 (bō/aba) — violent, expose, outburst
• Pronunciation: /a.ba.kɯ/

Meaning

To disclose; to divulge; to expose. Bringing hidden truths, secrets, or wrongdoing to light.

A Group 1 (godan) transitive verb with a strong, dramatic tone. Used for exposing scandals, secrets, crimes, or conspiracies. Common in journalism and detective narratives. Unlike 明かす which can be neutral, 暴く implies forceful revelation of something deliberately concealed.

Examples

1. ジャーナリストが政治家の汚職を暴いた。 A journalist exposed a politician's corruption.
2. 真実を暴くために調査を続けた。 The investigation continued in order to uncover the truth.
3. 不正が暴かれて会社は大きな打撃を受けた。 The company took a major hit when the misconduct was exposed.

Usage Guide

Context: journalism, crime, investigations

Tone: dramatic

Origin & History

The kanji 暴 contains 日 (sun) and suggests bringing something into the harsh light of day. Originally meant to expose to sunlight, then extended to metaphorically stripping away concealment.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal