Meaning and Usage
"突破" (とっぱ) primarily means "breaking through" or "breakthrough," often used to describe overcoming obstacles, barriers, or difficult challenges. It can refer to physical penetration, such as breaking through a defense line, or metaphorical breakthroughs, like passing a difficult exam or surpassing a market barrier.
Common Collocations
- 突破する (とっぱする): to break through, to overcome
- 突破口 (とっぱこう): breakthrough point or opening
- 難関を突破する (なんかんをとっぱする): to overcome a difficult hurdle
Register and Nuance
"突破" is a formal and somewhat technical term, often used in news, business, military, or academic contexts. It conveys a sense of successfully overcoming a significant challenge or barrier.
Usage Tips
When using "突破," the focus is on the act of overcoming or breaking through something that blocks progress. It is often paired with words indicating the obstacle or challenge. Avoid using it for trivial or everyday situations where "overcome" or "pass" might be better expressed with simpler verbs like "合格する" (to pass) or "乗り越える" (to overcome).