What is the difference between 襲う、撃つ、and 襲撃?


Based on their kanjis, they all appear to have the meaning of attack, and I
think that is what makes them similar. How does one distinguish their uses? I
would also appreciate a (brief) explanation of how the component kanjis of 襲撃
contribute to the meaning of this 熟語.




襲う and 襲撃(する) are a wago-kango pair ([wago-and-kango](/questions/tagged/wago-
and-kango "show questions tagged 'wago-and-kango'")). They are often
interchangeable, but 襲撃 sounds more formal, and its usage is limited to
violent attacks by brute force. 襲う has a little broader usages, and we can say
彼を不幸が襲う, (サッカー)選手がゴールを襲う and ウイルスが町を襲う, too.

撃つ is just "to shoot someone (with a gun, cannon, etc)" or "to shoot (a gun,
etc)". There is also 討つ, which is an uncommon literary word meaning "to hit
(and kill, often under the name of justice)".




襲う and 襲撃(する) are a wago-kango pair ([wago-and-kango](/questions/tagged/wago-
and-kango "show questions tagged 'wago-and-kango'")). They are often
interchangeable, but 襲撃 sounds more formal, and its usage is limited to
violent attacks by brute force. 襲う has a little broader usages, and we can say
彼を不幸が襲う, (サッカー)選手がゴールを襲う and ウイルスが町を襲う, too.

撃つ is just "to shoot someone (with a gun, cannon, etc)" or "to shoot (a gun,
etc)". There is also 討つ, which is an uncommon literary word meaning "to hit
(and kill, often under the name of justice)".

