Pronunciation
Definition
誤爆 (ごばく, gobaku) is a Japanese slang term that describes the act of inadvertently sending a message to a wrong chat/person. 誤爆 is also something you say after you text a wrong person, like “oops, wrong chat”. This fiasco usually takes place on a messaging app like LINE/Messenger, and the accident on LINE is called “LINE 誤爆”. It can also happen on Twitter if you have multiple accounts and behave like a different person in each account. A common example of “Twitter 誤爆” is when famous people inadvertently post their private and shocking tweet (e.g. photos of their secret partner) on their official account instead of their private (and usually covert) one.
誤爆 on Purpose
It is said that some people do “fake 誤爆” to express their feelings for their crush. For instance, if you have a crush on a girl named Ana, you may send her a “wrong chat” like “I’m so in love with Ana! Do you know what she thinks about me?”, pretending that you’ve “accidentally” sent the message to her instead of your friend. Although some websites recommend this type of 誤爆 as an “effective approach” to get your crush interested in you, clearly many people will find it quite obvious, awkward and pathetic.
Original Meaning of 誤爆
Originally, 誤爆 means “(something) accidentally explodes” or “to accidentally explode/bomb something”. The first kanji “誤” (go) means “error/mistake”, and the second one “爆” (baku) means “explosion”.
Example Sentences
Ex1:
LINEで誤爆してめちゃ恥ずかしかった
I texted a wrong person on LINE. It was so embarrassing.
Ex2:
あの女性アイドルがTwitterで誤爆して彼氏の写真をアップしてしまった
The female idol accidentally uploaded the photos of her boyfriend using a wrong account on Twitter.
Ex3
(when you text a wrong person)
あなた: 明日暇?
あなた: 誤爆した
YOU: Hey, are you free tomorrow?
YOU: Oops, wrong chat
Ex4:
手榴弾が車の中で誤爆した
A grenade has accidentally exploded inside the car.
Ex5:
我々の船を敵と間違えて誤爆してしまった
We’ve accidentally bombed our ships, which we mistakenly recognized as the enemy’s.
Synonyms: None
Synonyms in English: wrong chat/person
Related words and phrases: 爆発 (explosion)
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