A terahertz-wave generation method of generating a terahertz wave in a direction satisfying a non-collinear phase-matching condition by making pump light incident on a nonlinear optical crystal capable of generating a terahertz wave by optical parametric effect, makes the pump light incident on the nonlinear optical crystal so that a peak excited power density is equal to or greater than a predetermined terahertz-wave lasing threshold and equal to or less than a predetermined laser damage threshold, and an average excited power density is equal to or less than a predetermined photorefractive effect occurrence threshold, the pump light having a pulse width of 10 ps or more, the pulse width of 1 ns or less, and a repetition frequency of 1 kHz or more.