How to say "bag" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- nounThe everyday loanword for a bag you carry by hand or over the shoulder, such as a handbag or tote. It is the natural default when talking about personal bags in daily life.
- 袋ふくろnounA soft container made of paper, plastic, or cloth: a sack, pouch, or packet. Use it for shopping bags, envelopes of powder, or drawstring pouches, not for hand-carried personal bags.
- nounA bag for carrying belongings, such as a school bag, satchel, briefcase, or basket. The usual word for the bag you take to school or work; typically written in kana alone.
- 塁るいnounNot a bag in the everyday sense: this word means a base in baseball, which is also called a bag in English. Choose it only in that sporting context.
Use 「バッグ」 for a general hand-carried bag, 袋 for a soft sack or pouch, and 「かばん」 for a school or work bag; 塁 is only the baseball term.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
See also
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