How to say "basket" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- noun, suru verb, intransitive verbNot a container at all — this is the goal or basket in basketball and similar sports, i.e. the hoop you score through. Use it when talking about shooting, scoring, or defending the basket in a game.
- nounA physical basket for carrying or holding things, such as a shopping basket or hamper, and by extension a cage. Usually written in kana alone. This is the natural everyday word for a wicker or wire basket.
- nounA straightforward loanword covering 'basket' as a container. A safe general choice when you simply mean a basket, especially in contexts where the English loanword feels natural.
- nounPrimarily means a bag, satchel, or briefcase; 'basket' is only a secondary gloss. It is seldom the word you want for an ordinary basket — reach for かご or バスケット instead.
- nounNot a household basket: this is the gondola of a hot-air balloon or airship, a cable-car or ski-lift cabin, or an elevator car. Only use it for those suspended or enclosed carriages.
For a physical container use 「かご」 or 「バスケット」 (「かご」 for wicker/shopping baskets); 「かばん」 is primarily 'bag'; 「ゴール」 is a basketball goal, not a container; 「ゴンドラ」 refers to balloon gondolas and lift cabins.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
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