How to say "bell" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- nounThe loanword from English, typically for bells of the Western kind: a bicycle bell, an alarm clock's bell, a handbell. For the large hanging bells of temples and churches, 鐘 is the usual word.
- 鈴すずnounA small bell, often globular — the kind that tinkles rather than tolls. The bell on a cat's collar is the classic example; the pellet-like ritual bells at shrines are also 鈴.だれがその猫に鈴をつけられるか。↗Who can put a bell on the cat?
- 鐘かねnounA large hanging bell, struck to sound far and wide — the great bells of temples and churches. It can also refer to the chime itself, the sound rather than the object.
- nounA chime; the word to use for a doorbell. It covers the device and its sound alike, and is the natural choice where English would say 'chime' rather than 'bell'.
- 朝顔あさがおnounPrimarily the morning glory flower, and also funnel-shaped objects; as 'bell' it serves only for the flared bell of a trumpet. For an actual bell it is seldom the word you want.
Use 「ベル」 for bells in general, 鈴 for small globular bells, 鐘 for large hanging ones, 「チャイム」 for doorbells and chimes; 朝顔 serves only for a trumpet's flared bell, not as a general word for 'bell'.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
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