How to say "box" in Japanese

• 箱はこJLPT N5approx.Common
  nounThe basic word for a physical box — a container of wood, cardboard or the like — also covering a case, chest or package. When you simply mean 'a box', this is the word you want.
  その取っ手とってを右みぎにねじると箱はこは開ひらきます。↗

  Twist that knob to the right and the box will open.
• ボックスCommon
  nounThe katakana loanword for 'box', also 'container' or 'bin'. It overlaps with 箱, but for an ordinary physical box 箱 remains the usual choice, so this is not the default word to reach for.
• 囲みかこみCommon
  nounAn enclosure rather than a container: a box-like frame or bordered-off area around something, such as a section set off in text or page layout. Not the word for a physical box.
• 桟敷さじきCommon
  nounThe theatre sense of 'box': spectator seating areas such as the dress circle or balcony, including box seating. Use it for the seating area itself, never for a physical container.
• 升ますCommon
  nounAlso a theatre term: an individual box of seats at a theatre or similar venue. Where 桟敷 names the seating areas, this names the box itself; it is not a physical container.

Use 箱 for an ordinary physical box, 「ボックス」 for loanword contexts, 「囲み」 for a framed enclosure rather than a container, and 桟敷 or 升 for theatre seating, where 桟敷 names the areas and 升 the box as a unit.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• 箱はこbox
• ボックスbox
• 囲みかこみenclosure
• 桟敷さじきdress circle (of a theatre)
• ボックス席ボックスせきbox seat
• 入れいれcontainer
• 升ますbox (seating at a theatre, etc.)
• 枠わくborder
• マス目マスめbox (e.g. on a form)
• 穴あな(partitioned) box (type of floor seating in a traditional Japanese theatre)