How to say "cage" in Japanese

• ケージCommon
  nounThe katakana loanword for a cage, typically one housing an animal such as a pet bird or hamster; a safe default when you simply mean 'cage'.
• 檻おりJLPT N1approx.Common
  nounA barred cage or pen for animals — a lion's enclosure at a zoo — and also a jail cell; the image is strong bars and confinement, not a light pet cage.
  その動物どうぶつは檻おりから出でようともがいた。↗

  The animal struggled to get out of the cage.
• かごJLPT N3approx.Common
  nounChiefly a basket — shopping baskets, hampers — and usually written in kana; its 'cage' sense is secondary, so for a cage you normally want ケージ or 檻 instead.
  そのかごはリンゴでいっぱいだった。↗

  The basket was full of apples.

For a cage housing an animal, 「ケージ」 is the loanword and 檻 a barred cage or pen (also a jail cell); 「かご」 chiefly means 'basket', with 'cage' only a secondary sense.

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

• ケージcage
• 檻おりcage
• かごbasket (shopping, etc.)