How to say "carry" in Japanese

• 持つもつJLPT N5approx.Common
  godan verb, transitive verbCovers carrying in the sense of holding or having something in one's hand. It centers on possession in the hand rather than movement, so it suits having a bag or umbrella with you rather than transporting it somewhere.
  コートを持もちましょうか。↗

  Shall I carry your coat?
• 運ぶはこぶJLPT N4approx.Common
  godan verb, transitive verbThe main word for carrying or transporting something from one place to another, whether by hand or otherwise. Choose this when movement to a destination is the point, as in carrying luggage or moving goods.
  荷物にもつを二に階かいに運はこんでいただけませんか。↗

  Would you carry my luggage upstairs?
• キャリーCommon
  nounA loanword meaning carry or carrying. It is mostly found in set expressions and specialized contexts such as golf or luggage, so it is rarely the general-purpose verb you want; use 運ぶ instead.
• 帯びるおびるJLPT N1approx.Common
  ichidan verb, transitive verbMeans to carry in the sense of wearing or bearing something on one's person, such as a sword or decoration. It also extends to bearing abstract qualities, so it is not for physically hauling objects around.
• 届くとどくJLPT N3approx.Common
  godan verb, intransitive verbMatches carry only in the specific sense of sound carrying, as when a voice reaches a listener. It is intransitive and about reaching, so it is seldom the word you want for carrying objects; that is 運ぶ.
  ここからでも声こえは届とどくよ。↗

  You can make yourself heard even from here.

Use 「持つ」 for holding or having something in hand, 「運ぶ」 for physically transporting something somewhere, 「キャリー」 for the borrowed English word, 「帯びる」 for wearing or bearing something on one's person, and 「届く」 only for sound carrying.

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

• 持つもつto hold (in one's hand)
• 運ぶはこぶto carry
• キャリーcarry
• 帯びるおびるto wear (a sword, decoration, etc.)
• 届くとどくto reach
• ぶら下げるぶらさげるto hang
• 持ち運ぶもちはこぶto carry
• 桁上げけたあげcarry (of digit, bit, etc.)
• 桁上りけたあがりcarry (of digit, bit, etc.)
• 桁上げるけたあげるto carry (of digit, bit, etc.)
• 抱き抱えるだきかかえるto hold
• 抱え上げるかかえあげるto gather up into one's arms
• 飛距離ひきょりdistance (of a ski jump, baseball hit, etc.)
• 乗せるのせるto load (luggage)
• 宿すやどすto carry (a baby)
• はらむto contain (a contradiction, danger, etc.)
• 身につけるみにつけるto carry
• 飲むのむto carry (a concealed dagger, etc.)
• 通るとおるto carry (e.g. of a voice)
• 掲げるかかげるto publish
• のびelongation
• 取り扱うとりあつかうto deal in
• ぶち込むぶちこむto wear (a sword, etc.)
• ぶっこむto wear (a sword)