How to say "cartridge" in Japanese

• カートリッジCommon
  nounThe common, all-purpose loanword and the safest choice: printer ink, video-game and similar device cartridges are カートリッジ, and it also covers firearm cartridges.
  彼かれはインクカートリッジを交換こうかんしていて白しろいシャツを汚よごした。↗

  He soiled his white shirt when he changed the ink cartridge.
• 実包じっぽう
  nounThe firearm term: a complete live round for a gun, by extension live ammunition generally. Use it in shooting and hunting contexts; it is less common than カートリッジ.
• 弾薬筒だんやくとう
  nounA less common, technical firearm term for a cartridge; 実包 is the usual firearm word, so this is mainly one to recognize rather than produce.
• 薬包やくほう
  nounChiefly an artillery term for a bagged powder charge; its 'cartridge' sense is marginal, so it is seldom the word you want for ordinary 'cartridge'.

Use 「カートリッジ」 as the all-purpose word for cartridges, especially in devices; for firearm ammunition use 実包, with 弾薬筒 a rarer technical alternative, and 薬包 only for bagged artillery charges.

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

• カートリッジcartridge
• 実包じっぽうcartridge (for a firearm)
• 弾薬筒だんやくとうcartridge (for a firearm)
• 薬包やくほうbagged charge (for artillery)
• ピックアップpickup (in a record player)
• 薬筒やくとう(ammunition) cartridge