How to say "cluster" in Japanese

• クラスターCommon
  nounThe katakana loanword, used much as the English word is, especially in scientific and technical contexts such as computing and the sciences.
• 塊かたまりJLPT N2approx.Common
  nounFor a compact physical mass: things packed or stuck together into one lump or clump, like a clod of earth or a knot of people.
  巨大きょだいな肉にくの塊かたまりが当あたった。↗

  I was hit by a huge chunk of meat.
• 群れむれJLPT N2approx.Common
  nounThe word for a group of animals or people that move or gather together — a flock, herd or crowd; it also covers clusters of things such as stars.
  鳥とりは群むれをなして飛とんでいた。↗

  The birds were flying in a group.
• 林はやしJLPT N4approx.Common
  nounUsed figuratively for many similar things standing thickly together like trees in a grove; it suggests a dense thicket or collection rather than a single compact lump.
• 房ふさCommon
  noun, counterSpecifically for things growing or hanging on a stem: a bunch of grapes or bananas, or a cluster of flowers.
  私は市場しじょうでリンゴを３個こにブドウを二ふた房ふさ、デザート用ように買かった。↗

  I bought three apples and two bunches of grapes for dessert at the market.

Choose 「クラスター」 for technical loanword uses, 塊 for a compact physical mass, 「群れ」 for groups of animals or stars, 林 for a dense stand of things, and 房 for bunches of fruit or flowers.

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

• クラスターcluster
• 塊かたまりlump
• 群れむれgroup
• バンチbunch
• 千成りせんなりgreat collection (of things)
• 一朶いちだ(a) branch (of flowers)
• 集塊しゅうかいagglomerate (e.g. of cells, molecules, etc.)
• 林はやしbunch (of something)
• 房ふさbunch (of grapes, bananas, etc.)