How to say "dice" in Japanese

• さいころ
  nounThe everyday word for the dice used in games. It is usually written in kana alone, and for most purposes this is the word you will want.
• ダイス
  nounA loanword for dice or a single die, covering the same game piece as さいころ. You may come across it in games and hobby contexts.
• 賽さい
  nounA formal or literary word for dice or a die. It belongs to written language rather than everyday speech, so it is seldom the word you want in conversation.
  賽さいは投なげられた。↗

  The die is cast.
• 骰子シャイツ
  nounA word for dice, applied especially to the dice used in mahjong. Outside that game, さいころ is the word you want.
• 一天地六いってんちろく
  nounA rare word for a die or dice. It is seldom the word you want; recognize it if you come across it, but use さいころ or ダイス to refer to actual dice.

Use 「さいころ」 for the everyday game piece; 「ダイス」 is a loanword, 賽 is formal or literary, 骰子 refers to dice especially in mahjong, and 一天地六 is a rare term for a die.

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

• さいころdice
• ダイスdice
• 賽さいdice
• 骰子シャイツdice (esp. in mahjong)
• 一天地六いってんちろくdie
• さいの目さいのめsmall cube (esp. of food)