How to say "fence" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- 柵さくnounA fence of stakes, rails or palings, typically wooden, put up to enclose an area or keep animals in or out; it suits a farm, field or protective barrier more than a house boundary.
- nounThe go-to word for a fence as a physical structure, especially man-made ones of metal, wire or chain-link around sports fields, schools and properties; the safest choice when you just mean a fence.
- 垣かきnounA fence or hedge marking the boundary of a house or garden; it covers planted hedges as well as built fences, and suggests a garden or homesite rather than a large enclosure.
- 囲いかこいnounReally means an enclosure or pen — the enclosed space rather than the barrier — so for a fence structure it is seldom the word you want; use it when the enclosure itself is the point.
- 垣根かきねnounA hedge or fence along the boundary of a property, most typically a row of shrubs; the natural choice when English 'hedge' fits, and also fine for a low garden fence.
「フェンス」 is the safest choice for a fence structure; 柵 suits stake-built fences that keep animals in or out; 垣 and 垣根 cover house, garden and boundary fences or hedges; 「囲い」 means the enclosure or pen, not the fence.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
See also
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