How to say "harbor" in Japanese

• 港みなとJLPT N4approx.Common
  nounThe general word for a harbor or port: a place where ships moor to unload cargo and take on passengers. This is what you call an actual harbor in ordinary speech.
  その船ふねはいま港みなとにある。↗

  The ship is now in the harbor.
• ポートCommon
  nounA loanword for 'port; harbor'. 港 does the everyday work, so ポート is seldom the word you want for an actual harbor; it turns up mainly in names and set phrases.
• ハーバーCommon
  nounThe English loanword for 'harbor'. As with ポート, ordinary speech uses 港; ハーバー appears mostly in names and set phrases, so it is rarely the word you need for a harbor itself.
• 港湾こうわんCommon
  nounPorts and harbors as an administrative and economic concern: you meet this word in official, legal, and business writing rather than conversation. For a single harbor, say 港.
  近代的きんだいてきな港湾こうわん施設しせつがないために、多おおくの船積ふなづみ業ぎょう者しゃが不便ふべんを被かぶった。↗

  The lack of modern post facilities caused trouble for many shippers.
• 船着き場ふなつきばCommon
  nounA landing place or wharf: a spot where boats tie up, typically small and simple, such as a ferry landing. It is not the word for a full harbor; use 港 for that.

For an actual harbor, 港 is the usual word; 港湾 is the formal term for ports in official and economic contexts; 「ポート」 and 「ハーバー」 are loanwords heard mainly in names; 「船着き場」 is a small landing place or wharf.

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

• 港みなとharbour
• ポートport
• ハーバーharbor
• 港湾こうわんharbour
• 船着き場ふなつきばharbour
• 海口かいこうharbor
• 船着きふなつきharbour
• かくまうto shelter (e.g. a fugitive)
• 海の駅うみのえきmarina
• 含むふくむto bear in mind
• 抱くいだくto have (a thought or feeling)
• 差し挟むさしはさむto harbor (e.g. doubts)
• 津つharbour
• 泊まりとまりanchorage