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How to say "hemp" in Japanese

Choosing the right word
  • 大麻たいまCommon
    nounCovers hemp/cannabis, the plant and the drug made from it; this is the term used in legal and news contexts, such as reports on cannabis offenses.
  • 麻あさJLPT N1approx.Common
    nounThe hemp plant (Cannabis sativa) itself and its fiber; use this when talking about the crop or material rather than the drug.
  • マリファナCommon
    nounThis is the word for marijuana, the drug. It is seldom what you want for the hemp plant or its fiber; for those senses use 麻 or 大麻.
    マリファナについてトムと議論ぎろんした。↗
    I had an argument with Tom about the use of marijuana.

Use 麻 for the hemp plant and its fiber, 大麻 for cannabis in legal or news contexts, and 「マリファナ」 for marijuana the drug rather than the plant.

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

Japanese equivalents
See also
cannabis

JLPT vocabulary levels are community estimates, not official (no official lists have been published since the 2010 revision).

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