How to say "junk" in Japanese

• ガラクタCommon
  nounCovers junk as worthless, cluttered old objects — broken appliances, worn-out belongings piling up around the house. The usual everyday word when you want to say something is just a piece of junk.
  このガラクタは火ひに燃もやしなさい。↗

  Burn this rubbish on the fire.
• ジャンク
  nounA loanword matching junk itself, including junk as in junk food. Since it is less common than ガラクタ, reach for it mainly when you specifically want the loanword flavor.
• ジャンキー
  na-adjectiveCovers junk only in the sense of junk food, with an 'unhealthy' nuance, and is colloquial. It is not a general word for junk; use it when describing greasy, unhealthy food habits.
• ごみくず
  nounReally means trash or garbage — literally refuse or litter — with junk only as a marginal gloss. Seldom the word you want for worthless objects; say ガラクタ instead.
• 屑物くずもの
  nounglossed as trash, junk, garbage but rare and not a natural everyday way to call something junk. Better to choose ガラクタ for objects and ごみ for trash.

Use 「ガラクタ」 for worthless old household objects, 「ジャンク」 for literal junk or junk food, 「ジャンキー」 only for junk food contexts, and avoid 「ごみくず」 and 屑物, which literally mean trash or garbage.

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

• がらくたjunk
• ジャンクjunk
• ジャンクjunk (Chinese ship)
• ジャンキーjunk (food)
• ごみくずtrash
• 屑物くずものtrash
• かすworthless item