How to say "lottery" in Japanese

• 抽選ちゅうせんJLPT N1approx.Common
  noun, suru verb, intransitive verbCovers the drawing or balloting itself: selecting winners by lot. Typical contexts include contests, sales campaigns, and official raffles where entrants are chosen, as in a seat-allocation drawing.
• くじCommon
  nounThe most general word: a lot or draw, written in kana alone. Use it for a single lot you draw or for a lottery in an everyday sense; it is also the base idea behind related terms.
  くじで誰だれが勝かちか決きめよう。↗

  Let's decide the winner by lot.
• 宝くじたからくじCommon
  nounSpecifically the public prize lottery: numbered tickets bought for cash prizes, like state or national lottery tickets. This is the word for the gambling-style lottery English speakers usually picture.
• くじ引きくじびきJLPT N1approx.Common
  noun, suru verb, intransitive verbRefers to the act of drawing lots, such as pulling paper slips or sticks to decide an order or assignment; it is less about winning prizes. For prize lotteries it is usually not the word you want.

Use 抽選 for a drawing or balloting process, 「くじ」 for lots or a draw in general, 「宝くじ」 for a public lottery with prize tickets, and 「くじ引き」 for the physical act of drawing lots.

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

• 抽選ちゅうせんlottery
• くじlottery
• 宝くじたからくじlottery
• くじ引きくじびきlottery
• ロトlottery
• 福引ふくびきlottery
• 抽選会ちゅうせんかいlottery (event)
• ロッタリーlottery
• 富とみlottery
• ガチャlottery (i.e. something decided by chance)
• 当て物あてものprize