How to say "mold" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- nounCovers the living-organism sense: the fuzzy fungus that grows on food, walls, and damp corners; 'mildew' falls under it too. Usually written in kana alone.
- 鋳型いがたnounSpecifically a casting mold: the hollow form into which molten metal is poured to harden. It also covers 'template', a pattern for reproducing the same shape.
- 型枠かたわくnounThe construction term: formwork or shuttering, the temporary frame that holds wet concrete in place while it sets. For molds outside building work, this is not the word you want.
- 形作るかたちづくるgodan verb, transitive verbThe verb: to mold, form, or shape something, giving it its form or character. Choose this when English 'mold' is an action, not the object itself.
- 型かたnounThe broad noun for a mold as a shaped form, and for a model or pattern. When 'mold' means the shape-giving form itself, rather than fungus or casting, this is the general choice.
Use 「カビ」 for the fungus, 鋳型 for a casting mold, 型枠 for concrete formwork, 型 for a mold or pattern in general, and 「形作る」 when 'mold' is the verb 'to shape'.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
See also
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