How to say "paper" in Japanese

• 紙かみJLPT N5approx.Common
  nounThe everyday word for paper as a material — the sheets you write or print on. This is the word you want in most cases where English says 'paper'.
  紙かみに線せんを１本ぽん引ひきなさい。↗

  Draw a line on the paper.
• パーCommon
  nounPaper in the game rock-paper-scissors — the open-hand sign. It names the move itself, so use it when talking about the game, not for paper as a material.
  グーがチョキに、チョキがパーに、パーはグーに勝かつ。↗

  Rock breaks scissors. Scissors cut paper. Paper smothers rock.
• ペーパーCommon
  nounThe loanword from English. It turns up chiefly in fixed expressions and compounds, so for paper as a plain material you will normally want 紙 instead.
  日本にっぽん創刊そうかんを果はたしたイギリス発はつのホームレスの人ひとだけが販売者はんばいしゃとなれるストリートペーパー「ビッグイシュー」について紹介しょうかいしよう。↗

  I shall be introducing the street paper that is only sold by the homeless, "The Big Issue", started in England and has had its first Japanese issue.
• レポートJLPT N4approx.Common
  noun, suru verb, transitive verbPaper in the academic sense: a written report or essay, especially one written for a class. If English 'paper' means a piece of academic writing, this is the word.
  いつレポートを提出ていしゅつするのですか。↗

  When do we hand in the report?
• 証書しょうしょCommon
  nounHere 'paper' means a formal document — a certificate or written proof of something, as in legal 'papers'. It is never the material, and for that sense it is not the word you want.
  証書しょうしょ貸付かしつけは連帯保証人れんたいほしょうにんが必要ひつようでした。↗

  Loan on deeds needed the joint surety.

Use 紙 for paper as a material, 「パー」 for the hand sign in rock-paper-scissors, 「レポート」 for an academic paper or report, and 証書 for formal documents; 「ペーパー」 is the loanword, heard mostly in set expressions.

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

• 紙かみpaper
• ぱーpaper (in rock-paper-scissors)
• ペーパーpaper
• レポートreport
• 証書しょうしょdocument (of proof)
• 論文ろんぶんthesis
• レポreport
• 書付かきつけpaper
• 西洋紙せいようし(western) paper
• 机上きじょうtheoretical
• 紙しpaper