How to say "pin" in Japanese

• ピンJLPT N3approx.Common
  nounCovers physical pins such as hairpins and safety pins. This is the everyday word for small metal fastening pins, borrowed from English.
  写真しゃしんはピンでとめられていた。↗

  The picture was held on by a pin.
• 針はりJLPT N3approx.Common
  nounPrimarily means needle, as for sewing; it can also refer to pins in related senses. If you mean an actual pin like a safety pin, ピン is usually the word you want.
  針はりで親指おやゆびを突ついてしまった。↗

  I pricked my thumb with a needle.
• 暗証番号あんしょうばんごうCommon
  nounThis is the sense of 'pin' as in PIN, the personal identification number used with bank cards and passwords. It never refers to a physical pin.
  偽造ぎぞうカードと暗証番号あんしょうばんごうが揃そろえば、口座こうざにある限かぎりの現金げんきんが引き出ひきだされてしまう。↗

  If they can get both a forged card and its PIN then all the cash in the bank account will be withdrawn.
• 端子たんしCommon
  nounRefers to pins on semiconductors or microcontrollers, that is, the metal connectors of electronic components. Not the word for everyday pins.

Use 「ピン」 for physical pins like hairpins or safety pins, 針 for needles (its primary sense), 暗証番号 for PIN as a personal identification number, and 端子 for pins on semiconductors or microcontrollers.

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

• ピンpin (e.g. hairpin, safety pin)
• 針はりneedle
• 暗証番号あんしょうばんごうpersonal identification number
• 留め針とめばりpin
• 虫ピンむしピンpin (esp. for mounting insects)
• ツク棒ツクぼうprong (of a buckle)
• 釘くぎnail
• 端子たんしpin (on a semiconductor or microcontroller)
• 着せるきせるto pin (e.g. a crime on someone)
• なすりつけるto lay (the blame on someone)
• 止めるとめるto fix (in place)