How to say "pump" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- nounCovers the noun: the pump as a device or piece of equipment, such as a water pump. Use it when English 'pump' names the machine rather than the action of pumping.
- 汲むくむgodan verb, transitive verbMatches 'pump' as a verb in the sense of drawing water up; its basic meanings are to ladle, dip up, or scoop up liquid, so it describes the act of taking water, not the device.
Use 「ポンプ」 for the noun — the pump as a device — and 「汲む」 for the verb when pumping means drawing or scooping up water; 「汲む」 also covers ladling and dipping, so it is broader than pumping alone.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
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