How to say "puppet" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- 人形にんぎょうnounThe broadest word: it covers dolls first and puppets as well, so it works for a puppet in a general sense or when the manipulation aspect need not be highlighted. If you want to make clear it is a puppet rather than a doll, prefer 操り人形.
- 操り人形あやつりにんぎょうnounThe most specific and usual choice for an actual puppet, especially one operated by a puppeteer. Use this whenever the referent is the performing object itself rather than the abstract idea of manipulation.
- 操りあやつりnounIts primary sense is manipulation, and as a standalone noun it is not the word for a physical puppet; it really denotes the act or manner of handling or controlling something. Think of it as the manipulation sense, not the toy.
Use 人形 for a doll or puppet in general, 「操り人形」 when you specifically mean a puppet manipulated by someone, and avoid 「操り」 as a standalone noun for the object, since its core sense is manipulation.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
See also
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