How to say "shelf" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- 棚たなnounThe general word for a shelf as a physical object — a board or rack for putting things on, such as a bookshelf or a shelf for dishes. Also used for ledges and racks.
- 段だんnoun, counterReally the word for a step, tier or level; its 'shelf' sense treats a shelf as one tier among several, as in the upper or lower shelf of a unit. Use 棚 for the object.
Use 棚 for a shelf as a physical object — a board or rack for keeping things on — and 段 only when thinking of a shelf as one tier or level among several in a unit.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
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