How to say "string" in Japanese

• ひもJLPT N3approx.Common
  nounA physical string or cord for tying or fastening things, such as parcel string. Use it when 'string' means an actual piece of cord rather than thread or an instrument string.
  何なんかを記録きろくするために、彼かれらはラマかアルパカの毛糸けいとでできた、結び目むすびめのついたひもを使つかった。↗

  To record something, they used knotted cords made of the wool of the llama or alpaca.
• 糸いとJLPT N4approx.Common
  noun, noun (suffix)Thread or yarn, and string in the thin, thread-like sense — sewing thread, for instance. For the strings of instruments use 弦, and for a thicker cord ひも.
  おばあちゃんは身みをかがめて糸いとの付ついた針はりを拾ひろった。↗

  My grandma stooped down and picked up a needle and thread.
• 弦つるCommon
  nounThe string of a stringed instrument — a guitar, violin or shamisen. When English 'string' refers to these, whether playing or replacing one, this is the word.
• 引っ張るひっぱるJLPT N3approx.Common
  godan verb, transitive verbA verb, not a noun: use it when 'string' means to string up a line or run cable — stringing a clothesline, for example. Its basic sense is pulling something taut.
• 緒おCommon
  nounAlso the string of a musical instrument or a bow, so it overlaps with 弦. For a guitar, violin or shamisen, though, 弦 is the word you will normally want.

Choose 「ひも」 for a physical cord, 糸 for thread or thin string, 弦 or 緒 for the strings of instruments, and 「引っ張る」 when 'string' is a verb meaning to run a line or cable.

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

• ひもstring
• 糸いとthread
• ストリングstring
• 絃げんstring (of a shamisen, etc.)
• 一糸いっしthread
• 弦つるstring (of shamisen, guitar, violin, etc.)
• 引っ張るひっぱるto string (lines)
• 筋すじfiber
• 緒おstring (of a musical instrument, bow, etc.)
• コードstring (on an instrument)
• 弦げんstring (of a shamisen, etc.)
• 紐帯ちゅうたいobi and cord