How to say "tap" in Japanese

• タップCommon
  nounThe loanword for the noun: the fixture that controls the flow of water, i.e. a tap or faucet on a sink or bath. It matches the English word directly.
• 蛇口じゃぐちJLPT N2approx.Common
  nounThe native word for the same fixture: the tap or faucet on a sink or bath, the thing you turn to run water. Both this and タップ are common.
  この蛇口じゃぐちは使つかえません。故障こしょうしています。↗

  You can't use this faucet. It's out of order.
• 打つうつJLPT N4approx.Common
  godan verb, transitive verbThe verb for hitting or striking; its 'tap' reading arises only when the blow is light, and for a deliberate light tap 叩く is the more natural choice.
  階段かいだんから落おちて背中せなかを強つよく打うちました。↗

  I fell down the stairs and hit my back very hard.
• 叩くたたくJLPT N3approx.Common
  godan verb, transitive verbThe verb you want for tapping: it covers giving light blows or knocks, such as tapping someone on the shoulder or rapping on a door, alongside its broader senses of striking and hitting.
  見知みしらぬ人ひとが玄関げんかんのドアをしきりにたたいた。↗

  A stranger beat urgently at the front door.
• 栓せんJLPT N2approx.Common
  nounReally a stopper or plug; as a 'tap' it means the stopcock fitted to a barrel or keg, not the faucet on a sink — for that, 蛇口 or タップ is the word.

For the noun, 「タップ」, 蛇口 and 栓 all name the fixture, though 栓 is really a stopper or keg stopcock; for the verb, 「叩く」 and 「打つ」 both mean to strike, with light tapping usually 「叩く」.

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

• タップtap
• 蛇口じゃぐちfaucet
• 打つうつto hit
• 叩くたたくto strike
• ぽんpat
• とんtap
• コックcock
• 給水栓きゅうすいせんhydrant
• 水道栓すいどうせんhydrant
• 活栓かっせんvalve
• 水道の栓すいどうのせんwater spigot
• 穿刺せんしparacentesis
• はじき音はじきおん(alveolar) flap
• ノックtap
• 栓せんtap
• 飲みのみspigot
• 飲み口のみくちtap