How to say "treasure" in Japanese

• 宝たからJLPT N3approx.Common
  nounCovers treasure as something precious or cherished, whether literally valuable or figuratively dear to someone. Typical contexts include treasures of a town, memories as treasures, or telling a child a treasure is hidden somewhere.
  富とみは一生いっしょうの宝たから、知ちは万代もずの宝たから。↗

  Wisdom is better than gold or silver.
• 宝物たからものCommon
  nounEmphasizes treasure as a treasured item or prized possession, something personally cherished. It fits when speaking of an object one keeps and values, such as a keepsake one calls one's own treasure.
  彼かれらは宝物ほうもつを探さがしに行いった。↗

  They went in search of treasure.
• トレジャーCommon
  nounA loanword covering treasure in the adventurous sense of buried or hunted treasure. It is really at home in games, entertainment, and pirate-hunt contexts, and is seldom the natural word for a cherished personal possession.
• 財宝ざいほうCommon
  nounRefers to treasure as wealth: gold, money, and valuables, often in large accumulations. It suits descriptions of a king's hoard or a temple's riches, and is not used for a personally treasured keepsake.
  どんなに財産ざいさんがあっても、貪欲どんよくな人間にんげんは満足まんぞくできない。世界中せかいじゅうの財宝ざいほうを集あつめても幸福こうふくにはなれない。↗

  No amount of wealth can satisfy a covetous man. All the treasure in the world won't make him happy.

Use 宝 or 宝物 for treasure as something cherished, 財宝 for treasure as valuable wealth, and 「トレジャー」 mainly for the English loanword in games, adventure, and pirate contexts.

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

• 宝たからtreasure
• 宝物たからものtreasure
• トレジャーtreasure
• 財宝ざいほうtreasure
• トレジャーTreasure
• 重器じゅうきtreasure
• お宝おたからtreasure
• 大切にするたいせつにするto cherish
• 大事にするだいじにするto take good care of
• 什物じゅうもつfurniture
• 重宝ちょうほう(priceless) treasure