How to say "tub" in Japanese

Choosing the right word

桶おけCommon
nounCovers 'tub' as a small open container for water — a wash tub, alongside its 'bucket' and 'pail' senses. A portable vessel, typically round, not the built-in bathtub.
彼女かのじょが電話でんわをしている間あいだにふろ桶おけがあふれた。↗
The tub ran over while she was on the phone.
船ふねJLPT N4approx.Common
nounIts usual meaning is boat or ship; as 'tub' it means a large tank, vat, or trough rather than a household vessel. Seldom the word you want for an ordinary tub.

For 'tub' as a small household water container, use 桶; 船 covers only large tanks, vats, or troughs, and elsewhere means boat, so it is rarely the right choice for an ordinary tub.

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

Japanese equivalents

桶おけbucket
タブtub
たらいtub
船ふねtank

JLPT vocabulary levels are community estimates, not official (no official lists have been published since the 2010 revision).

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