Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| カップ | kappu | [ka̠p̚pɯ̟] (narrow) |
| コップ | koppu | [ko̞p̚pɯ̟] (narrow) |
| 茶碗 | chawan | [t͡ɕa̠β̞ã̠ɴ] (narrow) |
| お猪口 | ochoko | |
| 器 | utsuwa | [ɯ̟t͡sɨβ̞a̠] (narrow) |
Japanese uses specific words to distinguish between different types of drinking vessels. While コップ is the standard term for a glass or tumbler, カップ usually implies a cup with a handle. Traditional vessels like ceramic tea bowls or sake cups have their own distinct names, and the more general term 器 can be used to refer to any container or vessel.
Which one should you use?
The choice of word depends on the material and shape of the vessel: コップ is the most common word for a standard drinking glass or tumbler, often made of glass or plastic. カップ often refers specifically to a cup with a handle, such as a coffee cup or a teacup. For traditional items, 茶碗 refers to a traditional Japanese ceramic bowl used for tea or rice, while お猪口 is used specifically for the small, shallow vessels used to drink sake. If you want to speak more broadly about any container or bowl, use 器.
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
kappu
Did you know?
- The term お猪口 for sake cups contains a character that literally means 'boar's mouth'.
- In a traditional Japanese tea ceremony, the 茶碗 is often rotated twice before drinking to avoid placing the lips on the most decorative part of the bowl.
- The word 器 (utsuwa) is used so broadly that it can also metaphorically refer to a person's capacity or talent.
Examples in context
- カップが割れた。The cup broke.This sentence shows how to describe a broken カップ.Tatoeba #226319 by arnab, translation #63659 by CK
- 僕のコップはどれ？Which one is my cup?This sentence is used to ask which コップ belongs to someone.Tatoeba #11505754 by small_snow, translation #6357336 by CK
- 素敵なカップを見つけた。I found a nice cup.This sentence shows how to describe finding a nice カップ.Tatoeba #140628 by small_snow, translation #273945 by CK
- お茶をコップに注いでください。Please pour tea into a cup.
- カップを洗ってください。Please wash the cup.
- お茶は湯呑みに入れてください。Please pour the tea into a teacup.
- 60 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Yui and Ren are in the kitchen during a break.
- 結衣 Yui新しいカップを買ったよ。Atarashii kappu o katta yo.I bought a new cup.
- 蓮 Renすごくおしゃれなカップだね。Sugoku oshare na kappu da ne.It's a very stylish cup.
- 結衣 Yui蓮君もこれを使う？Ren-kun mo kore o tsukau?Will you use this too, Ren?
- 蓮 Renうん、喜んで使うよ。Un, yorokonde tsukau yo.Yes, I'd love to use it.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “cup” translations and entries カップ, コップ, 茶碗, 器, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
