襁褓
mutsuki
The English word 'diaper' is translated into Japanese as 襁褓 (mutsuki), ダイパー or オムツ.
Meaning: absorbent garment for waste material (noun)
Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 襁褓 | mutsuki | |
| ダイパー | daipā | [da̠ipa̠ː] (narrow) |
| オムツ | omutsu |
A diaper is an absorbent garment used for waste material. The phrase オムツ替え (omutsu-gae) is used to mean 'changing a diaper'.
Which one should you use?
The term オムツ (omutsu) is the most common way to say diaper in daily conversation.
How do you pronounce it?
mutsuki
Did you know?
- In some formal or literary contexts, 襁褓 is used metaphorically to describe someone who is completely inexperienced or like a newborn in a certain field.
- While オムツ is used for babies, Japan also has a massive market for 大人用オムツ or 'adult diapers' which are marketed as 'pants' to reduce social stigma.
- In Japanese, you will often see the word written in katakana as オムツ instead of using kanji, even though the word has a kanji history, because it feels softer and more child-friendly.
Examples in context
- すみません、オムツの売り場はどこですか？Excuse me, where is the diaper section?
Example conversation
A couple is preparing baby supplies together.
- 蓮 Ren襁褓はもう買いましたか？swanawo wa mou kaimashita ka?Did you already buy the diapers?
- 陽葵 Himariはい、たくさん買っておきました。hai, takusan katte okimashita.Yes, I bought plenty of them.
- 蓮 Ren助かります。襁褓は重いですからね。tasukarimasu. swanawo wa omoi desu kara ne.That helps. Diapers are heavy, after all.
- 陽葵 Himari本当ですね。準備は万端です。hontou desu ne. junbi wa bantan desu.True. Everything is ready.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “diaper” translations and entries 襁褓, ダイパー, オムツ, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
