How to Say "Luggage" in Japanese

荷物

nimotsu[ɲ̟imo̞t͡sɨ]

The Japanese word for luggage is 荷物 (nimotsu). Wiktionary also lists 手荷物 (tenimotsu).

Meaning: traveller's containers (noun)

Ways to say it

“luggage” in Japanese
Japanese	Romanization (Wiktionary)	IPA
荷物	nimotsu	[ɲ̟imo̞t͡sɨ] (narrow)
手荷物	tenimotsu	[te̞ɲ̟imo̞t͡sɨ] (narrow)

荷物 refers to traveller's containers. 荷物 is used not only for travel luggage but also for any delivered packages, parcels or general cargo.

The word 荷物 is composed of 荷 (load/cargo) and 物 (thing/object).

While 荷物 refers to luggage or baggage in general, 手荷物 specifically refers to hand luggage or carry-on items.

nimotsu

The term 荷物 can be used metaphorically to describe an emotional burden or a 'heavy' responsibility that a person must carry in their life.
The word 荷物 is used for the packages delivered by 'Takkyubin' courier services, which are so pervasive in Japan that people often send their luggage to their hotel before they arrive.
While 荷物 refers to the bags, the verb used for 'packing' luggage is 荷造り (nizukuri), which literally means 'luggage making'.

明日荷物が着きます。
Your luggage will arrive tomorrow.
This sentence is useful for talking about the arrival of 荷物.
Tatoeba #10954009 by small_snow, translation #10954041 by CK
彼は荷物を下に置いた。
He put the luggage down.
This sentence is useful for describing the action of putting down 荷物.
Tatoeba #109182 by bunbuku, translation #294508 by CK
私の荷物は届いていますか。
Has my luggage arrived?
This sentence is useful for asking if one's 荷物 has arrived.
Tatoeba #163917 by KK_kaku_, translation #13481707 by CK
34 more sentences on Tatoeba

Ren and Yui are arriving at a hotel.

蓮 Ren

荷物は全部ありますか。
Nimotsu wa zenbu arimasu ka.
Is all the luggage here?
結衣 Yui

はい、ここにあります。
Hai, koko ni arimasu.
Yes, it is right here.
蓮 Ren

重い荷物は任せてください。
Omoi nimotsu wa makasete kudasai.
Please leave the heavy luggage to me.
結衣 Yui

ありがとう、助かります。
Arigatou, tasukarimasu.
Thank you, that helps a lot.

Sources

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