荷造りする
nizukuri suru
To pack is said in Japanese as 荷造りする (nizukuri suru).
The phrase is used to describe the act of putting clothes and other personal belongings into a bag or suitcase for a trip.
What does it mean word for word?
The noun part of the phrase, 荷造り, is composed of 荷 meaning luggage or load and 造り meaning making or construction.
Which one should you use?
While you can use the katakana loanword パッキングする, the more common way to express general travel preparations is 荷造りする.
How does it change in a sentence?
To express that you have already finished the act of packing, use the past tense form 荷造りした. To describe the ongoing action of packing, use the continuous form 荷造りしています.
How do you pronounce it?
nizukuri suru
Did you know?
- The word 荷 used in 荷造りする also describes a spiritual or emotional 'burden' in Japanese, linking the physical act of packing to the weight of one's responsibilities.
- The word 造り in 荷造りする comes from the same root as 'architecture' or 'construction', implying that packing is a way of 'building' or 'structuring' the contents of a bag.
- While 荷造りする refers to travel, the phrase 荷をまとめる is used for packing a house or office to move, emphasizing the act of gathering and organizing rather than just filling a bag.
Examples in context
- Kaban ni fuku o tsumekomu yo (鞄に服を詰め込むよ)I will pack clothes into the bag.
Example conversation
Yui and Hiroto are preparing for a trip together.
- 結衣 Yui大翔、もう荷造りした？Hiroto, mō nidzukuri shita?Hiroto, did you pack already?
- 大翔 Hirotoいや、これから荷造りするところだよ。Iya, kore kara nidzukuri suru tokoro dayo.No, I'm just about to pack now.
- 結衣 Yui急いでね。忘れ物がないか確認して。Isoide ne. Wasuremono ga nai ka kakunin shite.Hurry up. Check that you haven't forgotten anything.
- 大翔 Hirotoわかった。すぐに終わらせるよ。Wakatta. Sugu ni owaraseru yo.Got it. I'll finish quickly.
