The Meaning of hako [箱] In Japanese

箱
はこ
Romaji: hako N5

What does 箱 mean?

Translation and Meaning

box, container, case

Definition

箱 (hako) means a box: a bounded receptacle used to hold, protect, or present objects. In everyday Japanese it denotes a physical container with sides (often a lid) that serves practical functions such as storing, packaging, transporting, or displaying items, and it frequently appears in compound nouns to specify types of containers.

Type

noun (名詞)

Stroke Order

Meanings

  • 1. used as a suffix in compounds to indicate a purpose-built container for a specific function (naming specialized boxes rather than describing shape).
  • 2. figurative use to describe categorical limits or mental frameworks (a metaphorical ‘box’ or constraint).
  • 3. commercial unit meaning a packaged set or shipment measured by box-count rather than individual items.
  • 4. small, decorative or gift-focused containers emphasizing presentation rather than mere storage.

Origin

Boxes as physical objects have long existed in Japan, traditionally made from bamboo, wood, or woven materials; the Chinese character was borrowed into Japanese writing to label these local containers, and over centuries boxes became central to storage, gift presentation, packaging and certain ritual or official uses.

Composition

The kanji is a phono-semantic compound: the upper radical 竹 (take) evokes bamboo or objects made from bamboo, while the lower element 相 (sou) supplies the phonetic cue; combined they historically pointed to boxes or containers often constructed from bamboo materials, yielding the modern meaning ‘box’.

Usage

Appears across daily life and registers: for household storage, retail packaging, shipping and logistics, gift wrapping and presentation, and specialized purposes (e.g., document or ballot containers); neutral in tone as a concrete noun, it also combines with other words to form technical or colloquial terms naming specific container types and is used with counters when quantifying boxed goods.
💡 Tips
Visualize a little bamboo crate with a lid: the top of the kanji looks like bamboo, which helps link 箱 (hako) to the idea of a box.

Variations

  • ケース (keesu) — case (loanword frequently used for plastic or protective cases)
  • 容器 (youki) — container (broader term for vessels and receptacles)
  • 匣 (hako) — archaic or literary variant meaning small box or chest

Example Phrases

  • 私は買い物袋のラベルを剥がすついでに、箱の貼り紙も剥がした。
    Watashi wa kaimonobukuro no raberu o hagasu tsuide ni, hako no harigami mo hagashita.
    I peeled off the label from the shopping bag, and I also peeled off the box’s sticker.
    Lista:
    • 私は (Watashi wa) – I
    • 買い物袋のラベルを (kaimonobukuro no raberu o) – the label on the shopping bag
    • 剥がすついでに (hagasu tsuide ni) – while peeling off
    • 箱の貼り紙も (hako no harigami mo) – the box’s sticker too
    • 剥がした (hagashita) – peeled off
    The target verb 「剥がす」 is transitive and takes a direct object marked by を; in this sentence, it is used as 「剥がす」 with ラベルを. The phrase 「剥がすついでに」 meaning ‘while peeling off (one thing)’ shows doing another action as a byproduct.
  • 彼は箱から残らずお菓子を食べた。
    Kare wa hako kara nokorazu okashi o tabeta.
    He ate all the candy from the box.
    Lista:
    • 彼は (kare wa) – he
    • 箱から (hako kara) – from the box
    • 残らず (nokorazu) – without leaving behind
    • お菓子を (okashi o) – candy
    • 食べた (tabeta) – ate
    「残らず」 means ‘without leaving any behind; entirely,’ here it modifies 食べた to show they ate all the candy.
  • この 箱は 頑丈 で 長く 使える ように 作られている。
    kono hako wa ganjou de nagaku tsukaeru you ni tsukurarete iru.
    This box is sturdy and built to last.
    Lista:
    • この (kono) – this
    • 箱は (hako wa) – the box
    • 頑丈 (ganjou) – sturdy
    • で (de) – and/with
    • 長く (nagaku) – long
    • 使える (tsukaeru) – usable
    • ように (you ni) – to / in order to / so that
    • 作られている。 (tsukurarete iru) – is made / is being made
    Core grammar: 「頑丈」 is a na-adjective; in this sentence it is connected to the following predicate with で, as in 「頑丈 で 長く使える」.
箱