Translation guide
The English word 'cage' refers to an enclosure for animals or a confining space. In Japanese, the most common equivalent is 檻 (おり), but other words like ケージ and 鳥かご exist depending on context. This guide covers how to express 'cage' naturally in Japanese.
Referring to a cage for animals, especially with bars or wire mesh, like at a zoo or for pets.
The standard word for a cage with bars, typically for larger animals or zoo enclosures. Can also refer to a jail cell metaphorically.
ライオンが檻の中を歩き回っている。
The lion is pacing around in the cage.
その動物園の檻はとても広い。
The cages at that zoo are very spacious.
Loanword from English, often used for smaller pet cages like for hamsters, birds, or dogs. Implies a wire or plastic enclosure.
ハムスターのケージを掃除した。
I cleaned the hamster's cage.
犬をケージに入れてください。
Please put the dog in the cage.
Specifically a birdcage. Use this when referring to a cage for pet birds.
鳥かごから小鳥が逃げた。
The bird escaped from the cage.
Kana form of 檻, used in casual or children's contexts. Less common in formal writing.
おりの中のクマがかわいい。
The bear in the cage is cute.
Using 'cage' figuratively to describe a situation or place that feels restrictive, like a prison or oppressive environment.
Metaphorically extends to any confining situation, similar to 'prison' in English. Often used in literary or emotional contexts.
彼女は結婚生活を檻のように感じていた。
She felt like her marriage was a cage.
この会社はまるで檻だ。
This company is like a cage.
Literally 'prison', but can be used metaphorically for a cage-like situation. Stronger and more dramatic than 檻.
A phrase meaning 'feeling of being caged/trapped'. Useful when describing the sensation without a direct noun.
都会にいると、閉じ込められている感じがする。
I feel caged in when I'm in the city.
Referring to a batting cage or similar practice enclosure in sports.
Standard term for a batting cage in baseball. Often shortened to just ケージ in context.
バッティングケージで練習した。
I practiced in the batting cage.
Short for batting cage when context is clear. Also used for other sports cages like golf practice nets.
ケージに入って打つ。
Get in the cage and hit.
Referring to the skeletal structure of the ribs.
Medical/anatomical term for rib cage. Used in formal or technical contexts.
胸郭のレントゲンを撮った。
I had an X-ray of my rib cage.
Literally 'ribs', but often used to refer to the rib cage area in everyday speech.
檻 (おり) is for larger, barred enclosures (zoo animals, jail cells). ケージ is for smaller pet cages (hamsters, dogs) and sports cages. 鳥かご is specifically for birds. Using the wrong term can sound odd: a lion in a ケージ sounds like a pet, while a hamster in an 檻 sounds like a prisoner.
ハムスターは檻ではなくケージで飼う。
Hamsters are kept in a cage (ケージ), not a barred cage (檻).
While 檻 can metaphorically mean a jail cell, ケージ does not carry that connotation. For a prison cell, use 独房 (どくぼう) or 牢屋 (ろうや).
彼は自分の部屋を牢獄と呼んだ。
He called his room a cage (prison).
肋骨を痛めた。
I hurt my rib cage.