Translation guide
A small toy sold in a plastic capsule, typically from a vending machine. In Japanese, the most common term is ガチャガチャ (gachagacha), often shortened to ガチャ (gacha).
The learner wants to refer to the toy itself or the concept of capsule toys.
The most common and widely understood term for capsule toys. Onomatopoeic, mimicking the sound of turning the vending machine crank.
駅前にガチャガチャのコーナーがある。
There's a capsule toy corner in front of the station.
子どもがガチャガチャを欲しがっている。
The child wants a capsule toy.
Shortened form of ガチャガチャ, very common in casual speech and online. Often used as a prefix (e.g., ガチャ台).
今日ガチャでかわいい猫のフィギュアを当てた。
I got a cute cat figure from a capsule toy today.
A direct loanword from English, sometimes used in formal or business contexts, but less common in everyday conversation.
このカプセルトイは限定品です。
This capsule toy is a limited edition.
The learner wants to refer to the machine that dispenses capsule toys.
Literally 'gachagacha machine'. The most natural way to refer to the vending machine.
あのガチャガチャの機械、新しくなったね。
That capsule toy machine has been updated, hasn't it?
Refers to the bank or stand of capsule toy machines. Often used in signage.
ガチャ台の前でどのガチャを回すか悩む。
I'm standing in front of the capsule toy machines, wondering which one to try.
The learner wants to describe the action of using a capsule toy machine.
Literally 'to turn the gacha'. The standard verb phrase for using a capsule toy machine.
一回ガチャを回してみよう。
Let's try turning the capsule toy machine once.
昨日ガチャを10回も回しちゃった。
I ended up using the capsule toy machine 10 times yesterday.
A more general phrase meaning 'to do capsule toys'. Slightly less common than ガチャを回す.
旅行先でついガチャガチャをしてしまう。
I can't help but buy capsule toys when I'm traveling.
ガチャガチャ is the everyday word used by all ages. カプセルトイ is a direct translation and sounds more formal or business-like. Use ガチャガチャ in conversation.
子どもが「ガチャガチャやりたい！」と言った。
The child said, 'I want to do capsule toys!'
ガチャ is often combined with other words to form compounds, such as ガチャ台 (machine bank), ガチャコーナー (capsule toy corner), or ガチャ勢 (avid capsule toy collector).