Translation guide
A room below ground level, typically used for storage. In Japanese, the most common equivalent is 地下室 (chikashitsu), but other terms exist depending on the specific use or structure.
A room below ground level used for storing wine, food, or other items.
General term for a basement or cellar. Used for any underground room, including storage or living spaces.
We store the wine in the cellar.
A traditional underground storage room, often for food or sake. Implies a more rustic or old-fashioned cellar.
A storage room, which can be underground. More technical and less common for a typical cellar.
A cellar used for storing and aging wine.
A cool underground space for storing vegetables, fruits, or preserves.
地下室 (chikashitsu) is the most common and neutral term for any underground room, including modern basements. 穴蔵 (anagura) implies a traditional, often earthen storage space, while むろ (muro) specifically refers to a storage pit for vegetables or food preservation. Use 地下室 unless you want to emphasize the traditional or specific storage aspect.
The new house has a basement/cellar.
The old farmhouse still has a traditional cellar.
In English, 'cellar' often implies storage, while 'basement' may be a living space. In Japanese, 地下室 covers both. If you need to specify a living area, you can say 地下の部屋 (chika no heya, underground room) or 地下の居住空間 (chika no kyojū kūkan).
I use the basement as a study.
The cellar is full of old wine bottles.
They went down to the cellar to get some potatoes.
祖母の家には古い穴蔵があります。
My grandmother's house has an old cellar.
この建物には地下に貯蔵室があります。
This building has a storage room in the basement.
じゃがいもは穴蔵に入れておく。
Keep the potatoes in the cellar.