Translation guide
The English word 'cup' can refer to a drinking vessel, a unit of measurement, a trophy, or a cup-shaped object. This guide covers the most common Japanese equivalents for each meaning.
a cup of coffee
Refers to the cup itself, not the contents.
a cup of water
Use コップ for a glass/cup without a handle.
A cup with a handle, typically used for hot drinks like coffee or tea.
A cup without a handle, often used for cold drinks or sake.
A general word for a cup or glass without a handle, often used for water, juice, or cold drinks. Borrowed from Dutch 'kop'.
A standard unit of volume used in cooking, equal to about 240 ml in the US.
Used as a measurement unit in recipes. Often written in katakana. Note that a Japanese cup (200 ml) is slightly smaller than a US cup (240 ml).
A cup-shaped trophy awarded in sports competitions.
Used for sports trophies, such as the World Cup. Often part of a compound word.
Something shaped like a cup, such as a bra cup or a suction cup.
Used in compounds for cup-shaped items. For example, 'bra cup' is ブラカップ.
カップ usually has a handle and is used for hot drinks. コップ is handleless and used for cold drinks or water. However, in measurement contexts, カップ is standard.
Drink coffee from a cup (with a handle).
Would you like a cup of tea?
Uses the counter 一杯 (いっぱい) for 'a cup of'.
この茶碗は高価です。
This teacup is expensive.
水の入ったコップを取ってください。
Please get me a cup of water.
A small cup used for drinking sake. Often used in formal or traditional settings.
To exchange sake cups (as a sign of friendship).
Add one cup of flour.
Did you watch the World Cup?
A more formal term for a championship cup or trophy.
He held up the championship cup.
The cups of this bra are small.
Specifically means 'suction cup'.
Attach it to the window with a suction cup.
コップで水を飲む。
Drink water from a glass/cup (without a handle).
Using カップ for a handleless cup can sound unnatural. Use コップ instead for cups without handles, like those for water or juice.
She won the cup.
Refers to a trophy.