Translation guide
A small net on a handle used to scoop fish, insects, or objects from water. In Japanese, the word depends on what you are catching and the context.
A net used to land a fish after catching it with a rod, or to scoop fish from a tank or pond.
The most common term for a landing net used in fishing. Often shortened to just タモ.
I scooped the caught fish with a landing net.
Short for タモ網. Very common among anglers.
Bring the landing net.
Synonym for タモ網, but less common in modern speech. Sometimes used in fishing contexts.
Scoop fish with a dip net.
A small, lightweight net on a handle used by children to catch bugs, tadpoles, etc.
Specifically an insect net. The go-to word for a child's butterfly net or bug-catching net.
I caught cicadas with an insect net during summer vacation.
Generic word for net. In context, can mean a dip net for catching small creatures.
Can be used for small aquatic creatures, but primarily a fishing term.
A net used to remove leaves, debris, or objects from a pond, pool, or aquarium.
タモ網 is for fishing (landing fish), while 虫取り網 is for catching insects. Using the wrong one can sound odd. If you're not sure, 網 (net) is safe in context.
Common verbs: すくう (scoop), 捕まえる (catch), 取る (take/remove). For fishing, タモ入れする (to net a fish) is a specific term.
Let's catch crayfish with a net.
I scooped tadpoles with a dip net.
池のゴミを網ですくってください。
Please scoop the trash out of the pond with a net.