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.
釣った魚をタモ網ですくった。
I scooped the caught fish with a landing net.
Short for タモ網. Very common among anglers.
タモを持ってきて。
Bring the landing net.
Synonym for タモ網, but less common in modern speech. Sometimes used in fishing contexts.
玉網で魚をすくう。
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.
夏休みに虫取り網でセミを捕まえた。
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.
網でザリガニを捕まえよう。
Let's catch crayfish with a net.
Can be used for small aquatic creatures, but primarily a fishing term.
たも網でおたまじゃくしをすくった。
I scooped tadpoles with a dip net.
A net used to remove leaves, debris, or objects from a pond, pool, or aquarium.
General term for a scoop net. Used for cleaning ponds or pools.
プールの落ち葉をすくい網で取った。
I removed fallen leaves from the pool with a skimmer net.
Again, the generic net. Often sufficient when the context is clear.
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.
Please scoop the trash out of the pond with a net.