Translation guide
A container for household waste, typically kept indoors or outdoors. In Japanese, the term varies by location and context.
A small container for trash inside a home or office.
General term for a trash can or wastebasket, used indoors. Literally 'garbage box'.
ゴミ箱がいっぱいになった。
The dustbin is full.
Specifically a wastebasket for paper scraps, often found in offices.
机の横にくずかごを置いている。
I keep a dustbin next to my desk.
A larger container for household waste, often kept outside for collection.
Also used for larger outdoor bins. Context distinguishes size.
ゴミ箱を外に出してください。
Please put the dustbin outside.
A bin for litter in public places like streets or stations.
The most common term for any public trash receptacle.
駅のゴミ箱に空き缶を捨てた。
I threw the empty can in the dustbin at the station.
Often used for small public bins, especially for paper or small litter.
The traditional British dustbin, a large metal or plastic bin kept outside.
Literally 'garbage bucket', often used for the classic cylindrical outdoor bin.
ゴミバケツを道路に出した。
I put the dustbin out on the street.
Direct loanword from British English, but not widely used. May be understood in context.
イギリスではダストビンが一般的だ。
In the UK, dustbins are common.
In Japanese, ゴミ (gomi) covers both 'trash' and 'garbage'. There is no strong distinction like in American English. ゴミ箱 is the safest all-purpose word.
Directly translating 'dustbin' as ほこり箱 (hokori-bako) would mean 'dust box' and is not used for trash. Stick to ゴミ箱.
Loanword from English, often used for public or communal bins.
公園にダストボックスが設置されている。
Dustbins are installed in the park.
The dustbin is over there.