Translation guide
A folding fan is a portable, collapsible fan used for cooling, ceremony, performance, or decoration. In Japanese, the most common word is 扇子 (sensu), but other terms exist for specific types.
A portable fan that folds up, used for cooling or as an accessory.
The standard word for a folding fan. Used in everyday contexts, from practical cooling to traditional dance.
It's hot, so I'm using a folding fan.
She has a beautiful folding fan.
A rigid, non-folding fan, often round or paddle-shaped. Important to distinguish from folding fans.
A flat, non-folding fan, typically made of paper or plastic on a bamboo frame. Common at summer festivals and for advertising.
Not a folding fan. Use 扇子 for the folding type.
I got a flat fan at the festival.
A folding fan used as a prop in Noh, Kabuki, Japanese dance, or tea ceremony.
A folding fan specifically for traditional Japanese dance (Nihon buyō). Often more decorative and larger than everyday fans.
She dances while opening a dance fan.
A small folding fan used in tea ceremony, placed in front of the knees during greetings.
Place the tea ceremony fan in front of your knees.
A fan used for display, as a gift, or in formal settings, not for cooling.
A decorative folding fan, often displayed in a stand or used as a gift. Not meant for practical use.
Display a decorative fan in the alcove.
扇子 folds up; 団扇 is rigid and does not fold. If you ask for a 扇子, you will get a folding fan. If you want a flat fan, ask for 団扇.