Translation guide
A container for cremated remains, used in funeral rites. In Japanese contexts, the term covers both the ceremonial urn used during the funeral and the final burial container.
The learner wants to refer to a container for ashes after cremation in a general sense.
The most common and neutral word for a funerary urn. Used in both everyday conversation and formal contexts.
Place the cremated remains into the funerary urn.
Literally 'bone box'. A slightly more casual or descriptive term, often used in spoken language.
Put the remains into the bone box.
The learner wants to refer specifically to the urn used in the funeral ceremony, often ornate and handled by family members.
Same word as above; context distinguishes the ceremonial use. Often wrapped in a cloth (風呂敷) and carried by the chief mourner.
The chief mourner carries the urn out of the crematorium.
Polite form with honorific prefix お, used to show respect when referring to the urn in formal or sensitive situations.
The learner wants to refer to the urn that is permanently interred, often made of ceramic or metal.
The learner wants to refer to a small urn used to keep a portion of ashes at a home altar or to give to relatives.
The English word 'funerary' does not have a direct adjective equivalent in Japanese. Instead, use compound nouns like 骨壺 (bone urn) or 納骨壺 (interment urn). Do not attempt to translate 'funerary' as 葬式の or similar; it sounds unnatural.
In Japanese funerals, the urn is often carried by the chief mourner and placed on the altar during the wake and funeral. After cremation, family members use chopsticks to pick up bone fragments and place them into the urn. This is a highly ritualized act, so using respectful language (e.g., お骨壺) is appropriate.
Place the urn on the altar.
骨壺を墓石の下に埋葬する。
Bury the urn under the gravestone.
Display the memorial urn in the living room.