Translation guide
A mallet is a hammer-like tool, usually with a wooden, rubber, or rawhide head, used for striking without damaging the surface. In Japanese, the word depends on the material and use: wooden mallets for carpentry, rubber mallets for adjusting objects, and specialized mallets for sports like croquet or polo.
A wooden hammer used for chiseling, tapping joints, or striking without marring.
The standard word for a wooden mallet, commonly used in carpentry and woodworking.
Strike the chisel with a mallet.
A general term for hammer or mallet, but often implies a wooden mallet in context. Can also refer to a gavel.
Hammer the board with a mallet.
A mallet with a rubber or plastic head used to adjust parts without damage.
A rubber mallet, often used in automotive work, flooring, or assembly to avoid scratching.
Tap the tiles flat with a rubber mallet.
A plastic mallet, similar to a rubber mallet but often used for lighter work or where chemical resistance is needed.
Fit the part using a plastic mallet.
A mallet with a rawhide or leather head used for shaping metal without marking it.
A rawhide mallet, traditionally used in metalworking and jewelry making.
Shape the silver sheet with a rawhide mallet.
A leather hammer, often used interchangeably with 皮槌, but may refer to a mallet with a replaceable leather face.
Strike with a leather mallet to avoid scratches.
The long-handled wooden mallet used in the game of croquet.
Literally 'croquet mallet'. The sport is not widely played in Japan, so the term is descriptive.
Hit the ball with a croquet mallet.
Gateball is a Japanese variant similar to croquet, but the mallet is called a 'stick'. Not exactly a mallet, but related.
Hit the ball with a gateball stick.
The long-handled mallet used in polo to hit the ball.
Literally 'polo mallet'. Polo is a niche sport in Japan, so the term is descriptive.
Hit the ball with a polo mallet.
Borrowed from English 'polo stick', sometimes used instead of the descriptive term.
He swung the polo mallet.
A kitchen tool used to pound meat to tenderize or flatten it.
A small ceremonial mallet used by a judge or auctioneer.
Literally 'small mallet', used for a gavel in court or auctions.
The judge banged the gavel.
Borrowed from English 'gavel', understood in legal or auction contexts.
The gavel sounded at the auction.
In Japanese, a mallet (木槌) is distinguished from a metal hammer (金槌, かなづち). Use 木槌 for wooden mallets, ゴムハンマー for rubber, and 金槌 for standard claw hammers. If you use ハンマー alone, it often implies a metal hammer or a generic hammer, so specify the material if needed.
Drive a nail with a hammer.
Strike a chisel with a mallet.
The English word 'mallet' covers many types, but Japanese has specific terms. Using マレット (maretto) is not common and may cause confusion. Stick to the material-specific words above.
'Maretto' is not common.