Translation guide
In Japanese, the general term for playing cards is トランプ, a loanword from English 'trump'. The traditional Japanese word かるた refers to specific card games, often with poetry or matching. This guide helps you choose the right word and use natural expressions for card games.
Referring to a standard deck of 52 cards used for games like poker, bridge, or solitaire.
The standard Japanese word for Western playing cards. Despite its origin, it's fully naturalized and used in all contexts.
Let's play cards.
I bought a new deck of cards.
Can mean playing cards in context, but is more general (credit card, game card, etc.). Use トランプ for clarity.
Alone, カード is ambiguous. Specify トランプのカード if needed.
Referring to cards used in traditional Japanese games like 百人一首 (hyakunin isshu) or 花札 (hanafuda).
Refers to traditional Japanese card games, often involving poetry or matching. Not used for Western-style cards.
Expressing the activity of playing cards, regardless of the type.
The most natural way to say 'play cards' for Western-style games.
Referring to a set or pack of playing cards.
Means 'a deck of cards'. 一組 (ひとくみ) is a counter for sets.
The direct transliteration プレイングカード exists but is rarely used. トランプ is the standard term.
Please give me the playing cards.
トランプ refers to Western-style 52-card decks. かるた refers to traditional Japanese card games with specific decks. Using the wrong term can cause confusion.
カードを切って。
Shuffle the cards.
We played karuta with the family during New Year's.
Specifically flower cards, a type of traditional Japanese card game. Often associated with gambling in popular culture.
Please teach me the rules of hanafuda.
I played cards with friends yesterday.
Used for playing traditional karuta games.
The children are playing karuta.
A broader term that includes trading card games, board games with cards, etc. Not limited to standard playing cards.
I spent the weekend playing card games.
If you have a deck of cards, you can play various games.
Loanword from English 'deck', used in gaming contexts, especially for trading card games. Less common for standard playing cards.
I built a new deck.
Let's play Old Maid with playing cards.
Hyakunin Isshu is a type of karuta.