Translation guide
The English word "pot" covers several distinct objects and concepts. This guide helps learners choose the right Japanese word depending on what kind of pot they mean.
A deep container used for cooking, boiling, or stewing food.
The most common word for a cooking pot. Used for boiling, stewing, making soups, and hot pot dishes.
鍋でスープを作る。
I make soup in a pot.
Let's have a hot pot dish tonight.
A traditional iron pot or cauldron, often used for cooking rice or in historical contexts. Not for everyday modern pots.
Cook rice in a pot (traditional iron pot).
A container with a spout used for serving tea or coffee.
A loanword from English, commonly used for both teapots and coffee pots, especially modern or thermal ones.
Please put hot water in the pot.
A traditional Japanese teapot with a side handle, used for brewing green tea. Not for coffee.
Specifically a teapot, often Western-style with a handle and spout.
A container in which plants are grown.
Slang term for marijuana.
A container used as a toilet, historically.
The total amount of money bet in a card game or the prize in a lottery.
While ポット is used for teapots and coffee pots, it is not used for cooking pots. Use 鍋 (なべ) for that.
鍋 (なべ) is the everyday cooking pot. 釜 (かま) is a traditional iron cauldron, rarely used in modern kitchens except for specific dishes or rice cooking.
Brew tea in a teapot.
Put tea leaves in the teapot.
This pot is too big.
Cannabis Control Act
In the past, they used pots as chamber pots.
I hit the jackpot!