Translation guide
In Japanese, the most common and natural way to say 'secondhand book' is 古本 (ふるほん). There are also other expressions with slightly different nuances, such as 中古本 (ちゅうこぼん) and 古書 (こしょ).
The most common, everyday term for a used book, typically one you might buy at a secondhand bookstore or find at a flea market.
This is the standard, neutral word for a secondhand book. It's widely used in everyday conversation and signage.
週末に古本屋で小説を買った。
I bought a novel at a secondhand bookstore on the weekend.
この古本はとても状態がいい。
This secondhand book is in very good condition.
Literally 'used book'. It's similar to 古本 but can sound slightly more like a commercial or technical term, often used in online listings or stores.
ネットで中古本を注文した。
I ordered a used book online.
A secondhand book that is old, rare, or valuable, often found in specialized antiquarian bookshops.
Refers to old or antiquarian books, often with a sense of historical or collectible value. Used in names of specialized bookstores (古書店).
彼は古書の収集が趣味だ。
Collecting antiquarian books is his hobby.
神田の古書店街を散策した。
I strolled through the antiquarian bookshop district in Kanda.
古本 is the everyday word for any used book. 中古本 is a synonym often used in commercial contexts (like online shops). 古書 implies an old, often valuable or collectible book, and is used in 古書店 (antiquarian bookstore). For a typical paperback you buy cheaply, stick with 古本.