Translation guide
A guide to expressing the concept of 'sundries'—miscellaneous small items, daily necessities, or odds and ends—in natural Japanese.
Referring to various small, everyday items or household goods, often sold together or considered as a group.
The most common and general term for miscellaneous goods, sundries, or general merchandise. Used for a wide range of small household items, accessories, stationery, etc.
That shop sells sundries.
I shopped in the sundries section.
Literally 'daily use items'. Emphasizes practical household necessities like soap, tissues, cleaning supplies. More specific than 雑貨.
I went to the drugstore to buy sundries (daily necessities).
Refers to small articles, trinkets, or haberdashery. Often used for sewing notions, accessories, or small fancy goods. Slightly old-fashioned or specialized.
My grandmother bought thread at the sundries shop.
Describing a collection of various small, unrelated items, often leftover or miscellaneous.
Refers to odds and ends, junk, or miscellaneous worthless items. Often has a negative connotation of clutter.
Implies the items are of little value or are clutter. Not suitable for new or useful sundries.
The drawer is full of sundries (odds and ends).
A phrase meaning 'small miscellaneous things'. Neutral and descriptive, suitable for various contexts.
You need sundries (various small items) for the trip.
Means 'miscellaneous things' or 'a motley assortment'. More formal or written.
The box contained sundries (miscellaneous items).
Referring to a store or department that sells miscellaneous small goods.
雑貨 (zakka) is a broad term for miscellaneous goods, often with a nuance of lifestyle or fashion items. 日用品 (nichiyouhin) specifically means daily necessities like soap, toilet paper, and cleaning supplies. Use 日用品 when emphasizing practical household consumables.
The English word 'sundries' is not commonly used in everyday conversation; it often appears in commercial contexts. In Japanese, directly translating 'sundries' as サンドリーズ is not natural. Use the terms above depending on context.
That sundries shop has a lot of cute things.