Translation guide
In Japanese, the word for 'tongs' depends on what you are picking up and the context. The most common general term is トング, but specific tools have their own names.
The learner wants to refer to the common U-shaped or scissor-like tool used to pick up food, ice, or other items.
The most common and versatile word for tongs, borrowed from English. Used for kitchen tongs, BBQ tongs, ice tongs, etc.
Please serve the salad using the tongs.
I bought tongs for the barbecue.
Literally 'vegetable chopsticks', these are long cooking chopsticks used like tongs for stirring, flipping, and serving food while cooking. Common in Japanese kitchens.
I flip the tempura with cooking chopsticks.
Metal chopsticks used for handling charcoal or embers in a traditional brazier or hearth. Not for food.
Pick up charcoal with fire tongs.
The learner wants to refer to small, often decorative tongs used for sugar cubes, pastries, or delicate items.
The learner wants to refer to tongs specifically for ice.
Ice tongs, often found in bars or ice buckets.
Put ice into the glass with ice tongs.
The learner wants to refer to laboratory tongs, blacksmith tongs, or other specialized gripping tools.
Pincers or tongs used in metalworking, blacksmithing, or glassworking. Also used for pulling nails.
The blacksmith grips the heated iron with tongs.
Tweezers or forceps, used in laboratories or for precision work.
Crucible tongs, specifically for handling hot crucibles in a laboratory.
Hold the hot crucible with crucible tongs.
When in doubt, use トング. It is widely understood and covers most everyday situations involving tongs for food or general use.
Can you pass me the tongs?
鉗子 is a medical term for forceps or clamps used in surgery. Do not use it for kitchen or general tongs.
Use tweezers for plating food.
In experiments, we handle small parts with tweezers.