Japanese · Daily Life
かばん
kaban
Bag / Briefcase
Beginnernoun
Definition
A container used to carry items. Can refer to a bag of any kind, from school bags to shopping bags. ランドセル (randoseru) is the iconic Japanese elementary school backpack.
Example
かばんの中に財布があります。
There is a wallet inside the bag.
Etymology
'かばん' (kaban) comes from Western influences, likely deriving from the word for 'bag' in other languages which were introduced during the Meiji era.
How & Where It’s Used
'かばん' (kaban) is commonly used in informal spoken and written contexts to refer to bags or briefcases across various age groups and regions.