Overview
"カード" is a loanword from English "card" and is widely used in Japanese to refer to various types of cards such as credit cards, ID cards, business cards, and greeting cards. It is a common noun in everyday conversation.
Common Uses
- Credit cards (クレジットカード) are frequently mentioned in shopping and payment contexts.
- Greeting cards (カード), especially birthday or holiday cards, are common in social situations.
- Game cards (カード) refer to collectible or playing cards used in games.
Collocations and Patterns
- クレジットカードを使う: to use a credit card
- 誕生日カードを送る: to send a birthday card
- カードを集める: to collect cards
Usage Notes
"カード" is typically written in katakana because it is a loanword. It is important not to confuse "カード" with "紙" (paper) or "名刺" (business card), although "名刺" can also be called "カード" in casual speech. When talking about credit cards, "クレジットカード" is the standard term.
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes confuse "カード" with "カードゲーム" (card game). Remember that "カード" alone refers to the physical card, while "カードゲーム" refers to the game involving cards.