Meaning and Usage
The word かばん primarily means "bag" or "handbag" in everyday Japanese. It refers to various types of bags used to carry personal belongings, such as school bags, handbags, or briefcases.
Common Contexts
You will often hear かばん used when talking about carrying items to school, work, or travel. It is a very common noun in daily conversation.
Collocations and Patterns
- かばんを買う (to buy a bag): used when purchasing a bag.
- かばんの中 (inside the bag): to talk about contents inside the bag.
- かばんを持つ (to carry a bag): describing the action of holding or carrying a bag.
Register and Politeness
かばん is a neutral, everyday word suitable for casual and polite conversation. It is not formal or technical.
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes confuse かばん with バッグ (bag in katakana), which often refers to more casual or fashion bags. かばん is more general and can include school bags or briefcases, while バッグ is often used for fashion or sports bags.