Japanese word of the day: 荷物 (Nimotsu)

What does 荷物 (Nimotsu) mean?

荷物 (Nimotsu) (noun) – Luggage; baggage; package; load; belongings. This word covers anything you carry with you, from suitcases and backpacks to parcels and shopping bags. It’s used for both travel and everyday situations.

Kanji details for 荷 and 物

Character: 荷 — baggage, shoulder-pole load, bear (a burden), shoulder (a gun), load, cargo, freight
Radical: grass 艸 (艹)

Character: 物 — thing, object, matter
Radical: cow 牛 (牜)

Example sentences with word

• 荷物が多すぎて運べません。
  (Nimotsu ga ōsugite hakobemasen.)
  🧳 I have too much luggage to carry.

• 駅のロッカーに荷物を預けました。
  (Eki no rokkā ni nimotsu o azukemashita.)
  🔒 I left my luggage in a station locker.

• この荷物はどこに置けばいいですか。
  (Kono nimotsu wa doko ni okeba ii desu ka?)
  ❓ Where should I put this package?

荷物 (Nimotsu) in context

荷物 is a practical word you’ll use whenever you travel, move, or carry things from place to place. At train stations and airports in Japan, you’ll see signs for 荷物検査 (nimotsu kensa, baggage inspection) and 荷物預かり (nimotsu azukari, luggage storage). It’s also the word for parcels and packages you send or receive.

A quick tip: If you want to say “light luggage,” use 軽い荷物 (karui nimotsu). For “heavy luggage,” it’s 重い荷物 (omoi nimotsu).

Whether you’re traveling, shopping, or just carrying your daily essentials, 荷物 is the word for everything you take along for the ride.