basket, devote oneself, seclude oneself, cage

About this kanji

The kanji 籠, pronounced as "kago" in its kun'yomi form, primarily means "basket" but also has meanings related to seclusion, such as "to devote oneself" or "to shut oneself in." This kanji appears in several useful compounds, like 籠もる (こもる), meaning "to shut oneself in," which often refers to staying indoors; 揺り籠 (ゆりかご), which translates to "cradle"; and 屑籠 (くずかご), meaning "wastebasket." A notable usage note is that while 籠 can imply isolation or dedication, it often carries a positive connotation of focus, like immersing oneself in work or a hobby.

Example sentences

• 小鳥が籠の中にいる。

  The little bird is in the cage.

Meanings across languages

English

basket, devote oneself, seclude oneself, cage, coop, implied

Tiếng Việt

giỏ, nhốt

日本語

籠, 籠る

한국어

바구니, 가두다

中文

篮子, 关入

id

keranjang

th

ตะกร้า

es

cesta

fr

panier

de

Korb

pt

cesta

Common compounds

• 籠もるこもるto shut oneself in (e.g. one's room), to be confined in, to seclude oneself
• 揺り籠ゆりかごcradle
• 印籠いんろうinro, seal case, pill box
• 屑籠くずかごwastebasket, wastepaper basket
• 参籠さんろうretirement (to a temple of shrine) for prayer
• 籠城ろうじょうholding a castle (during a siege), holing up, confinement (to one's home)
• 蒸籠せいろbamboo steamer, steaming basket, wooden frame holder with reed base used to steam food over a pot
• 駕籠かごpalanquin, litter, bier