携帯

keita

mobile phone

携帯を忘れてしまった

I forgot my mobile phone

informal

A portable telephone, typically a smartphone, used for communication and internet access

新しい携帯を買った

I bought a new mobile phone

In modern Japanese, '携帯' almost always refers to a mobile phone, not other portable devices

Collocations

携帯を充電するto charge one's mobile phone携帯を落とすto drop one's mobile phone携帯を貸すto lend one's mobile phone

Synonyms

ケータイモバイルスマホ

Related Phrases

携帯を忘れるphrase

to forget one's mobile phone

携帯を壊すphrase

to break one's mobile phone

Pro Tip

Common abbreviation

'携帯' is often shortened to 'ケータイ' (keitai) in casual speech

Gold Rule

Context matters

While '携帯' almost always means 'mobile phone' today, in rare cases it can refer to other portable items, but this is uncommon

Word Origin

From 携帯電話 (keitaidenwa, 'portable telephone'), with the first two characters becoming the common abbreviation

Usage Notes

'携帯' is the most common way to refer to mobile phones in casual Japanese. In formal contexts, '携帯電話' is sometimes used. The term originated as an abbreviation of '携帯電話' (portable telephone) in the 1990s as mobile phones became widespread in Japan.

Word Breakdown

携

to carry

root

帯

to wear/hold

root

和英辞典

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