A pot, jar, or vase — a ceramic container used to hold liquids or items (e.g., jars, urns).
古い壺が博物館に展示されている。
An old jar is exhibited in the museum.
砂糖壺にスプーンを入れて出しておいてください。
Please put the spoon in the sugar jar and leave it out.
花瓶代わりに大きな壺に花を生けた。
I arranged flowers in a large jar as a substitute for a vase.
A dice cup used to shake and roll dice in games.
サイコロは壺に入れて振ってください。
Please put the dice in the cup and shake them.
A depression or basin in the landscape — e.g., the pool at the base of a waterfall (滝壺).
滝の落ち口に深い壺ができている。
A deep basin has formed at the waterfall's plunge pool.
川の流れが岩を削って小さな壺を作った。
The river's flow carved out a small basin in the rock.
Often written in kana (つぼ): the target or what someone aims for; used in idioms like '思うつぼ' meaning 'right into (one's) hands'.
彼の策略は相手のつぼを突いている。
His strategy hits the opponent's weak spot.
そんな誘い方をしたら、きっと彼女のつぼにはまるよ。
If you invite her like that, you'll surely play right into her hands.
Often written in kana: the key point or essence of a conversation or explanation.
その発表のつぼは準備の徹底にある。
The key point of that presentation is thorough preparation.
説明は分かりやすく、つぼを押さえている。
The explanation is clear and gets to the heart of the matter.
Often written つぼ/ツボ: an acupuncture or pressure point used in acupressure and acupuncture.
そのツボを押すと肩こりが楽になる。
Pressing that pressure point relieves shoulder stiffness.
鍼灸師が痛む箇所のつぼを探した。
The acupuncturist searched for the relevant pressure points where it hurt.
Often written in katakana (ツボ): the position on the fingerboard of stringed instruments like the shamisen or koto (the place to press the string).
三味線は正確なツボを押さえないと音が狂う。
If you don't press the correct position on the shamisen, the pitch will be off.
演奏中に師匠がツボを直してくれた。
During the performance the master corrected my fingering positions.
Archaic: the target when shooting an arrow; a use found in old texts.
古い物語では『壺』が的を示すことがある。
In old tales, 'tsubo' can indicate a target.