When is a table not a table? A desk is a desk, but is there any important difference between the two words for "table"? Here is what the wwwjdic says: ; table; desk; ( only) counter for tables, desks desk table

There are several common compounds that include (e.g., , , ...), but as a standalone noun is uncommon. As a starter, you can stick to in almost all the cases where you want to say _table_.

In modern Japanese, as a standalone noun is used:

* as part of a few set expressions like ( is equally common, though)
* as a rare and highly stiff equivalent of , when you want to avoid loanwords for some reason
* as jargon meaning "counter" or "booth"; for example, a place like this is sometimes called in media-related industries:
![](