キャプテン
kyaputen[kʲa̠pɯ̟̊tẽ̞ɴ]
The English word captain can be translated into Japanese as キャプテン (kyaputen).
キャプテン is a loanword from English used mainly in sports contexts. While it can refer to a person in command of a vessel, it is much more frequently used in modern Japanese to mean a team captain in sports like soccer or baseball.
Meaning: the person lawfully in command of a sea-going vessel (noun)
Which one should you use?
While キャプテン can refer to a ship's captain, it is much more frequently used in modern Japanese to mean a team captain in sports like soccer or baseball. The word 船長 (senchō) is the standard, formal term for a ship's captain, whereas キャプテン is a loanword often used in sports or more casual contexts.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
キャプテン is a loanword often used in sports or more casual contexts. The word 船長 (senchō) is the standard, formal term for a ship's captain. Taichō (隊長) can be used as a formal way to address a captain in certain military or police contexts.
How do you pronounce it?
kyaputen
Did you know?
- Japanese uses different words for 'captain' depending on the vessel, such as 機長 (kichō) for the captain of an aircraft.
- In Japanese sports culture, a キャプテン is often expected to take responsibility for the entire team's failures, even those they did not personally cause.
- In the context of Japanese high school baseball, a team captain is almost exclusively referred to as キャプテン or the more traditional 主将 (shushō).
Examples in context
- 私がキャプテンです。I'm the captain.This sentence is useful for stating that you are the captain using キャプテン.Tatoeba #10570155 by small_snow, translation #2248274 by CK
- トムは良いキャプテンだ。Tom is a good captain.This sentence is useful for describing someone as a good captain using キャプテン.Tatoeba #8614115 by small_snow, translation #7736437 by CK
- 私たちは彼女をキャプテンに選んだ。We elected her captain of our team.This sentence is useful for describing the election of someone as a captain using キャプテン.Tatoeba #165199 by bunbuku, translation #249308 by CH
- 13 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Himar i and Ren are looking at a large ship in the harbor.
- 陽葵 Himariあの人はこの船のキャプテンかな？Ano hito wa kono fune no kyaputen kana?I wonder if that person is the captain of this ship?
- 蓮 Renたぶんそうだよ。制服を着ているし。Tabun sou da yo. Seifuku o kite iru shi.Probably. He is wearing a uniform.
- 陽葵 Himariキャプテンになるには大変そうだね。Kyaputen ni naru ni wa taihen sou da ne.It seems like it would be hard to become a captain.
- 蓮 Renそうだね。たくさん勉強が必要だと思うよ。Sou da ne. Takusan benkyou ga hitsuyou da to omou yo.True. I think a lot of study is necessary.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry キャプテン, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
