車
kuruma[kɯ̟ɾɯ̟ma̠]
The Japanese word for car is 車 (kuruma). Wiktionary also lists 自動車 (jidōsha).
Meaning: automobile, a vehicle steered by a driver (noun)
Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 車 | kuruma | [kɯ̟ɾɯ̟ma̠] (narrow) |
| 自動車 | jidōsha | [d͡ʑido̞ːɕa̠] (narrow) |
The term 車 is the most commonly used and versatile way to say car in Japanese. For more specific contexts, 乗用車 refers specifically to a passenger car, while 車両 is a broader term used to refer to vehicles or rolling stock, such as cars and trains.
What does it mean word for word?
The formal term 自動車 literally means 'self-moving vehicle', constructed from ji (self), dō (move) and sha (vehicle).
Which one should you use?
While 車 is the standard word used in daily conversation, 自動車 is a more formal and technical term. You will often encounter 自動車 in official contexts, such as industry names or traffic laws, where it translates more closely to 'automobile' or 'motor vehicle'.
How does it change in a sentence?
When you need to count cars, you use the specific counter dai (台).
How do you pronounce it?
kuruma
Did you know?
- The word 車 is related to the onomatopoeia くるくる, which describes something spinning round and round.
- In ancient documents from the Nara period, 車 was written phonetically using the characters 久流末.
- The formal term 自動車 describes a vehicle as 'self-moving', mirroring the Greek roots of the English word 'automobile'.
Examples in context
- 車に乗って。Get into the car.This example uses 車 to instruct someone to get into the car.Tatoeba #149077 by bunbuku, translation #265481 by CK
- 車で行こう。Let's go by car.This example uses 車 to suggest traveling by car.Tatoeba #149096 by bunbuku, translation #265462 by CK
- 車を止めて。Stop the car.This example uses 車 to tell someone to stop the car.Tatoeba #2095019 by bunbuku, translation #1860591 by CK
- この地域では 自動車 の需要が高まっています。In this region, the demand for cars is increasing.
- 明日、友達の 車 で買い物に行くよ。Tomorrow, I'm going shopping with my friend's car.
- 1350 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Misaki and Yota are standing in a parking lot.
- 美咲 Misaki陽太さんの車はどこですか？Yota-san no kuruma wa doko desu ka?Where is your car, Yota?
- 陽太 Yotaあそこの青い車です。Asoko no aoi kuruma desu.It is that blue car over there.
- 美咲 Misakiあ、あれですね。A, are desu ne.Ah, that one.
- 陽太 Yotaはい、あれに乗って帰りましょう。Hai, are ni notte kaerimashou.Yes, let's get in and go home.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “car” translations and entries 車, 自動車, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 自動車, 車, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
