洗車
sensha
The Japanese phrase for car wash is 洗車, pronounced sensha.
洗車 (sensha) typically refers to the act of washing a car.
Meaning: place at which a car is washed, often mechanically (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The word 洗車 is composed of the kanji 洗, which means wash and 車, which means car or vehicle.
Which one should you use?
While 洗車 refers to the activity, the word 洗車場 is used to denote the actual place or facility where the washing occurs.
How do you pronounce it?
sensha
Did you know?
- The word 洗車 (sensha) is a homophone for the word 戦車 (sensha), which means 'tank' or 'armored vehicle'.
- Many Japanese homeowners use a コイン洗車場 (koin senshajo), which are coin-operated self-service bays where you pay for water and soap using 100 yen coins.
- The kanji for car, 車, is also used in the word 電車 (densha), which means 'electric train'. This means that if you change the first character, you shift from a small vehicle being washed to a massive public transit system.
Examples in context
- 今日は泡洗車で、愛車を洗う。I will wash my car in a hand car wash today.This sentence shows how to use the form 洗車 in the context of washing a car.Tatoeba #338005 by pierrephi, translation #535809 by Scott
- 「車を洗っていただけますか、お願いします」(Kuruma o aratte itadakemasu ka, onegaishimasu)Could you please wash my car?
- 「最寄りの洗車場はどこですか？」(Moyori no senshujo wa doko desu ka?)Where is the nearest car wash facility?
- 洗車場はどこにありますか？senshajō wa doko ni arimasu ka?Where is a car wash?
- 週末に洗車を予約しました。shūmatsu ni sensha o yoyaku shimashita.I booked a car wash for the weekend.
Example conversation
Kenta and Himari are talking in the car.
- 健太 Kenta車がとても汚いね。Kuruma ga totemo kitanai ne.The car is very dirty, isn't it?
- 陽葵 Himari本当だ。洗車に行こうか。Hontō da. Sensha ni ikō ka.You're right. Shall we go to the car wash?
- 健太 Kentaいい考えだね。すぐに行こう。Ii kangae da ne. Sugu ni ikō.That's a good idea. Let's go right now.
- 陽葵 Himari近くの店を探すね。Chikaku no mise o sagasu ne.I'll look for a shop nearby.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
