パイロット
pairotto[pa̠iɾo̞t̚to̞]
The English word 'pilot' can be translated into Japanese as パイロット (pairotto), 操縦士 or 飛行士.
Meaning: controller of aircraft (noun)
Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| パイロット | pairotto | [pa̠iɾo̞t̚to̞] (narrow) |
| 操縦士 | sōjūshi | [so̞ːʑɨːɕi] (narrow) |
| 飛行士 | hikōshi | [çiko̞ːɕi] (narrow) |
What does it mean word for word?
The term 操縦士 is composed of 操縦 (maneuvering/operating) and 士 (specialist/professional). The term 飛行士 is composed of 飛行 (flight) and 士 (specialist/professional).
Which one should you use?
操縦士 is a more technical and formal term, often used in official documents, legal contexts or professional aviation settings to denote the person operating the controls. 飛行士 is a broader term for an aviator or someone involved in flight. In modern contexts, it is frequently associated with astronauts (宇宙飛行士).
How do you pronounce it?
pairotto
Did you know?
- If you are talking about a 'pilot' in the sense of a guide for a ship, Japanese uses 水先人 (mizusaki-nin) instead of any of the terms related to aircraft.
- The kanji 士 in 操縦士 historically referred to a 'warrior' or 'samurai', reflecting the prestige associated with technical mastery.
- In Japanese aviation culture, the term 操縦 can refer to operating not just aircraft, but also trains, ships and heavy machinery.
Examples in context
- 彼はパイロットになる決意をした。He made up his mind to be a pilot.This sentence is useful for expressing a decision to become a pilot.Tatoeba #111316 by bunbuku, translation #292367 by CK
- 彼はパイロットになる決心をした。He made up his mind to become a pilot.Tatoeba #1163937 by bunbuku, translation #1164059 by CK
- 将来はパイロットになりたいです。I want to be a pilot in the future.This sentence is useful for expressing a desire to become a pilot in the future.Tatoeba #1171044 by bunbuku, translation #258623 by CK
- パイロットは格好いい仕事ですね。Being a pilot is a cool job, isn't it?
- 日本のパイロットたちは世界でも評価が高いです。Japanese pilots are highly regarded worldwide.
- 18 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Yui and Ren are talking about their parents' jobs.
- 結衣 Yuiお父さんの仕事は何ですか？Otōsan no shigoto wa nan desu ka?What is your father's job?
- 蓮 Ren父はパイロットです。Chichi wa pairotto desu.My father is a pilot.
- 結衣 Yuiすごい！かっこいいですね。Sugoi! Kakkoii desu ne.Wow! That's cool.
- 蓮 Renありがとうございます、蓮です。Arigatō gozaimasu, Ren desu.Thank you, I'm Ren.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “pilot” translations and entries パイロット, 操縦士, 飛行士, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
