公共交通機関
kōkyō kōtsū kikan
The English phrase 'public transport' is translated into Japanese as 公共交通機関 (kōkyō kōtsū kikan).
Meaning: form of transport (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The term 公共交通機関 is composed of three parts: 公共 (public), 交通 (transport/traffic) and 機関 (organization/institution/system). Together, they literally translate to 'public transport system'.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
公共交通機関 is a formal and technical term often found in news reports, official documents and textbooks. Other formal variations include 公共交通 (kōkyō kōtsū) and the polite expression 公共の交通機関 (kōkyō no kōtsū kikan), which is used to emphasize the public institutions that provide the transportation services.
How do you pronounce it?
kōkyō kōtsū kikan
Did you know?
- Japanese public transport is famous for 押し屋 (oshiya), or 'pushers', who are staff employed to physically push passengers into crowded trains.
- The word 機関 in 公共交通機関 can also mean a 'mechanical engine', creating a linguistic link between the system of transport and the machines that power it.
- Using the full phrase 公共交通機関 in a casual setting, such as asking a stranger for directions, sounds unnaturally stiff. It would be the equivalent of a person asking for help to find the 'municipal transit infrastructure' in English.
Examples in context
- フィンランドの公共交通機関は時間を正確に守る。In Finland public transport is always on time.This sentence is useful for describing how the public transport system in Finland is punctual.Tatoeba #10906882 by SomeHungryBois, translation #6070337 by jufyuhar
- 新幹線は日本の重要な公共交通機関です。The Shinkansen is an important public transportation system in Japan.
- この街は公共交通機関がとても便利だ。Kono machi wa koukyou koutsuu kikan ga totemo benri da.Public transport is very convenient in this city.
- 旅行中は公共交通機関を利用します。Ryokou chuu wa koukyou koutsuu kikan o riyou shimasu.I will use public transport during my trip.
Example conversation
Two friends are discussing how to get around a new city.
- 蓮 Renこの街の公共交通機関はどうですか？Kono machi no koukyou koutsuu kikan wa dou desu ka?How is the public transport in this city?
- 陽葵 Himari電車が走っていて、とても便利ですよ。Densha ga hashitte ite, totemo benri desu yo.There are trains running, so it's very convenient.
- 蓮 Ren陽葵さんはバスも使いますか？Himari-san wa basu mo tsukaimasu ka?Himari, do you use the bus too?
- 陽葵 Himariはい、バスもよく利用します。Hai, basu mo yoku riyou shimasu.Yes, I use the bus often too.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “public transport” translations and entries 公共交通機関, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
