ターボ
tābo
In Japanese, ターボ (tābo) means turbo, a device used to force more air into an engine to increase its power.
You can use the phrase ターボエンジン (tābo enjin) to refer specifically to a turbo engine, or ターボパーツ (tābo pātsu) when talking about turbo parts.
Which one should you use?
ターボ is the short and casual form of the word, whereas ターボチャージャー (tābochājā) is the full technical term.
How do you pronounce it?
tābo
Did you know?
- The word ターボ is frequently used in the names of Japanese household appliances, such as 'turbo mode' on vacuum cleaners or hair dryers, to signal a high-power setting.
- In Japanese pop culture, ターボ is often used as a metaphor for 'extreme speed' or 'overdrive' in contexts that have nothing to do with engines, such as a fast-paced conversation or a sudden burst of energy.
- While ターボ is a loanword, Japanese speakers often use the term 過給機 (kakyūki) in formal engineering documents to describe the same device.
Example conversation
Two friends are looking at a car in a garage.
- 美咲 Misakiこの車のターボは強力そうですね。Kono kuruma no tãbo wa kyouryoku sou desu ne.The turbo on this car looks powerful.
- 健太 Kentaはい、加速がすごいんですよ。Hai, kasoku ga sugoi n desu yo.Yes, the acceleration is amazing.
- 美咲 Misaki健太さんは、ターボ付きの車が好きですか？Kenta-san wa, tãbo tsuki no kuruma ga suki desu ka?Kenta, do you like cars with a turbo?
- 健太 Kentaええ、大好きです。Ee, daisuki desu.Yes, I love them.
