風車
fūsha[ɸɯ̟ːɕa̠]
The English word "windmill" is translated into Japanese as 風車 (fūsha).
The term 風車 can refer to both traditional windmills and modern wind turbines.
Meaning: structure (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The word is a compound of 風 (wind) and 車 (wheel/vehicle), literally meaning "wind-wheel".
How do you pronounce it?
fūsha
Did you know?
- Modern industrial wind turbines are often specifically called 風力発電機 to distinguish them from the decorative pinwheels also called 風車.
- The character 車 in 風車 is a pictograph that originally looked like a bird's-eye view of a chariot wheel.
- The word 風車 entered the Japanese language through Middle Chinese, where it also combined the characters for 'wind' and 'wheel'.
Examples in context
- 都会で風車を見つけた。I found a windmill in the city.
- 丘の上に大きな風車があります。oka no ue ni ookina fuusha ga arimasu.There is a large windmill on the hill.
- あの風車はとても古いですね。ano fuusha wa totemo furui desu ne.That windmill is very old, isn't it?
- 風車がゆっくり回っています。fuusha ga yukkuri mawatte imasu.The windmill is turning slowly.
Example conversation
Kenta and Misaki are walking through a scenic countryside.
- 健太 Kentaあそこに風車が見えますよ。asoko ni fuusha ga miemasu yo.I can see a windmill over there.
- 美咲 Misaki本当ですね。とても綺麗です。hontou desu ne. totemo kirei desu.You're right. It is very beautiful.
- 健太 Kenta美咲さんは風車が好きですか？Misaki-san wa fuusha ga suki desu ka?Misaki, do you like windmills?
- 美咲 Misakiはい、大好きです。hai, daisuki desu.Yes, I love them.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry 風車, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 風車, CC BY-SA 4.0.
