Japanese word

機体

Pronunciation

Romajikitai

Meaning

  • nounairplane

Example

この機体はまもなく離陸します。ko no ki tai ha ma mo na ku ri riku shi ma su

This aircraft will take off soon.

Illustration for 機体 (airplane)

More examples

強い風で機体が大きく揺れています。tsuyo i kaze de ki tai ga ō ki ku yu re te i ma su

The airplane is shaking badly because of the strong wind.

Core concept

It presents the airplane as a single physical machine, especially when its condition, movement, or operation is the focus.

Common phrases

  • 機体を点検するki tai o ten ken su ru

    inspect the airplane

  • 機体が揺れるki tai ga yu re ru

    the airplane shakes

Similar words

飛行機hikōki: A common word for an airplane with fixed wings that carries people or goods.

Definition in Japanese

航空機の胴体や翼など、機械としての部分全体。また、航空機そのもの。kō kū ki no dō tai ya tsubasa na do ki kai to shi te no bu bun zen tai ma ta kō kū ki so no mo no

Word origin

機体 (kitai) combines 機 (ki, "machine") and 体 (tai, "body"), giving the basic sense of a machine's body and extending naturally to an aircraft's body or the aircraft as a whole.

Usage tips

  • In Japanese aviation reports, 機体 (kitai) commonly appears in phrases about damage, age, or departure, where English often uses aircraft rather than airplane.

Word lists with this word