Japanese word

機関車

Pronunciation

Romajikikansha

Meaning

  • nounlocomotive

Example

機関車が駅に入ります。ki kan sha ga eki ni hai ri ma su

The locomotive is entering the station.

Illustration for 機関車 (locomotive)

More examples

博物館では、古い機関車を間近で見学できます。haku butsu kan de wa furu i ki kan sha o ma jika de ken gaku de ki ma su

At the museum, you can view an old locomotive up close.

Core concept

Centers on a powered rail vehicle that pulls other cars along a railway.

Common phrases

  • 機関車を運転するki kan sha o un ten su ru

    operate a locomotive

  • 機関車を整備するki kan sha o sei bi su ru

    maintain a locomotive

  • 機関車の運転士ki kan sha no un ten shi

    locomotive engineer

Similar words

ロコroko: A shortened informal term for a powered rail vehicle that pulls other cars.

Definition in Japanese

動力で他の車両を引き、線路の上を走る鉄道車両。dō ryoku de hoka no sha ryō o hi ki sen ro no ue o hashi ru tetsu dō sha ryō

Word origin

機関車 (kikansha) is a Sino-Japanese compound of 機関 (kikan, "mechanism or engine") and 車 (sha, "vehicle").

Usage tips

  • In English, locomotive usually names the powered rail vehicle itself, while engine can also mean the machine that provides power in many other settings.

Other meanings

  • enginenoun

Word lists with this word