Japanese word

車

Pronunciation

Romajikuruma

Meaning

  • nouncar

Example

これは車です。ko re wa kuruma de su

This is a car.

Illustration for 車 (car)

More examples

家の前に車があります。ie no mae ni kuruma ga a ri ma su

There is a car in front of the house.

週末は車で買い物に行きます。shū matsu wa kuruma de ka i mono ni i ki ma su

I go shopping by car on weekends.

Core concept

A wheeled motor vehicle provides everyday transportation for people or goods on roads.

Common phrases

  • 車に乗るkuruma ni no ru

    ride in a car

  • 車を運転するkuruma o un ten su ru

    drive a car

  • 車で行くkuruma de i ku

    go by car

Similar words

自動車jidōsha: A powered vehicle that travels on roads and is used to carry people or goods.

Definition in Japanese

人や荷物を運ぶために道路を走る動力付きの乗り物。hito ya ni motsu o hako bu ta me ni dō ro o hashi ru dō ryoku tsu ki no no ri mono

Word origin

車 (kuruma, "vehicle") is a native Japanese noun written with the Chinese character 車, which represents a wheeled vehicle; the history of the reading kuruma is not certain.

Usage tips

  • When the topic is transportation, Japanese speakers may leave 車 (kuruma) unstated because the surrounding context identifies the vehicle.

Other meanings

  • vehiclenoun

Word lists with this word