Japanese word

電鉄

Pronunciation

Romajidentetsu

Meaning

  • nounelectric railway

Example

阪神電鉄の駅は便利です。han shin den tetsu no eki wa ben ri de su

Stations on the Hanshin Electric Railway are convenient.

Illustration for 電鉄 (electric railway)

More examples

この地域では電鉄が重要な交通手段です。ko no chi iki de wa den tetsu ga jū yō na kō tsū shu dan de su

In this area, the electric railway is an important means of transportation.

Core concept

Points to an electrically powered railway as an organized transport network, and by extension to the company that operates it.

Common phrases

  • 電鉄の駅den tetsu no eki

    electric railway station

  • 電鉄で通勤するden tetsu de tsū kin su ru

    commute by electric railway

Definition in Japanese

電気を使って列車を運行する鉄道。den ki o tsuka tte res sha o un kō su ru tetsu dō

Word origin

The Sino-Japanese compound 電鉄 (dentetsu, "electric railway") combines 電 (den, "electricity") and 鉄 (tetsu, "iron") as a shortened form of 電気鉄道 (denki tetsudō, "electric railway").

Usage tips

  • The clipped form 電鉄 (dentetsu) has a compact, formal tone and appears more often in official names and written railway information than in casual conversation.

Other meanings

  • railway companynoun

Word lists with this word