Japanese word

駆動

Pronunciation

Romajikudō

Meaning

  • noundrive

Example

このモーターは車輪を駆動します。ko no mō tā wa sha rin o ku dō shi ma su

This motor drives the wheels.

Illustration for 駆動 (drive)

More examples

停電すると、装置の駆動が自動的に止まります。tei den su ru to sō chi no ku dō ga ji dō teki ni to ma ri ma su

When the power goes out, the device's drive stops automatically.

Core concept

At its core, it is the application of power to produce controlled movement in a machine or mechanism.

Common phrases

  • 駆動系ku dō kei

    drive system

  • 駆動部ku dō bu

    drive section

Definition in Japanese

動力を加えて機械や装置を動かすこと。dō ryoku o kuwa e te ki kai ya sō chi o ugo ka su ko to

Word origin

駆動 (kudō, "drive") is a Sino-Japanese compound formed from 駆 (ku, "drive") and 動 (dō, "move").

Usage tips

  • English uses drive both for the act of making something move and for a system that transmits power, while 駆動 (kudō) is mainly a technical noun in Japanese.

Other meanings

  • driving forcenoun

Opposites

Word lists with this word