Japanese dictionary
How to say "car" in Japanese
車くるま · kuruma
"Car" in Japanese is 車 (kuruma). In formal contexts, such as the auto industry or laws, 自動車 (jidōsha) is used.
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Ways to say "car" in Japanese
| Japanese | When to use it |
|---|---|
| 車くるま · kuruma | Car. The everyday word. |
| 自動車じどうしゃ · jidōsha | Automobile. Formal. |
| マイカーまいかー · maikā | One's own car. |
How to use it
To drive a car is 車を運転する (kuruma o unten suru). "By car" is 車で (kuruma de).
Count cars with 台 (dai): 車が二台 (two cars).
Example sentences
- 車で会社に行きます。Kuruma de kaisha ni ikimasu.I drive to work.
- 東京では車を持っていません。Tōkyō de wa kuruma o motte imasen.I don't have a car in Tokyo.
- 駅まで車で迎えに行きます。Eki made kuruma de mukae ni ikimasu.I'll pick you up at the station by car.
- 自動車メーカーで働いています。Jidōsha mēkā de hataraite imasu.I work for a car manufacturer.
- レンタカーを借りました。Rentakā o karimashita.I rented a car.
- 車に気をつけてください。Kuruma ni ki o tsukete kudasai.Watch out for cars.
Kanji in this word
Questions
Can foreigners drive in Japan?
Visitors need an International Driving Permit from a country that is part of the Geneva Convention, or a Japanese license. Residents usually switch to a Japanese license.
How do you count cars in Japanese?
Use 台 (dai): 一台 (ichidai), 二台 (nidai).
Using Japanese at work?
See Executive JapaneseExecutive Japanese by CCN is one-on-one online Japanese for managers and directors doing business in Japan.