車: the kanji for car and vehicle
車 is a JLPT N5 kanji that means car, vehicle. Below are its readings, 14 common words and example sentences, all with audio.
Stroke order
車 is written in 7 strokes. The red stroke is the one to write next, and the dot shows where it starts.
Words by reading
車 has 2 readings in the official Jōyō Kanji Table. Below are 13 common words grouped by reading. Tap ▶ to hear each word (audio plays with a free account).
シャ (sha)
On reading. It becomes sha or ja in many words.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 電車でんしゃ · densha | train |
| 自動車じどうしゃ · jidōsha | automobile |
| 自転車じてんしゃ · jitensha | bicycle |
| 駐車場ちゅうしゃじょう · chūshajō | parking lot |
| 車両しゃりょう · sharyō | (railway) car; vehicle |
| 下車げしゃ · gesha | getting off |
| 乗車じょうしゃ · jōsha | boarding |
| 車内しゃない · shanai | inside a train or car |
| 洗車せんしゃ · sensha | car wash |
| 救急車きゅうきゅうしゃ · kyūkyūsha | ambulance |
くるま (kuruma)
Kun reading.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 車くるま · kuruma | car |
| 車いすくるまいす · kurumaisu | wheelchair |
| 歯車はぐるま · haguruma | gear |
Special readings to learn as whole words
These words use 車, but their readings do not follow the readings above. The Jōyō Kanji Table lists them as special readings. Learn each one as a whole word.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 山車だし · dashi | festival float |
Example sentences for work and daily life
- 電車が遅れています。Densha ga okurete imasu.The train is running late.
- 駐車場はありますか。Chūshajō wa arimasu ka.Is there a parking lot?
- 車で会社に行きます。Kuruma de kaisha ni ikimasu.I drive to work.
- 車内では通話をお控えください。Shanai de wa tsūwa o ohikae kudasai.Please refrain from phone calls on the train.
- 次の駅で下車します。Tsugi no eki de gesha shimasu.I'll get off at the next station.
- 自転車で駅まで行きます。Jitensha de eki made ikimasu.I ride my bike to the station.
Questions about 車
How many strokes does 車 have?
車 is written in 7 strokes. The stroke order is shown at the top of this page.
What are the readings of 車?
The on readings are sha (シャ). The kun readings are kuruma (くるま).
What is the difference between 電車 and 車?
電車 (densha) is a train. 車 (kuruma) is a car.
What JLPT level is 車?
N5. The JLPT does not publish official kanji lists, so this level is a guide based on the official Test Content Specifications used through 2009.
About the JLPT level
The JLPT does not publish official lists of kanji for each level. The level on this page is a guide based on the official Test Content Specifications used for the test through 2009. The JLPT states that the current N5 is designed to match the former Level 4.
More JLPT N5 kanji
Things and descriptions
Executive Japanese by CCN is one-on-one online Japanese for managers and directors doing business in Japan.
Sources
- Jōyō Kanji Table (常用漢字表), Agency for Cultural Affairs, Government of Japan, 2010: readings and special readings of 車
- JLPT Frequently Asked Questions, The Japan Foundation and Japan Educational Exchanges and Services: how current levels match the former levels
- Stroke order diagrams are based on KanjiVG by Ulrich Apel, used under CC BY-SA 3.0. The diagrams on this page are shared under the same license.