What does 車 mean in Japanese?
車 means “car, vehicle” in Japanese. You will often see it in practical words such as 車 (car; vehicle), 電車 (train), and 自転車 (bicycle).
For learners, the key is to study 車 through real vocabulary. The examples below show how the kanji works in words, sentences, and related kanji.
Reading
On’yomi: シャ (sha)
Kun’yomi: くるま (kuruma)
Basic Information
| Kanji | 車 |
|---|---|
| Meaning | car, vehicle, wheel |
| Stroke Count | 7 |
| JLPT Level | N5 |
How to Understand This Kanji
車 is not limited to one English translation. In 車 (くるま), it means car; vehicle; in 電車 (でんしゃ), it points to train; and in 自転車 (じてんしゃ), it is used for bicycle. Reading these compounds side by side helps you understand the range of the kanji.
Common Words
- 車（くるま / kuruma） — car; vehicle
- 電車（でんしゃ / densha） — train
- 自転車（じてんしゃ / jitensha） — bicycle
- 車道（しゃどう / shadō） — roadway
- 下車（げしゃ / gesha） — getting off a vehicle
- 車内（しゃない / shanai） — inside a vehicle
Example Sentences
-
新しい車を買いました。
あたらしいくるまをかいました。 / Atarashii kuruma o kaimashita.
I bought a new car.
-
電車で学校へ行きます。
でんしゃでがっこうへいきます。 / Densha de gakkō e ikimasu.
I go to school by train.
-
駅前に自転車を止めました。
えきまえにじてんしゃをとめました。 / Ekimae ni jitensha o tomemashita.
I parked my bicycle in front of the station.
When Learners Usually See This Kanji
Start with 車 (くるま / kuruma) because it keeps the core meaning of 車 clear. Then add 電車 and 自転車 to see how the reading and meaning shift in real vocabulary. Do not memorize 車 as a single English word; connect it to actual words and example sentences.
Summary
車 means “car, vehicle” and appears in useful Japanese words such as 車, 電車, and 自転車.