交通・輸送

被災地ひさいちへ水みずと食料しょくりょうを輸送ゆそうする。

They transport water and food to the disaster area.

Usage 輸送 = moving goods or people in bulk: 輸送費, 大量輸送, 輸送手段. A delivery firm's business is usually 運送.

Remember it 輸 (to send) + 送 (to send off) → two 'send' characters: moving things at scale.

引ひっ越こしは運送うんそう会社がいしゃに頼たのんだ。

I hired a haulage company for the move.

Usage 運送 = freight haulage as a business: 運送会社, 運送料. 配送 is delivery to the customer's door; 輸送 is bulk transport.

Remember it 運 (to carry) + 送 (to send) → carrying goods and sending them on.

ネット通販つうはんの増加ぞうかで物流ぶつりゅうの量りょうが増ふえた。

Online shopping has pushed up the volume of logistics.

Usage 物流 = logistics, the whole flow of goods: 物流センター (distribution centre), 物流業界. Short for 物的流通.

Remember it 物 (goods) + 流 (flow) → the flow of goods.

この列車れっしゃは貨物かもつ専用せんようです。

This train is for freight only.

Usage 貨物 = cargo: 貨物列車 (freight train), 貨物船, 貨物機. Your own luggage or a parcel is 荷物.

Remember it 貨 (goods, money) + 物 (thing) → goods on the move as cargo.

トラックの積載せきさい量りょうを超こえてはいけない。

You must not exceed the truck's load capacity.

Usage 積載 = loading onto a vehicle: 積載量 (load capacity), 過積載 (overloading). The everyday verb is 積む.

Remember it 積 (to pile up) + 載 (to load on) → piling a load onto the vehicle.

この車両しゃりょうは女性じょせい専用せんようです。

This carriage is for women only.

Usage 車両 = a vehicle, or a train carriage: 先頭車両 (front carriage), 車両点検 — the reason given for half the delays in Japan.

Remember it 車 (vehicle) + 両 (the counter for carriages) → one counted unit of rolling stock.

燃料ねんりょうが少すくなくなったので給油きゅうゆした。

I was running low on fuel, so I filled up.

Usage 燃料 = fuel: 燃料費, 化石燃料 (fossil fuel), 燃料切れ (running out of fuel). From 燃える (to burn).

Remember it 燃 (to burn) + 料 (material) → the material you burn.

高速こうそくに乗のる前まえに給油きゅうゆしておこう。

Let's fill up before we get on the expressway.

Usage 給油 = refuelling: 給油所 (petrol station, normally called ガソリンスタンド), セルフ給油. Same 給 (to supply) as 給水.

Remember it 給 (to supply) + 油 (oil) → supplying oil to the tank.

高速道路こうそくどうろが渋滞じゅうたいしていて二時間にじかん遅おくれた。

The expressway was jammed, so I was two hours late.

Usage Usually shortened to 高速: 高速に乗る, 高速を降りる. Japanese expressways are toll roads, so you pass a 料金所 (tollgate).

Remember it 高速 (high speed) + 道路 (road) → the high-speed road.

右みぎの車線しゃせんに移うつってください。

Please move into the right-hand lane.

Usage 車線 = a traffic lane: 片側二車線 (two lanes each way), 車線変更 (changing lanes). 線 is the painted line that marks it out.

Remember it 車 (car) + 線 (line) → the strip between the lines, for cars.

この区間くかんは追おい越こしが禁止きんしされている。

Overtaking is prohibited on this stretch.

Usage 追い越し = overtaking: 追い越し車線 (the passing lane), 追い越し禁止. The verb 追い越す also means to overtake someone in life.

Remember it 追う (to chase) + 越す (to pass over) → chase them down, then pass them.

学校がっこうの前まえでは徐行じょこうしてください。

Please drive slowly in front of the school.

Usage 徐行 = proceeding slowly; the yellow 徐行 sign simply means 'slow'. The same 徐 gives 徐々に (gradually).

Remember it 徐 (slowly) + 行 (to go) → going slowly.

カーブの手前てまえで減速げんそくする。

You slow down before the curve.

Usage 減速 = slowing down, the opposite of 加速. Also figurative: 経済成長が減速する (growth is slowing).

Remember it 減 (to decrease) + 速 (speed) → decreasing speed.

信号しんごうが青あおになって車くるまが加速かそくした。

The light turned green and the car accelerated.

Usage 加速 = acceleration (加速度 is the physics term). Figuratively: 少子化が加速する (the birth-rate decline is speeding up).

Remember it 加 (to add) + 速 (speed) → adding speed.

この電車でんしゃは各駅かくえきに停車ていしゃします。

This train stops at every station.

Usage 停車 = a vehicle coming to a stop: 停車駅, 一時停車. Parking is 駐車 — 停 is a brief halt, 駐 is leaving it there.

Remember it 停 (to halt) + 車 (vehicle) → the vehicle halts.

ドアが閉しまります、発車はっしゃします。

The doors are closing; we are departing.

Usage 発車 = a vehicle pulling out: 発車時刻, まもなく発車します. For planes and ships, use 出発.

Remember it 発 (to set off) + 車 (vehicle) → the vehicle sets off.

始発しはつに乗のるために四時よじに起おきた。

I got up at four to catch the first train.

Usage 始発 = the first service of the day, or the station a line starts from (始発駅). Its night-time opposite is 終電.

Remember it 始 (to begin) + 発 (to depart) → the departure that starts the day.

飲のみすぎて終電しゅうでんを逃のがしてしまった。

I drank too much and missed the last train.

Usage 終電 = the last train of the night, a real deadline in Japan: 終電で帰る, 終電を逃す. The last bus is 終バス.

Remember it 終 (end) + 電 (short for 電車) → the train that ends the day.

駐車場ちゅうしゃじょうは満車まんしゃで入はいれなかった。

The car park was full, so we couldn't get in.

Usage 満車 = car park full. The opposite sign is 空車 (くうしゃ) — on a taxi, that means it is free to hire.

Remember it 満 (full) + 車 (car) → full of cars.

事故じこのため迂回うかいしてください。

Please take a detour because of the accident.

Usage 迂回 = going around something: 迂回路 (detour route), 迂回する. Common on road signs and in traffic reports.

Remember it 迂 (roundabout) + 回 (to turn) → turning the long way round.

この先さきで道みちが二ふたつに分岐ぶんきする。

The road forks into two up ahead.

Usage 分岐 = branching: 分岐点, which is both a road fork and a turning point in life. Common in traffic and in programming.

Remember it 分 (to divide) + 岐 (a fork in the road) → the road divides.

高速こうそくへの合流ごうりゅうは注意ちゅういが必要ひつようだ。

Merging onto the expressway takes care.

Usage 合流 = merging — traffic, rivers or people: 後で合流しよう (I'll join you later).

Remember it 合 (to join) + 流 (flow) → two flows becoming one.

標識ひょうしきを見落みおとして道みちを間違まちがえた。

I missed the sign and took the wrong road.

Usage 標識 = a road or guide sign: 道路標識, 案内標識. A shop's signboard is a 看板.

Remember it 標 (a mark) + 識 (to know) → a mark that tells you what you need to know.

車検しゃけんに十万円じゅうまんえんかかった。

The vehicle inspection cost a hundred thousand yen.

Usage 車検 = Japan's compulsory vehicle inspection, due every two years (three for a new car): 車検が切れる, 車検を通す.

Remember it 車 (car) + 検 (to inspect) → the car goes in for inspection.

出でかける前まえに自転車じてんしゃを整備せいびした。

I serviced my bicycle before setting out.

Usage 整備 = maintaining equipment, and also putting infrastructure in place: 整備士 (mechanic), 道路を整備する, 法律を整備する.

Remember it 整 (to put in order) + 備 (to make ready) → in order and ready to go.

この車くるまの走行そうこう距離きょりは十万じゅうまんキロだ。

This car has a hundred thousand kilometres on the clock.

Usage 走行 = a vehicle running: 走行距離 (mileage), 走行中 (while in motion), 高速走行. Used of vehicles, never of people.

Remember it 走 (to run) + 行 (to go) → the vehicle running along.

タクシーの運転手うんてんしゅさんに道みちを聞きいた。

I asked the taxi driver for directions.

Usage 手 (しゅ) names a person by their skill: 運転手 (driver), 歌手 (singer), 選手 (athlete). Add さん when you speak to them.

Remember it 運転 (driving) + 手 (hand, person) → the hand on the wheel.

車掌しゃしょうに切符きっぷを見みせた。

I showed my ticket to the conductor.

Usage 車掌 = the conductor who checks tickets and makes the announcements. The person driving is the 運転士.

Remember it 車 (train) + 掌 (palm, to take charge) → the one who has the train in hand.

乗務員じょうむいんが飲のみ物ものを配くばっている。

The crew are handing out drinks.

Usage 乗務員 = crew working on board a plane, train or ship. On a plane, a flight attendant is a 客室乗務員 (CA).

Remember it 乗 (to board) + 務 (duty) + 員 (member) → the staff on duty on board.

東京とうきょうから直行便ちょっこうびんで行いけます。

You can fly there direct from Tokyo.

Usage 直行便 = a direct flight; one with a change is 経由便 or 乗り継ぎ. 便 (びん) is the counter for scheduled services.

Remember it 直行 (going straight) + 便 (service) → the service that goes straight there.

地図ちずアプリが一番いちばん早はやい経路けいろを教おしえてくれた。

The map app showed me the fastest route.

Usage 経路 = a route or path, including abstract ones: 感染経路 (route of infection), 経路を検索する.

Remember it 経 (to pass through) + 路 (road) → the road you pass along to get there.

駅えきからの道順みちじゅんをメールで送おくります。

I'll email you the directions from the station.

Usage 道順 = directions in plain words, the order of turns that gets you there: 道順を教える. 経路 is the more technical route.

Remember it 道 (road) + 順 (order) → the roads taken in the right order.

目的地もくてきちまであと三十分さんじゅっぷんほどかかります。

It's about another thirty minutes to the destination.

Usage 目的 = aim or purpose, and 地 makes it the place aimed at. あと + a duration means 'X more to go'.

Remember it 目的 (aim) + 地 (place) → the place you are aiming for.

出発地しゅっぱつちと目的地もくてきちを入力にゅうりょくしてください。

Please enter your departure point and your destination.

Usage 出発地 = where a journey starts, the pair to 目的地. Booking forms ask for 出発地／到着地.

Remember it 出発 (departure) + 地 (place) → the place you depart from.

踏切ふみきりの前まえでは必かならず止とまる。

You always stop before a level crossing.

Usage 踏切 = a railway level crossing: 踏切が閉まる, 開かずの踏切 (a crossing that never seems to open). From 踏む (to step on).

Remember it 踏 (to step) + 切 (to cut) → where rails cut the road and you step across.

ホテルが空港くうこうまで送迎そうげいしてくれる。

The hotel runs transfers to the airport.

Usage 送迎 = dropping off and picking up: 送迎バス (shuttle bus), 送迎サービス. From 送る (to see off) + 迎える (to go and meet).

Remember it 送 (to send off) + 迎 (to meet) → taking them there and fetching them back.

通勤つうきん時間じかんは片道かたみち一時間いちじかんかかる。

My commute takes an hour each way.

Usage 通勤 is commuting to work, 通学 to school. 片道 = one way, 往復 = round trip, 通勤ラッシュ = the rush hour.

Remember it 通 (to go back and forth) + 勤 (work duty) → back and forth to work.

妹いもうとは自転車じてんしゃで通学つうがくしている。

My little sister cycles to school.

Usage 通学 = commuting to school: 通学路 (the marked school route), 通学時間. The pair to 通勤.

Remember it 通 (to go back and forth) + 学 (study) → back and forth to study.

午後ごごの便びんに変更へんこうできますか。

Could I change to the afternoon flight?

Usage 便 read びん counts scheduled services: 午前便, 直行便, 欠航便 (a cancelled flight). Read べん it means convenience: 交通の便.

Remember it One character, two lives: びん is the scheduled service, べん is convenience.

発着はっちゃくの時刻じこくは掲示板けいじばんで確認かくにんしてください。

Please check departure and arrival times on the board.

Usage 発着 = departures and arrivals together: 発着時刻, 発着ロビー. Tickets show it split: 東京発大阪着.

Remember it 発 (to depart) + 着 (to arrive) → both ends of the journey in one word.