自転車(じてんしゃ)

じてんしゃ
noun
bicycle
1. bicycle, bike
A two-wheeled vehicle propelled by pedaling. Very common transportation in Japan.
自転車(じてんしゃ)で学校(がっこう)に行(い)きます。
I go to school by bicycle.
自転車(じてんしゃ)に乗(の)れますか。
Can you ride a bicycle?
自転車(じてんしゃ)を買(か)いたいです。
I want to buy a bicycle.
駅(えき)まで自転車(じてんしゃ)で十分(じゅっぷん)ぐらいです。
It's about ten minutes to the station by bicycle.
天気(てんき)がいい日(ひ)は、自転車(じてんしゃ)で買(か)い物(もの)に行(い)くのが好(す)きです。
On nice weather days, I like going shopping by bicycle.

自転車(じてんしゃ) is the standard word for bicycle. Bicycles are extremely common transportation in Japan.

WORD FORMATION:
自(じ) (self) + 転(てん) (rotate) + 車(しゃ) (vehicle) = literally "self-rotating vehicle."

COMMON EXPRESSIONS:

  • 自転車(じてんしゃ)に乗(の)る: to ride a bicycle
  • 自転車(じてんしゃ)を漕(こ)ぐ: to pedal a bicycle
  • 自転車(じてんしゃ)で行(い)く: to go by bicycle
  • 自転車(じてんしゃ)を停(と)める: to park a bicycle

RELATED VOCABULARY:

  • 自転車(じてんしゃ)置(お)き場(ば): bicycle parking area
  • 駐輪場(ちゅうりんじょう): bicycle parking lot
  • チャリ/チャリンコ: bicycle (casual slang)
  • ママチャリ: utility bicycle ("mama's bike")
  • 電動(でんどう)自転車(じてんしゃ): electric bicycle

CULTURAL NOTE: In Japan, bicycles must be registered with the police. 自転車(じてんしゃ)通勤(つうきん) (bicycle commuting) is common in urban areas.

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Added 2026.1.7 21:21 · Revised 2026.2.12 13:46
00500/00633_jitensha