(しんかんせん)

しんかんせん
noun
bullet train
1. bullet train, Shinkansen
Japan's high-speed railway system, connecting major cities across the country.
新幹線(しんかんせん)(はや)です
The Shinkansen is fast.
新幹線(しんかんせん)切符(きっぷ)()いました
I bought a Shinkansen ticket.
新幹線(しんかんせん)(はや)くて便利(べんり)です
The Shinkansen is fast and convenient.
新幹線(しんかんせん)車窓(しゃそう)から富士山(ふじさん)()えました
I could see Mt. Fuji from the Shinkansen window.
The Shinkansen is world-famous for its punctuality.

新幹線(しんかんせん) is Japan's high-speed rail network, literally "new trunk line."

HISTORY:
The first line (東海道新幹線(とうかいどうしんかんせん)) opened in 1964 for the Tokyo Olympics.

FAMOUS FOR:

  • Speed: up to 320 km/h
  • Punctuality: average delay of seconds
  • Safety: no fatal accidents in 60+ years

TRAIN TYPES (Tokaido line):

  • のぞみ: fastest (limited stops)
  • ひかり: medium (more stops)
  • こだま: local (all stops)

COMMON EXPRESSIONS:

  • 新幹線(しんかんせん)()る: to ride the Shinkansen
  • 新幹線(しんかんせん)()く: to go by Shinkansen