汽 車(きしゃ)

きしゃ

noun

steam train

1. steam train, steam locomotive

A train powered by steam. This term is somewhat dated as steam trains are now rare in Japan.

汽車(きしゃ)の音(おと)が聞(き)こえる。

I can hear the sound of the steam train.

汽車(きしゃ)の煙(けむり)が見(み)える。

I can see the smoke from the steam train.

汽車(きしゃ)に乗(の)ったことがありますか。

Have you ever ridden a steam train?

昔(むかし)はみんな汽車(きしゃ)で旅行(りょこう)していた。

In the old days, everyone traveled by steam train.

子供(こども)の時(とき)、祖父(そふ)と一緒(いっしょ)に汽車(きしゃ)に乗(の)ったのを覚(おぼ)えている。

I remember riding the steam train with my grandfather when I was a child.

汽車(きしゃ) refers specifically to steam-powered trains, which are now rare in modern Japan.

Contrast with other trains

汽車(きしゃ): steam train (steam-powered)
電車(でんしゃ): electric train (most common today)
列車(れっしゃ): train (general/formal term)
新幹線(しんかんせん): bullet train

Compounds

汽車(きしゃ)賃(ちん): train fare (dated)
蒸気(じょうき)機関車(きかんしゃ): steam locomotive (technical term)

Regional note

In some rural areas, especially among older speakers, 汽車(きしゃ) may still be used colloquially to refer to any train, regardless of power source.

Watch out

記者(きしゃ) (journalist) has the same reading.

Related Words

Compare: 電車(でんしゃ) (electric train)

Compare: 列車(れっしゃ) (train)

Compare: 新幹線(しんかんせん) (bullet train)

Compare: 機関車(きかんしゃ) (locomotive)

core

Added 2026.1.8 21:04 · Revised 2026.9.2 12:02

01000/01381_kisha