パトカー

ぱとかー
noun
police car
1. police car, patrol car
A vehicle used by police for patrol and emergency response, typically marked with distinctive colors and equipped with sirens and emergency lights.
パトカーが交差点(こうさてん)で停(と)まっている。
A police car is stopped at the intersection.
パトカーに追(お)いかけられた。
I was chased by a police car.
パトカーのサイレンが遠(とお)くで鳴(な)っている。
A police car siren is sounding in the distance.

パトカー is a shortened form of パトロールカー (patrol car). A very common word in everyday Japanese.

ETYMOLOGY:
From English "patrol car," abbreviated in typical Japanese fashion by shortening the loanword.

COMMON COLLOCATIONS:

  • パトカーが来(く)る: a police car arrives
  • パトカーに止(と)められる: to be stopped by a police car
  • パトカーに追(お)いかけられる: to be chased by a police car
  • 覆面(ふくめん)パトカー: unmarked police car

CULTURAL NOTE:
Japanese police cars are distinctively black and white. 覆面(ふくめん)パトカー (literally 'masked patrol car') refers to unmarked vehicles used for traffic enforcement.

RELATED:

  • 救急車(きゅうきゅうしゃ): ambulance
  • 消防車(しょうぼうしゃ): fire engine

Related Words

Related: 警察官(けいさつかん) (police officer)
Related: 救急車(きゅうきゅうしゃ) (ambulance)
Related: 消防車(しょうぼうしゃ) (fire truck)
general
Added 2026.1.16 11:32 · Revised 2026.4.13 12:56
05000/05079_patokaa