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 words

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)

Related: パトロールカー (patrol car)

general

Added 2026.1.16 11:32 · Revised 2026.9.2 12:02

05000/05079_patokaa