(じょうようしゃ)

じょうようしゃ
noun
passenger car, automobile
1. passenger car, automobile
A motor vehicle designed primarily for carrying passengers, as opposed to trucks, buses, or commercial vehicles. This is the formal/official term for a regular car.
乗用車(じょうようしゃ)一台(いちだい)()まっている。
A passenger car is parked there.
乗用車(じょうようしゃ)とトラックが衝突(しょうとつ)した。
A passenger car and a truck collided.
この駐車場(ちゅうしゃじょう)乗用車(じょうようしゃ)専用(せんよう)で、バスは(はい)れません。
This parking lot is for passenger cars only; buses cannot enter.

Composed of 乗用(じょうよう) (for riding) + (しゃ) (vehicle). The formal/official term for a passenger car.

REGISTER:
Used in news reports, traffic regulations, legal documents, and official statistics. In casual speech, (くるま) is the standard word for "car."

COMMON COLLOCATIONS:

  • 乗用車(じょうようしゃ)専用(せんよう): for passenger cars only
  • 普通(ふつう)乗用車(じょうようしゃ): standard passenger car
  • 小型(こがた)乗用車(じょうようしゃ): compact car
  • 乗用車(じょうようしゃ)同士(どうし)事故(じこ): accident between passenger cars

CONTRAST WITH OTHER VEHICLE TERMS:

  • (くるま): car (everyday)
  • 自動車(じどうしゃ): automobile (formal, includes all motor vehicles)
  • トラック: truck
  • バス: bus
  • 軽自動車(けいじどうしゃ): kei car (small-displacement vehicle)