人力車(じんりきしゃ)

じんりきしゃ
noun
rickshaw
transportation
1. rickshaw, pulled cart
A two-wheeled passenger cart pulled by a person on foot. Originally a common mode of transportation in the Meiji era, now found as a tourist attraction in places like Asakusa, Kyoto, and Kamakura.
浅草(あさくさ)で人力車(じんりきしゃ)に乗(の)った。
I rode a rickshaw in Asakusa.
人力車(じんりきしゃ)の車夫(しゃふ)が観光(かんこう)ガイドもしてくれる。
The rickshaw puller also serves as a sightseeing guide.
人力車(じんりきしゃ)は明治時代(めいじじだい)に日本(にほん)で発明(はつめい)されたと言(い)われている。
It is said that the rickshaw was invented in Japan during the Meiji era.

Etymology

Literally "human-powered vehicle" (人力(じんりき) + 車(しゃ)). The English word "rickshaw" is derived from the Japanese 人力車(じんりきしゃ).

Cultural note

Today, 人力車(じんりきしゃ) are primarily a tourist experience in historic districts. The pullers (車夫(しゃふ)) typically provide narrated tours of the area.

Common collocations

Related Words

Compare: 駕籠(かご) (palanquin)
general
Added 2026.2.16 23:12 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01
11000/11472_jinrikisha