幹線(かんせん)

かんせん
noun
main line; trunk line
1. main line; trunk line; arterial route
A primary transportation route — railway, road, or other infrastructure — that connects major cities or serves as the backbone of a network.
新幹線(しんかんせん)は日本(にほん)の幹線(かんせん)鉄道(てつどう)だ。
The Shinkansen is Japan's trunk-line railway.
幹線(かんせん)道路(どうろ)が渋滞(じゅうたい)している。
The main road is congested.
この路線(ろせん)は東北(とうほく)地方(ちほう)を結(むす)ぶ重要(じゅうよう)な幹線(かんせん)だ。
This line is an important trunk route connecting the Tohoku region.

USAGE:
幹線(かんせん) literally means "trunk line" (from 幹(みき), trunk of a tree). It contrasts with 支線(しせん) (branch line). Most commonly seen in 新幹線(しんかんせん) (Shinkansen, literally "new trunk line").

COMMON COLLOCATIONS:

  • 幹線(かんせん)道路(どうろ) (arterial road, main road)
  • 幹線(かんせん)鉄道(てつどう) (trunk-line railway)
  • 新幹線(しんかんせん) (Shinkansen, bullet train)
  • 東海道(とうかいどう)幹線(かんせん) (Tokaido main line)

SIMILAR WORDS:
本線(ほんせん) also means "main line" but refers to a specific named line within a railway company's network. 幹線(かんせん) is broader, referring to any primary route in a transportation network.

general
Added 2026.3.5 15:26
15000/15069_kansen