空車(くうしゃ)

くうしゃ
noun
vacant taxi; empty vehicle
transportation
1. vacant taxi; available cab
A taxi that has no passengers and is available for hire. The rooftop sign or dashboard indicator shows this status. Opposite of 賃走 (occupied) or 回送 (not in service).
空車(くうしゃ)のタクシーがなかなか来(こ)ない。
An available taxi just won't come.
空車(くうしゃ)の表示(ひょうじ)が出(で)ているタクシーを見(み)つけた。
I spotted a taxi showing the 'vacant' sign.
雨(あめ)の日(ひ)は空車(くうしゃ)のタクシーがなかなかつかまらない。
On rainy days, it's hard to find an available taxi.
2. empty vehicle; unloaded vehicle
More broadly, a vehicle running without passengers or cargo.
トラックが空車(くうしゃ)で戻(もど)った。
The truck returned empty.
空車(くうしゃ)回送(かいそう)の距離(きょり)を減(へ)らすことが課題(かだい)だ。
Reducing the distance driven empty is a challenge.
空車(くうしゃ)率(りつ)が高(たか)いと運送(うんそう)会社(がいしゃ)の収益(しゅうえき)が下(さ)がる。
A high empty-vehicle rate reduces a transport company's revenue.

Usage

Most commonly encountered on taxi signs in Japan. Japanese taxis display 空車(くうしゃ) on the rooftop light or dashboard when available. The opposite states are 賃走(ちんそう) (metered/occupied), 回送(かいそう) (out of service/returning to base), and 迎車(げいしゃ) (dispatched to pick up a customer).

Common collocations

Similar words

  • 回送(かいそう): out of service, deadheading — a taxi not accepting passengers
  • 賃走(ちんそう): metered, occupied — a taxi currently carrying a fare

Related Words

Compare: 満車(まんしゃ) (full (parking lot))
general
Added 2026.3.9 15:20 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01
15500/15999_kuusha