護衛艦(ごえいかん)

ごえいかん
noun
escort ship; destroyer
1. escort ship; destroyer
A warship designed to escort and protect other vessels. In modern Japanese usage, this is the official designation for Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) destroyers, since the postwar constitution avoids overtly military terminology.
護衛艦(ごえいかん)が入港(にゅうこう)した。
An escort ship entered the port.
新型(しんがた)の護衛艦(ごえいかん)が就役(しゅうえき)した。
A new-model destroyer was commissioned.
海上自衛隊(かいじょうじえいたい)の護衛艦(ごえいかん)が国際(こくさい)共同(きょうどう)訓練(くんれん)に参加(さんか)した。
A JMSDF escort ship participated in an international joint exercise.

護衛艦(ごえいかん) is the official classification for Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (海上自衛隊(かいじょうじえいたい)) surface combatants. Literally "escort vessel."

BACKGROUND:
In other navies, these ships would be classified as destroyers or frigates. Japan uses the euphemistic term 護衛艦(ごえいかん) because the postwar constitution limits military capability to self-defense, and overtly military terminology like 駆逐艦(くちくかん) (destroyer) is avoided.

COMMON COLLOCATIONS:

  • 護衛艦(ごえいかん)隊(たい): escort ship squadron
  • 護衛艦(ごえいかん)隊群(たいぐん): escort flotilla
  • 新型(しんがた)護衛艦(ごえいかん): new-model escort ship
  • 護衛艦(ごえいかん)が就役(しゅうえき)する: an escort ship is commissioned

RELATED:

  • 潜水艦(せんすいかん): submarine
  • 空母(くうぼ): aircraft carrier
general
Added 2026.3.21 18:52 · Revised 2026.4.2 16:40
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