護衛艦(ごえいかん)

ごえいかん
noun
escort ship; destroyer
transportation
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."

Cultural note

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 words

Related Words

Related: 潜水艦(せんすいかん) (submarine)
Related: 空母(くうぼ) (aircraft carrier)
Compare: 駆逐艦(くちくかん) (destroyer (warship))
Compare: 航空母艦(こうくうぼかん) (aircraft carrier)
general
Added 2026.3.21 18:52 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01
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