車線(しゃせん)

しゃせん
noun
traffic lane; lane (on a road)
1. traffic lane; lane on a road
A marked division of a road for a single line of traffic. Used when talking about highways, multi-lane roads, and driving.
右(みぎ)の車線(しゃせん)に移(うつ)った。
I moved to the right lane.
この道路(どうろ)は片側(かたがわ)三(さん)車線(しゃせん)ある。
This road has three lanes on each side.
工事(こうじ)のため一(いち)車線(しゃせん)が規制(きせい)されている。
One lane is restricted due to construction.

車線(しゃせん) refers to a marked lane on a road for a single line of traffic. Composed of 車(しゃ) (vehicle) + 線(せん) (line).

COUNTING:

Used as a counter-like word to describe the number of lanes:

  • 二(に)車線(しゃせん) (two lanes)
  • 三(さん)車線(しゃせん) (three lanes)
  • 片側(かたがわ)二(に)車線(しゃせん) (two lanes on each side)

COMMON COLLOCATIONS:

  • 車線(しゃせん)変更(へんこう): lane change
  • 追(お)い越(こ)し車線(しゃせん): passing lane (right lane in Japan)
  • 走行(そうこう)車線(しゃせん): driving lane (left lane in Japan)
  • 車線(しゃせん)規制(きせい): lane restriction

NOTE:
Homophone: 斜線(しゃせん) (diagonal line) uses different kanji and has a completely different meaning.

general
Added 2026.3.23 19:19 · Revised 2026.3.29 16:15
18500/18949_shasen