空軍(くうぐん)

空軍(くうぐん) refers to the air force branch of a country's military. It is composed of 空(くう) (sky/air) + 軍(ぐん) (military/armed forces).

The three branches

• 陸軍(りくぐん): army (land forces)
• 海軍(かいぐん): navy (sea forces)
• 空軍(くうぐん): air force

JAPAN'S case

Japan does not officially have an 空軍(くうぐん). Under the post-war constitution, Japan's military is organized as 自衛隊(じえいたい) (Self-Defense Forces). The air force equivalent is the 航空自衛隊(こうくうじえいたい) (Air Self-Defense Force). 空軍(くうぐん) is used when referring to other countries' air forces.

Common collocations

• 空軍(くうぐん)基地(きち): air force base
• 空軍(くうぐん)力(りょく): air power
• 空軍(くうぐん)パイロット: air force pilot