(かもつせん)

かもつせん
noun
cargo ship; freighter
transportation
1. cargo ship; freighter; cargo vessel
A ship designed primarily for transporting goods and materials rather than passengers.
貨物船(かもつせん)(みなと)(はい)った
A cargo ship entered the port.
A large cargo ship is carrying freight.
That cargo ship runs a regular route carrying containers from China to Japan.

Composed of 貨物(かもつ) (cargo, freight) + (せん) (ship, vessel). Japan, as an island nation, depends heavily on maritime shipping, making this a commonly encountered word in news and daily life.

Common collocations

Similar words

  • 客船(きゃくせん) — passenger ship
  • タンカー — tanker (ship for transporting liquid cargo)
  • 漁船(ぎょせん) — fishing boat
  • 輸送船(ゆそうせん) — transport ship (slightly more formal/military nuance)