1.
private car; personal automobile; family car
A car owned by a private individual or household for personal use, as opposed to a company car, taxi, or rental vehicle. In Japan, private cars have white-background license plates, distinguishing them from commercial vehicles, which use green-background plates.
自家用車で通勤する。
To commute by private car.
田舎では自家用車が欠かせない。
In the countryside, a private car is indispensable.
結婚を機に、自家用車を新しく買い替えた。
Taking our marriage as an opportunity, we traded in our private car for a new one.
都心では駐車場代が高いため、自家用車を持たない家庭も多い。
Since parking fees are high in the city center, many households do not own a private car.
Formed from 自家 (one's own home/household) + 用 (for use) + 車 (car). A formal or written-style term; in casual conversation, 家の車 or 自分の車 is more common.
USAGE:
- Appears frequently on official forms (insurance, tax filings, registrations) where the distinction between private and commercial use matters.
- 自家用車通勤 (commuting by private car) is a common phrase in employment and tax contexts — some companies offer a gasoline allowance for such employees.
- The corresponding license plate color in Japan is white for 自家用 and green for 事業用 (business use).
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 自家用車通勤: commuting by private car
- 自家用車を所有する: to own a private car
- 自家用車で移動する: to travel by private car
- 自家用車保有率: private car ownership rate
SIMILAR WORDS:
- マイカー: "my car" (wasei-eigo) — more casual and colloquial, same basic meaning
- 社用車: company car — owned by the company, not the individual
- 営業車: business/sales vehicle — used for commercial purposes
- 公用車: official/government vehicle — for public-sector use