自家用車(じかようしゃ)

じかようしゃ
noun
private car; personal automobile; family car
formaltransportation
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(じかようしゃ)で通勤(つうきん)する。
To commute by private car.
田舎(いなか)では自家用車(じかようしゃ)が欠(か)かせない。
In the countryside, a private car is indispensable.
結婚(けっこん)を機(き)に、自家用車(じかようしゃ)を新(あたら)しく買(か)い替(か)えた。
Taking our marriage as an opportunity, we traded in our private car for a new one.
都心(としん)では駐車場(ちゅうしゃじょう)代(だい)が高(たか)いため、自家用車(じかようしゃ)を持(も)たない家庭(かてい)も多(おお)い。
Since parking fees are high in the city center, many households do not own a private car.

Formed from 自家(じか) (one's own home/household) + 用(よう) (for use) + 車(しゃ) (car). A formal or written-style term; in casual conversation, 家(いえ)の車(くるま) or 自分(じぶん)の車(くるま) 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(じかようしゃ)通勤(つうきん) (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(じかよう) and green for 事業用(じぎょうよう) (business use).

Common collocations

Similar words

Related Words

Compare: マイカー ("my car")
Compare: 社用車(しゃようしゃ) (company car)
Compare: 営業車(えいぎょうしゃ) (business/sales vehicle)
Compare: 専用車(せんようしゃ) (dedicated vehicle)
general
Added 2026.4.13 1:39 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:02
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