1.
imported car — a car manufactured overseas and brought into Japan for sale
A car manufactured outside Japan and imported for sale domestically, contrasted with 国産車 (domestically produced cars). In Japan, 輸入車 is often associated with European brands such as BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Audi, and Volkswagen, and carries connotations of higher price and prestige.
父は輸入車に乗っている。
My father drives an imported car.
輸入車は修理代が高いとよく言われる。
It's often said that repairs for imported cars are expensive.
最近、国産車よりも輸入車を選ぶ若者が増えているそうだ。
It seems that more young people are choosing imported cars over domestic ones lately.
Compound of 輸入 ('import') and 車 ('vehicle'). Read as しゃ, not くるま, in this compound.
USAGE:
- Refers to passenger cars imported into Japan. In Japanese usage, the term is most often associated with European luxury and sports brands, because domestic (Japanese) cars dominate the local market.
- In news and industry contexts, 輸入車 is contrasted with 国産車 when discussing market share, sales trends, or consumer preferences.
- Near-synonym 外車 is more colloquial and has the same practical meaning.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 輸入車を買う: to buy an imported car
- 輸入車に乗る: to drive / ride in an imported car
- 輸入車販売: sale of imported cars
- 輸入車{ディーラー}: imported car dealer
- 輸入車市場: imported car market
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 外車: foreign car — colloquial near-synonym; slightly more casual and more common in everyday speech.
- 国産車: domestic car — the direct antonym, referring to cars made in Japan.
RELATED TERMS:
- 輸入: import (goods from abroad)
- 輸出車: exported car
- 中古車: used car
- 新車: new car