貨物車(かもつしゃ)

A compound of 貨物(かもつ) (freight, cargo) and 車(しゃ) (vehicle, car). Can refer to either a railway freight car or a road vehicle used for hauling goods.

In the railway context, 貨物車(かもつしゃ) specifically refers to individual freight cars as distinct from 貨物列車(かもつれっしゃ) (freight train), which is the entire train. On roads, it refers to trucks and other cargo-carrying vehicles.

Common collocations

• 貨物車(かもつしゃ)の通行(つうこう): freight vehicle traffic
• 貨物車(かもつしゃ)専用(せんよう): freight vehicles only
• 有蓋(ゆうがい)貨物車(かもつしゃ): covered freight car (railway)

Similar words

• 貨物列車(かもつれっしゃ): freight train — the entire train, not individual cars
• トラック: truck — the common word for a cargo truck on the road
• 貨車(かしゃ): freight car — shortened form, used mainly for railway cars