1.
crew member; crew; occupant of a vehicle
A person who operates or is on board a vehicle, aircraft, or vessel as part of its crew, or more broadly, any occupant of a vehicle.
A compound of 乗 (to ride/board) and 員 (member/personnel). Used in both professional contexts (crew of an aircraft, ship, or spacecraft) and in general reporting about vehicle occupants.
In news reports, 乗員 often appears alongside 乗客 (passengers) in the set phrase 乗員乗客 or 乗客乗員, covering everyone on board a vehicle.
Common collocations
- 乗員全員: all crew/occupants
- 乗員乗客: crew and passengers
- 乗員数: number of crew/occupants
- 乗員を救助する: to rescue crew members