1.
public bus; shared bus; fixed-route bus
The formal term for a public bus that runs on a fixed route and picks up multiple passengers. 乗合 means "shared ride" or "riding together." While バス alone is the everyday word, 乗合バス is used in official, legal, and administrative contexts.
Common collocations
- 乗合バスの路線: public bus route
- 乗合バス事業: public bus service (business term)
- 乗合タクシー: shared taxi (a related concept for rural areas)
Usage
In everyday speech, people simply say バス. The term 乗合バス appears in transportation regulations, news articles about public transit, and administrative documents. It distinguishes fixed-route public buses from chartered buses (貸切バス) and tour buses.