1.
locomotive; train engine
A self-propelled vehicle that provides the motive power for pulling or pushing a train along railway tracks.
機関車 is composed of 機関 (engine, mechanism) + 車 (vehicle). It refers specifically to the engine unit of a train that pulls or pushes the other cars.
Common collocations
- 蒸気機関車: steam locomotive (abbreviated SL)
- 電気機関車: electric locomotive
- ディーゼル機関車: diesel locomotive
- 機関車が牽引する: a locomotive pulls (a train)
Similar words
- 電車: electric train — a self-propelled electric passenger train (the most common type in Japan)
- 列車: train — the train as a whole unit, including all cars
- 汽車: steam train — older term; in some regional dialects, any train
Cultural note
Steam locomotives (蒸気機関車, often abbreviated as SL) hold nostalgic appeal in Japan. Several tourist SL lines operate around the country, and 機関車トーマス (Thomas the Tank Engine) is enormously popular among Japanese children.