ドアミラー

A wasei-eigo compound (English "door" + "mirror"). In English, the same part is called a "side mirror," "wing mirror" (British), or "side-view mirror." The Japanese term emphasizes the mounting location (on the door) rather than the function.

Older Japanese cars used フェンダーミラー (fender mirrors) mounted on the front fenders. Japan was one of the last countries to allow ドアミラー, which became legal in 1983 and quickly became standard. Fender mirrors are now rare but still seen on some taxis.

Common collocations

• ドアミラーを調整(ちょうせい)する: to adjust the side mirror
• ドアミラーを確認(かくにん)する: to check the side mirror
• ドアミラーを畳(たた)む: to fold in the side mirror
• 電動(でんどう)ドアミラー: power-folding side mirror

Related words

• フェンダーミラー: fender mirror — older style, mounted on front fender
• バックミラー: rearview mirror — the interior mirror
• ルームミラー: room mirror — another term for the interior rearview mirror
• サイドミラー: side mirror — less common synonym of ドアミラー