原付(げんつき)

げんつき
noun
moped; motorized bicycle
informaltransportation
1. moped; motorized bicycle; scooter (under 50cc)
A small motorized vehicle with an engine displacement of 50cc or less. Abbreviated from 原動機付自転車(げんどうきつきじてんしゃ). Requires only a basic license and can be ridden from age 16 in Japan.
原付(げんつき)で通学(つうがく)している。
I commute to school by moped.
原付(げんつき)の制限速度(せいげんそくど)は時速(じそく)30キロだ。
The speed limit for mopeds is 30 km/h.
高校生(こうこうせい)の時(とき)に原付(げんつき)の免許(めんきょ)を取(と)って、毎日(まいにち)バイト先(さき)まで乗(の)っていた。
I got my moped license in high school and rode it to my part-time job every day.

An abbreviation of 原動機付自転車(げんどうきつきじてんしゃ) (engine-equipped bicycle). In everyday speech, 原付(げんつき) is far more common than the full form. These small scooters are extremely popular in Japan for short-distance commuting.

Common collocations

Regulations

  • Maximum speed: 30 km/h
  • Two-stage right turns required at large intersections
  • No passengers allowed
  • License obtainable at age 16 with a written test only

Similar words

  • バイク: motorcycle — general term for any motorbike
  • スクーター: scooter — often refers to the same vehicles but emphasizes the step-through design
  • 自動二輪(じどうにりん): motorcycle (over 50cc) — the legal category above 原付(げんつき)

Related Words

Compare: バイク (motorcycle)
Compare: スクーター (scooter)
Compare: 二輪車(にりんしゃ) (two-wheeled vehicle)
general
Added 2026.5.5 20:08 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:02
26500/26791_gentsuki