1.
distance between vehicles; following distance; gap between cars
The space between one vehicle and the one in front of or behind it, especially while driving.
車間を取ってください。
Please keep your distance from the car ahead.
雨の日は車間を広く取ったほうがいい。
On rainy days, you should keep a wider following distance.
高速道路では十分な車間距離を保つことが大切だ。
On expressways, it's important to maintain sufficient following distance.
Short for 車間距離 (inter-vehicle distance). Both forms are common, but 車間 alone is more conversational. A practical word for anyone driving in Japan — you will see it on highway signs and hear it in driving school.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 車間距離: following distance (full form)
- 車間を取る: to keep distance between vehicles
- 車間を詰める: to close the gap between vehicles
- 車間が狭い: the gap between cars is too narrow
- 十分な車間: sufficient following distance
RELATED TERMS:
- あおり運転: tailgating; aggressive driving — driving too close behind another car on purpose
- 追突: rear-end collision — what happens when following distance is insufficient
- 安全運転: safe driving