Meaning and Usage
"幹線" (かんせん) refers to a main or trunk line, commonly used in transportation contexts such as roads, railways, and bus routes. It indicates the primary route that connects major points or cities.
Common Contexts
You will often see "幹線" used with words like 道路 (road), 鉄道 (railway), and バス (bus) to describe main transportation routes. For example, "幹線道路" means a main road, and "幹線鉄道" means a trunk railway line.
Collocations and Patterns
- 幹線道路: main road, used to describe important roads that handle heavy traffic.
- 幹線鉄道: trunk railway line, referring to major train lines connecting cities.
- 幹線バス: main bus line, buses that run between major urban centers.
Register and Nuance
"幹線" is a formal term often used in official or technical contexts such as transportation planning, maps, and announcements. It is not typically used in casual conversation unless discussing infrastructure.
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes confuse "幹線" with local or branch lines (支線). Remember, "幹線" always refers to the main or primary line, while "支線" refers to secondary or branch lines.