Basic Meaning
The word "車" (くるま) primarily means "car" or "vehicle" in everyday Japanese. It refers to motor vehicles used for personal or commercial transportation.
Common Usage
You will often hear it in contexts related to buying, driving, or describing cars. For example, "新しい車を買いました" means "I bought a new car." It can also be used when talking about traffic situations, such as "車が渋滞で動かない" (The cars are stuck in traffic).
Collocations and Patterns
- 車を買う (くるまをかう): to buy a car
- 車が速い (くるまがはやい): the car is fast
- 車の運転 (くるまのうんてん): driving a car
Register and Politeness
"車" is a neutral, common noun used in both casual and formal contexts. It is appropriate in everyday conversation and written language.
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes confuse "車" with "自転車" (じてんしゃ, bicycle). Remember "車" refers to motor vehicles, while "自転車" is a bicycle.