Meaning and Usage
担架 (たんか) refers to a stretcher or litter used to carry injured or sick people, especially in emergencies or rescue situations. It is a noun commonly used in medical, rescue, and disaster contexts.
Common Contexts
担架 is typically seen in hospitals, ambulances, disaster sites, or outdoor rescue operations. It implies a temporary and portable means of transporting someone who cannot walk or move by themselves.
Collocations and Patterns
- 担架で運ぶ (たんかではこぶ): to carry someone on a stretcher
- 担架を使う (たんかをつかう): to use a stretcher
- 担架で下ろす (たんかでおろす): to carry down someone on a stretcher (often from difficult terrain)
Register and Nuance
The word is formal and technical, used mainly in professional or emergency contexts. It is not used casually in everyday conversation unless discussing accidents or medical situations.
Common Learner Mistake
Learners sometimes confuse 担架 with 車 (くるま, car) or ベッド (bed) because all relate to transport or resting. Remember 担架 specifically means a portable stretcher for carrying injured people, not a vehicle or furniture.