How to say "bike" in Japanese

Choosing the right word

バイクCommon
nounCovers the motorized sense of 'bike' — a motorcycle or motorbike. This is an abbreviation and the everyday word when the bike has an engine, as in riding or parking a motorcycle.
ビルはバイクをとても欲ほしがった。↗
Bill was crazy for a motorbike.
自転車じてんしゃJLPT N5approx.Common
nounCovers the pedal-powered sense of 'bike' — a bicycle. Use this when you mean the kind of bike you ride by pedaling, such as a bicycle for commuting to school or work.
ケンは自転車じてんしゃを白しろく塗ぬりました。↗
Ken painted his bicycle white.

Use 「バイク」 for a motorized bike (motorcycle) and 自転車 for a pedal-powered bicycle; English 'bike' alone is ambiguous, so decide based on whether the bike has an engine.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

Japanese equivalents

バイクmotorcycle
自転車じてんしゃbicycle
自転車をこぐじてんしゃをこぐto pedal a bicycle

JLPT vocabulary levels are community estimates, not official (no official lists have been published since the 2010 revision).

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