How to say "crew" in Japanese

• クルーCommon
  nounThe loanword; it covers 'crew' broadly — a flight's crew, a ship's crew, a film crew — and can refer to the group as a whole or to a single member.
  オックスフォードのクルーが勝かつのは確実かくじつに見みえた。↗

  The Oxford crew appeared secure of victory.
• 乗員じょういんCommon
  nounThe people who work aboard a ship or aircraft, as distinct from the passengers; typical of news reports and official announcements, and usable for one crewman or the crew collectively.
  乗客じょうきゃく、乗員じょういん合あわせて７９名めいの生存者せいぞんしゃの中なかに操縦士そうじゅうしが含ふくまれていた。↗

  The pilots were among the 79 survivors consisting of passengers and crew.
• 乗組員のりくみいんCommon
  nounThe crew of a ship, airplane, or similar craft, whether the group as a whole or one of its members; close in meaning to 乗員, and typical of shipping and aviation contexts.
  乗組員のりくみいんの何人なんにんかは溺れ死おぼれしんだ。↗

  Some of the crew were drowned.
• 一味いちみCommon
  nounNot a working crew: it really means a gang or band of conspirators, typically with a shady nuance, so it suits 'crew' only in the sense of one's gang or confederates.
  「おい、だまれ。口数くちかずが多おおいぞ」とそのギャングの一味いちみが言いった。↗

  "Hey, you shut up! You talk too much," the gangster said.
• 組くみJLPT N3approx.Common
  noun, noun (suffix), counterA general word for a group of people — a team, party, or crew; it frames the crew as one unit or team rather than as individuals, and is not tied to ships or aircraft.
  もうひと組くみの観光客かんこうきゃくが到着とうちゃくした。↗

  Another lot of tourists arrived.

For an actual ship's or plane's crew, use 「クルー」 (the loanword) or 乗員/乗組員; 組 treats the crew as a team or unit, while 一味 fits only a gang or band of conspirators, not a working crew.

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

• クルーcrew
• 乗員じょういんcrew member
• 乗組員のりくみいんcrew (of a ship, airplane, etc.)
• 一味いちみclan
• 隊たいparty
• 乗組のりくみcrew
• 組くみgroup (of people)