How to say "cruiser" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- nounThe loanword, covering both senses: the naval warship and the cabin cruiser, a motor boat with sleeping space. For the pleasure boat this is the word to use, since 巡洋艦 covers only the warship.
- 巡洋艦じゅんようかんnounThe specific word for the warship sense: a naval cruiser, a class of fighting ship. Use it for navies, naval history, and military news; the loanword クルーザー also covers this sense.
- nounNothing to do with ships: this is the police sense of 'cruiser', an abbreviated term for a patrol car. It fits news reports of a chase or an arrest, with cruisers in pursuit.
For the warship use 巡洋艦; 「クルーザー」 is the loanword covering both the warship and the cabin-cruiser pleasure boat; 「パトカー」 is the police car — the 'cruiser' that means a squad car, not a ship.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
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