How to say "drone" in Japanese

• ドローン
  nounThe usual word for a drone as an unmanned flying machine, from English. Use it in everyday contexts such as hobby flying, aerial photography, or delivery drones.
• 雄蜂おばち
  nounThe biological sense only: the male bee, whose role in the hive is to mate with the queen. Never used for unmanned aircraft; if you mean the machine, this is not the word.
• 無人機むじんき
  nounAn unmanned aircraft, understood as 'unmanned machine'. It covers the machine sense of 'drone' but sounds more technical than ドローン, suiting news reports or formal writing.
• 無人航空機むじんこうくうき
  nounThe formal term for an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV); 'drone' is a secondary gloss. Use it in official, regulatory, or technical contexts where the full technical name is wanted.
• 無人爆撃機むじんばくげきき
  nounA combat drone or unmanned combat air vehicle (UCAV), i.e. a military drone capable of attack. It is far narrower than 'drone' generally, so it is seldom the word you want for ordinary drones.

For the flying machine, 「ドローン」 is the everyday word, while 無人機 and 無人航空機 are more technical; 雄蜂 covers the male bee, and 無人爆撃機 refers specifically to armed combat drones.

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

• ドローンdrone
• 雄蜂おばちdrone (bee)
• 無人機むじんきdrone
• 無人航空機むじんこうくうきunmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)
• 無人爆撃機むじんばくげききunmanned combat air vehicle (UCAV)
• ごくつぶしgood-for-nothing
• 無人飛行機むじんひこうきunmanned aircraft
• 唸り声うなりごえhum (of a machine, power lines, etc.)
• 唸りうなりhum (e.g. of a motor)