How to say "ferry" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- nounThe usual word for a ferry: a motor vessel carrying passengers, cars, or cargo on a regular route, such as between islands or across a bay. This is the everyday word you will almost always need.
- 渡しわたしnounRefers to a ferry crossing, especially a small traditional crossing point over a river. It names the crossing itself as much as the boat, and suits rural or historical contexts rather than large scheduled services.
- 渡し船わたしぶねnounThe boat used for such a crossing: a small ferryboat that shuttles people across a river or strait. Choose this when you mean the vessel itself, especially a modest one, rather than a large car ferry.
- 過渡かとnounDespite the gloss, this is seldom the word you want for a ferry; it is really an abstract noun meaning transition or a transitional state between two stages, as in describing an intermediate period, not a boat or crossing.
Use 「フェリー」 for a modern motor ferry service, and 「渡し」 or 「渡し船」 for a small crossing boat; 過渡 is really an abstract word meaning transition, not a boat, and is seldom the word you want.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
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