渡し船・渡し舟|わたしぶねwatashibune[4]nakadaka (mid-high)

1. nounferry; ferryboat

• Synonym渡しわたしNeutralBroader than 「渡し船」: it names the crossing point or the act of ferrying, and can also mean handing something over; 「渡し船」 is only the boat.
• SynonymフェリーNeutralLoanword and the most common word in everyday use; usually a large ferry carrying cars as well as passengers, while 「渡し船」 is often a small river boat.
• SynonymフェリーボートNeutralThe fuller form of 「フェリー」, used less often; likewise suggests a large car-carrying ferry rather than a small river boat like 「渡し船」.
• Synonym連絡船れんらくせんWrittenWritten, formal word for scheduled ferries linking the two shores of a strait or lake, often connecting with rail; 「渡し船」 usually runs on rivers.
• Synonym渡船とせんWrittenRare written Sino-Japanese word for the same boat as 「渡し船」; found mostly in documents and place names.
• Related乗合船のりあいぶねNeutralA boat carrying many passengers on regular runs, or a fishing boat shared by several fishermen. The emphasis is on sharing; 「渡し船」 is about crossing to the far bank.

Use 「渡し船」 for a boat ferrying people or goods across a river; 「フェリー」 for modern, often car-carrying ferries; 「連絡船」 for scheduled ferries across a strait or lake. 「渡し」 is the crossing itself; 「渡船」 is a rare written synonym of 「渡し船」.

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

1. 河川かせんなどの渡し場わたしばで旅客りょかくや貨物かもつなどを対岸たいがんに渡わたす船ふね。