How to say “car” in Japanese | 車 (くるま、kuruma)

The Japanese vocabulary「車 (くるま、kuruma)」means “car.” Please learn the pronunciation and the example sentences.

Japanese Vocabulary and the Meaning

Key Word
Hiraganaくるま
Romaji Readingkuruma
English Meaningcar

The Correct Japanese Pronunciations

Please learn the pronunciation by watching the attached video. You can also learn example sentences.

The Example Japanese Sentences

It is important to have skills in both non-honorific and honorific languages in order to use Japanese correctly.

I want a new car.

Plain Form:

あたらしいくるましい。
Atarashī kuruma ga hoshī.

Polite Form:

新しい車が欲しいです。
Atarashī kuruma ga hoshī desu.


Unfortunately, I scratched my friend’s car.

Plain Form:

友達ともだちくるまきずけてしまった。
Tomodachi no kuruma ni kizu o tsukete shimatta.

Polite Form:

友達の車に傷を付けてしまいました。
Tomodachi no kuruma ni kizu o tsukete shimaimashita.


I have never driven this car long distances.

Plain Form:

このくるまちょうきょはしったことがない。
Kono kuruma de chōkyori o hashitta koto ga nai.

Polite Form:

この車で長距離を走ったことがありません。
Kono kuruma de chōkyori o hashitta koto ga araimasen.


I was in the car for 2 hours.

Plain Form:

二時間にじかん車にっていた。
Nijikan kuruma ni notte ita.

Polite Form:

二時間車に乗っていました。
Nijikan kuruma ni notte imashita.


My car is light blue.

Plain Form:

わたしくるま水色みずいろだ。
Watashi no kuruma wa mizuiro da.

Polite Form:

私の車は水色です。
Watashi no kuruma wa mizuiro desu.


My car broke down yesterday.

Plain Form:

昨日きのうくるまこわれた。
Kinō kuruma ga kowareta.

Polite Form:

昨日車が壊れました。
Kinō kuruma ga kowaremashita.


There are three people in that car.

Plain Form:

あのくるまには三人さんにんっている。
Ano kuruma ni wa san’nin notte iru.

Polite Form:

あの車には三人乗っています。
Ano kuruma ni wa san’nin notte imasu.


My son likes to make plastic models of cars.

Plain Form:

息子むすこくるまのプラモデルをつくるのがきだ。
Musuko wa kuruma no puramoderu o tsukuru no ga sukida.

Polite Form:

息子は車のプラモデルを作るのが好きです。
Musuko wa kuruma no puramoderu o tsukuru no ga sukidesu.


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Vehicles