Readings: シャ (Onyomi), くるま (Kunyomi)
Meaning: car, vehicle, wheel
車 means “car” or “vehicle” and is one of the most common kanji for transportation-related words. You’ll see it in daily conversation, signs, and traffic vocabulary.
View JLPT N5 Kanji ListHow to Write – Stroke Order
The kanji 車 has 7 strokes. It visually resembles a cart or wagon with wheels.

Kanji Details
Radical | 車 (vehicle) |
---|---|
Strokes | 7 |
JLPT Level | N5 |
Grade | 1st Grade |
Readings
Onyomi | シャ |
---|---|
Kunyomi | くるま |
Example Sentences
Japanese: 父の車は新しいです。
Kana: ちちのくるまはあたらしいです。
Romaji: Chichi no kuruma wa atarashii desu.
English: My father’s car is new.
Japanese: 車で学校へ行きます。
Kana: くるまでがっこうへいきます。
Romaji: Kuruma de gakkou e ikimasu.
English: I go to school by car.
Japanese: これは日本の車です。
Kana: これはにほんのくるまです。
Romaji: Kore wa Nihon no kuruma desu.
English: This is a Japanese car.
Japanese: たくさんの車が止まっています。
Kana: たくさんのくるまがとまっています。
Romaji: Takusan no kuruma ga tomatteimasu.
English: Many cars are parked.
Japanese: 車道を歩かないでください。
Kana: しゃどうをあるかないでください。
Romaji: Shadou o arukanaide kudasai.
English: Please don’t walk on the road.
Vocabulary Using 車
Word | Reading | Meaning |
---|---|---|
車 | くるま | car |
自動車 | じどうしゃ | automobile |
電車 | でんしゃ | train |
車道 | しゃどう | roadway |
車いす | くるまいす | wheelchair |
Kanji Used in This Post
Kanji | Reading | Meaning |
---|---|---|
車 | くるま | car |
道 | みち / どう | road |
電 | でん | electricity |
父 | ちち | father |
新 | あたらしい | new |
学 | がく | study |
🔗 N5 Grammar & Vocabulary

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