Meaning & use
shinkansen
Last updated
Meaning
nouncountable or uncountable
a very fast passenger train service in Japan, or a train of this system
Grammar: As a service it is often uncountable (take the Shinkansen); as a particular train it is countable (a Shinkansen).
Patterns
- take the Shinkansen
- the Shinkansen network
- a Shinkansen train
We took the Shinkansen from Tokyo to Kyoto.
The Shinkansen is famous for being punctual and comfortable.
A new Shinkansen line opened in the north of the country.
Word forms
| plural | Shinkansens |
|---|
Common combinations
- take the Shinkansen
- It is much faster to take the Shinkansen than to drive.
- Shinkansen network
- The Shinkansen network connects most major cities on Honshu.
- Shinkansen ticket
- Shinkansen tickets can be reserved in advance.
- Shinkansen station
- The Shinkansen station is on the north side of the city.
Synonyms and how they differ
- bullet train
- This is the common English nickname for the Shinkansen; it is less formal and often used in news reports.
- high-speed train
- This is a general term for any very fast train, not only the Japanese one.
Commonly confused: shinkansen or bullet train?
shinkansen vs bullet train
Bullet train is an informal English name for the Shinkansen. Shinkansen is the official Japanese name and is preferred in more formal writing.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'Shinkansen' correctly?
Choose one answer.
When talking about the train service in general, 'the Shinkansen' is the usual form. 'A Shinkansen' is possible for a particular train, but 'the Shinkansen' is the standard expression for the service.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “shinkansen”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.