Translation guide
The undercarriage of an aircraft, used for takeoff, landing, and taxiing. In Japanese, the most common term is 着陸装置 (chakuriku souchi), but the loanword ランディングギア (randingu gia) is also widely understood. This guide covers the main ways to refer to landing gear in Japanese, from technical to everyday usage.
The wheeled structure beneath an aircraft that supports it on the ground and during takeoff/landing.
The standard Japanese term for landing gear. Literally 'landing device'. Used in technical and general contexts.
The landing gear malfunctioned, so they made an emergency landing.
Loanword from English. Common in aviation contexts and understood by many Japanese speakers, though less formal than 着陸装置.
The pilot lowered the landing gear.
Literally 'legs'. Used informally or in compound terms like 降着脚 (kouchakukyaku) for landing gear. Can be ambiguous, so context is needed.
Can also mean a person's legs or other supports. Use only when context makes it clear you mean aircraft landing gear.
The plane's landing gear won't come down.
ランディングギア is fine in casual conversation or among aviation enthusiasts. In formal writing, technical manuals, or news reports, 着陸装置 is preferred.