Translation guide
The number of people that can be seated in a venue, vehicle, or space. In Japanese, the most common way to express this is with 定員 (ていいん), which refers to the fixed or prescribed capacity. Other expressions exist for specific contexts like vehicles or rooms.
To state the official or designed number of seats in a place, such as a theater, bus, or classroom.
The most common and versatile word for seating capacity. It implies a set number of people allowed or designed for a space.
このバスの定員は50人です。
The seating capacity of this bus is 50 people.
会場の定員は300人です。
The venue has a seating capacity of 300.
Literally 'accommodation number of people'. Used for capacity of a room, hall, or building, often including standing room. Slightly more formal.
このホールの収容人数は500人です。
This hall has a capacity of 500 people.
To specify how many passengers a car, train, or airplane can seat.
Specifically the seating capacity of a vehicle (car, bus, train). Often seen on vehicle specifications.
この車の乗車定員は5名です。
This car has a seating capacity of 5 people.
Also used for vehicles, but 乗車定員 is more precise when the context isn't clear.
To refer to the actual number of chairs or seats available, rather than the official capacity.
Literally 'number of seats'. Used when talking about the physical count of seats in a theater, stadium, etc.
この映画館の座席数は200です。
This movie theater has 200 seats.
To express the total number of people a space can hold, including those standing.
Formal term for total capacity (seated + standing). Often used in event planning or safety regulations.
このスタジアムの収容人員は6万人です。
This stadium has a total capacity of 60,000.
定員 is the prescribed or designed seating capacity, often with a sense of a limit or rule. 収容人数 is a more neutral term for how many people a space can physically accommodate, and may include standing areas. For vehicles, use 乗車定員.
The English phrase 'seating capacity' is not used as-is in Japanese. Always use the native terms above.
エレベーターの定員は11人です。
The elevator capacity is 11 people.