船
ship, boat
Readings
On'yomi
- セン
Kun'yomi
- ふね
- ふな-
Nanori
- ふ
Meaning
船 centers on watercraft: a ship or boat used for traveling or transporting goods across water.
Most common words using 船
24 of 437- 船ふねN5
ship; boat; watercraft; vessel; seaplane
- 風船ふうせんN2
balloon (toy or decoration)
- 船長せんちょうN1
ship's captain; skipper
- 船橋ふなばし
pontoon bridge; floating bridge
- 漁船ぎょせんN1
fishing boat
- 船員せんいん
sailor; seaman; seafarer
- 船舶せんぱくN1
vessel; ship; shipping; seacraft
- 船体せんたい
hull
- 造船ぞうせんN2
shipbuilding
- 大船おおぶね
large boat
- 客船きゃくせん
passenger boat
- 艦船かんせん
warships and other vessels
- 飛行船ひこうせん
airship; blimp
- 帆船はんせん
sailing ship; sailing boat; sailing vessel
- 船出ふなで
setting sail; putting out to sea
- 船室せんしつ
stateroom; cabin
- 船旅ふなたびN3
trip by boat; sea trip; voyage; cruise
- 汽船きせんN1
steamship; steamboat; steamer
- 船籍せんせき
ship's nationality; ship's country of registration
- 船主せんしゅ
shipowner
- 船便ふなびんN4
surface mail (by ship); sea mail
- 同船どうせん
the same ship; taking the same ship
- 渡し船わたしぶね
ferry; ferryboat
- 船酔いふなよい
seasickness
Study
Etymology
船 combines 舟 (boat) with 㕣, which likely contributed the sound and originally depicted a valley or opening, together suggesting a vessel that travels along waterways.
Meaning mnemonic
A boat 舟 with a mouth-like opening 口 at the bottom, like a cargo hold or a speaking crew member, makes 船 a ship.
Reading mnemonic
For セン, imagine a ship sending a signal: send -> セン, and the boat sends its message across the water.