General term for lighter-than-air aircraft, including hot-air balloons, weather balloons, and blimps. Not used for toy balloons (風船).
I want to ride in a balloon and fly through the sky.
Weather balloons are launched every day.
The tourists rode in a hot-air balloon and enjoyed the scenery.
The research team launched an observation balloon.
A large balloon slowly rose into the morning sky.
The staff inflated the balloon using a burner.
気球 is typically an unpowered balloon used for observation or sport, while 飛行船 is a powered, steerable airship with its own propulsion.
風船 is a small rubber toy balloon, while 気球 is a large aircraft such as a hot-air balloon or blimp.
飛行船 is a powered, steerable airship with an engine, whereas 気球 usually drifts with the wind and has no engine.
chance; opportunity; right moment · machine; device · aircraft; plane · counter for aircraft · counter for remaining lives
hot-air balloon
dirigible balloon
sounding balloon; sonde
weather balloon; sounding balloon · observation balloon; spy balloon · trial balloon
barrage balloon
barrage balloon
Compound of 気 (gas, air) and 球 (sphere, ball). A straightforward kanji compound for a gas-filled spherical aircraft.