国こく有ゆう鉄てつ道どう

こ

く

ゆ

う

て

つ

ど

う

Meanings

1

noun

national railway

Refers to a railway system owned and operated by the national government. In Japan, often associated with the former Japanese National Railways (JNR).

日本にほんの国こく有ゆう鉄てつ道どうは1987年ねんに民みん営えい化かされた。
Japan's national railway was privatized in 1987.

country

有possess, have, exist

鉄iron

道road-way, street, district

Similar words

私し鉄てつ
私鉄 means 'private railway', contrasting with 国有鉄道 which is government-owned.
JR
JR (Japan Railways) is the successor to the former Japanese National Railways (国有鉄道) after privatization.

Etymology

Compound of 国有 (こくゆう, 'state-owned') and 鉄道 (てつどう, 'railway').