旗き艦かん

き

か

ん

Freq.FrequencyTop 20,000

Meanings

Refers to the lead ship in a fleet, commanded by a flag officer. Also used metaphorically for the most important or leading product, store, or entity in a group.

その空くう母ぼは艦かん隊たいの旗き艦かんだった。
The aircraft carrier was the flagship of the fleet.
この店みせは当とう社しゃの旗き艦かん店てんです。
This store is our company's flagship store.

See all 13 example sentences ›

Usage patterns

〈物もの〉の旗き艦かんになるto become the flagship (of a company, brand, etc.)
この新しん型がたスマートフォンは同どう社しゃの旗き艦かんになった。
This new smartphone became the company's flagship model.
旗き艦かんを務つとめるto serve as the flagship (of a fleet)
この戦せん艦かんが艦かん隊たいの旗き艦かんを務つとめている。
This battleship serves as the fleet's flagship.

Kanji

旗flag, banner, standard
艦warship

Related words

主しゅ力りょく
主力 refers to the main force or mainstay of a group, while 旗艦 is used more specifically for the leading ship or, figuratively, the standout flagship product/store.

Don't confuse with

機き関かんN3
機関 is a completely different word meaning 'organization' or 'engine' that happens to share the same pronunciation きかん with 旗艦, so listeners must rely on context to tell them apart.
期き間かんN3
期間 means 'a period of time' and is another common homophone of 旗艦, distinguished only by context since both are pronounced きかん.

Word family

旗き艦かん店てん
flagship store; flagship shop

Etymology

Compound of 旗 (ki, 'flag') and 艦 (kan, 'warship'), literally 'flag warship'. The term originated from the practice of a commander flying a flag on the lead ship.