機き長ちょう

き

ちょ

う

Common wordJLPTN1Freq.FrequencyTop 20,000

Meanings

Refers specifically to the pilot in command of an airplane or helicopter. Not used for ship captains (船長) or other types of captains.

機き長ちょうが乗じょう客きゃくに挨あい拶さつをした。
The captain greeted the passengers.
彼かれは国こく際さい線せんの機き長ちょうとして長なが年ねん勤きん務むしている。
He has served as a captain on international flights for many years.

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Usage patterns

〈人ひと〉が機き長ちょうを務つとめるfor someone to serve as the captain (of a flight)
彼かれはこの便べんの機き長ちょうを務つとめている。
He is serving as the captain of this flight.
機き長ちょうからのアナウンスan announcement from the captain
機き長ちょうからのアナウンスがありました。
There was an announcement from the captain.
機き長ちょうの指し示じに従したがうto follow the captain's instructions
乗じょう客きゃくは機き長ちょうの指し示じに従したがった。
The passengers followed the captain's instructions.

Kanji

機loom, mechanism, machine
長long, leader, superior

Related words

パイロットN3
パイロット is a general term for anyone who flies an aircraft, while 機長 specifically refers to the pilot in command who has final authority over the flight.

Don't confuse with

船せん長ちょうN1
船長 is the captain of a ship, while 機長 is the captain of an aircraft, so the two are easily confused despite referring to different vehicles.
パイロットN3
機長 specifically means the captain in command of an aircraft, whereas パイロット refers to any pilot regardless of rank.
艦かん長ちょう
艦長 commands a warship, whereas 機長 is the captain (pilot-in-command) of an aircraft, so the two are easy to confuse by role but differ by vehicle type.

Counted with

人にん
counter for people

Etymology

Compound of 機 (aircraft) and 長 (chief, head). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the word follows a common pattern for titles of leadership.