choo-choo train; steam train
Children's word for a steam train, mimicking the sound of the whistle and the puffing of the engine. Often used in songs and picture books.
The child shouted, "The choo-choo train is here!"
This picture book has many pictures of choo-choo trains.
Standard spelling using katakana for the onomatopoeic part.
Variant with hiragana for the onomatopoeic part; less common but still used.
Compound of 汽車 (steam train) and the onomatopoeia ポッポ, imitating the chuffing sound of a steam locomotive.