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航空自衛隊 (koukuujieitai) Japanese meaning | Kotomora

航こう空くう自じ衛えい隊たい

こ

う

く

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じ

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Meanings

1

Japan Air Self-Defense Force; JASDF

Official name of Japan's air defense branch; used in military, news, and formal contexts.

航こう空くう自じ衛えい隊たいの戦せん闘とう機きが緊きん急

きゅう

発はっ

進しん

し

た

。

A Japan Air Self-Defense Force fighter jet scrambled.

Kanji

航navigate, sail, cruise
空empty, sky, void
自oneself
衛defense, protection
隊regiment, party, company

Don't confuse with

陸りく上じょう自じ衛えい隊たい
航空自衛隊 is Japan's air defense branch, while 陸上自衛隊 is the land-based branch, so learners must distinguish them by the first kanji indicating the domain.
海かい上じょう自じ衛えい隊たい
航空自衛隊 covers air defense whereas 海上自衛隊 is the naval branch, so the initial kanji distinguishes which domain each force operates in.
自じ衛えい隊たいN1
自衛隊 is the umbrella term for all of Japan's Self-Defense Forces, while 航空自衛隊 specifically names the air branch within it.

Etymology

Compound of 航空 (kōkū, 'aviation') + 自衛隊 (jieitai, 'self-defense force').