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船員 (せんいん, senin) Japanese meaning: sailor | Kotomora

船せん員いん

せ

ん

い

ん

Common word›Freq.FrequencyTop 20,000

Meanings

1

sailor; seaman; seafarer

General term for a person who works on a ship, including crew members of any rank.

彼かれは若わかい頃ころ、船せん員いんとして世

せ

界かい

中じゅう

を

旅たび

し

た

。

When he was young, he traveled the world as a sailor.

船せん員いんたちは嵐あらしの中なかでも冷れい静せいだった。

The crew members remained calm even in the storm.

Usage patterns

〈人ひと〉が船せん員いんになるto become a sailor/crew member
彼かれは高こう校こうを卒そつ業ぎょうしてから船せん員いんになった。
He became a sailor after graduating from high school.
船せん員いんとして働はたらくto work as a sailor
父ちちは長なが年ねん、貨か物もつ船せんの船せん員いんとして働はたらいている。
My father has worked as a crew member on a cargo ship for many years.

Kanji

船ship, boat
員employee, member, number

Related words

乗のり組くみ員いんN1
乗組員 means 'crew member' and covers ships, aircraft, or spacecraft, while 船員 refers specifically to ship crews.
水すい夫ふ
水夫 is an older, more specific word for a common deckhand, while 船員 is the broad modern term for any ship crew member.
セーラー
船員 is the neutral, general Japanese word for any ship crew member, while セーラー carries a Western or naval flavor, often evoking uniforms or films.

Don't confuse with

船せん長ちょうN1
船長 refers specifically to the captain who commands the ship, while 船員 is the general term for any crew member regardless of rank.

Counted with

人にん
The everyday counter for people: 一人 (ひとり), 二人 (ふたり), 三人 (さんにん).
名めいN2
More formal than 人 — used for headcounts in reservations, staff lists, and announcements (5名様).

Word family

船せん員いん保ほ険けん
seamen's insurance
高こう級きゅう船せん員いん
ship's officer

Etymology

Compound of 船 (ship) and 員 (member, personnel).