Copyright © 2026 Kotomora. All Rights Reserved.
車掌 (しゃしょう) Japanese meaning | Kotomora
Common word JLPT N3 Freq. Frequency Top 20,000 Meanings 1
noun
train conductor
Refers specifically to a conductor on a train. In modern Japan, many trains are one-man operated, so the role is less commonly seen on commuter lines but still exists on long-distance and some local trains.
て
いる
。
A conductor is on board the limited express train.
Kanji 掌 palm of hand, rule, administer Similar words 運うん 転てん 士し 運転士 is the driver or engineer operating the train, while 車掌 is the conductor responsible for passenger service and ticket inspection.
乗じょう 務む 員いん 乗務員 is a broader term for any crew member working on a train, bus, or other vehicle, including both drivers and conductors.
Etymology Compound of 車 (しゃ, 'vehicle, train') and 掌 (しょう, 'to manage, to be in charge of'). The character 掌 originally means 'palm' but here carries the extended sense of 'supervising' or 'managing'.