Translation guide
A large passenger ship used for long voyages across oceans. In Japanese, the most common term is 遠洋定期船, but more specific or natural expressions exist depending on context.
Referring to a large passenger ship that sails on regular routes across oceans.
The standard technical term for an ocean liner. Used in formal or written contexts.
タイタニック号は有名な遠洋定期船だった。
The Titanic was a famous ocean liner.
Literally 'international passenger ship'. Often used in shipping industry contexts.
新しい外航客船が就航した。
A new ocean liner has entered service.
A more literal translation, 'ocean route ship'. Rarely used in everyday language.
この大洋航路船は大西洋を横断する。
This ocean liner crosses the Atlantic.
In everyday conversation, Japanese speakers often use more general terms for large cruise-like ships, even if technically different.
Means 'luxury passenger ship'. Often used for large, elegant ships, including ocean liners in casual contexts.
あの豪華客船で世界一周旅行がしたい。
I want to take a round-the-world trip on that ocean liner.
Means 'large passenger ship'. A neutral, descriptive term.
港に大型客船が停泊している。
A large ocean liner is docked at the port.
When talking about famous ships from the early 20th century, specific terms or names are used.
In Japanese, ships are often referred to by name followed by 号 (ごう), meaning 'ship' or 'vessel'.
クイーン・メリー号は伝説の遠洋定期船です。
The Queen Mary is a legendary ocean liner.
A slightly older term for a scheduled passenger ship, often used historically.
戦前は多くの定期客船が太平洋を航行していた。
Before the war, many ocean liners sailed the Pacific.
In English, an ocean liner is a passenger ship designed for transportation across oceans, while a cruise ship is for leisure voyages. In Japanese, 遠洋定期船 specifically means ocean liner, but many people use 豪華客船 (luxury passenger ship) or クルーズ船 (cruise ship) interchangeably. If precision is needed, use 遠洋定期船 or 外航客船.
The direct translation '大洋定期船' is not standard and may sound unnatural. Stick to 遠洋定期船 or 外航客船.
遠洋定期船がサウサンプトンから出航した。
The ocean liner set sail from Southampton.
私たちは遠洋定期船で大西洋を横断した。
We crossed the Atlantic on an ocean liner.