Translation guide
A police vehicle used for patrolling. In Japanese, the most common term is パトカー (patokā), a loanword from 'patrol car'. There are also more formal terms like パトロールカー and native Japanese terms like 巡視車, but パトカー is by far the most natural in everyday speech.
パトカー
patrol car
Referring to a marked police car used for patrolling streets and responding to incidents.
The standard, everyday term for a patrol car. It is a loanword from English 'patrol car' and is understood by all Japanese speakers.
パトカーがサイレンを鳴らして走っている。
A patrol car is driving with its siren on.
あそこにパトカーが止まっている。
There's a patrol car parked over there.
A native Japanese term for a patrol car, literally 'inspection vehicle'. It is rarely used in everyday conversation and sounds formal or bureaucratic.
巡視車が定期的にこの地域を回っている。
Patrol cars regularly go around this area.
A more formal or full version of パトカー. Used in official contexts or writing, but less common in casual speech.
警察のパトロールカーが巡回している。
Police patrol cars are patrolling the area.