Translation guide
A large motor vehicle for carrying goods. In Japanese, the most common word is トラック, a loanword from English. There are also native terms for specific types of trucks.
トラック
truck
Referring to a truck as a vehicle for transporting goods, the most common everyday term.
The standard loanword for 'truck'. Used in most contexts, from small pickups to large cargo trucks.
あのトラックは大きいですね。
That truck is big, isn't it?
トラックの運転手になりたい。
I want to become a truck driver.
Formal term meaning 'freight vehicle'. Used in official documents, laws, or technical contexts.
この道路は貨物自動車の通行が禁止されています。
This road is closed to freight vehicles.
Slang term for a truck driver, literally 'truck guy'. Often used in a rough or humorous way, sometimes associated with reckless driving.
あのトラ野郎、またスピード違反で捕まったらしい。
That truck guy got caught speeding again, apparently.
Specifically a light truck with an open back, common in personal use.
Loanword for 'pickup truck'. Widely understood.
父はピックアップトラックで材木を運んでいます。
My father carries lumber in his pickup truck.
Short for 軽自動車トラック, a mini truck (kei truck) common in Japan for small businesses and farming. Very compact and practical.
A truck with a tilting bed for carrying loose materials.
Common term for dump truck, from 'dump car'.
工事現場にダンプカーが何台も停まっている。
Several dump trucks are parked at the construction site.
A vehicle used for firefighting.
Standard term for fire truck.
消防車がサイレンを鳴らして走っていった。
The fire truck went by with its siren blaring.
A truck used to tow disabled vehicles.
Standard term for tow truck.
事故でレッカー車を呼んだ。
I called a tow truck because of the accident.
A truck that collects waste.
Formal term for garbage truck.
ごみ収集車は毎週火曜日に来ます。
The garbage truck comes every Tuesday.
Common colloquial term, from the compacting mechanism.
パッカー車が来る前にごみを出さなきゃ。
I have to put out the trash before the garbage truck comes.
The loanword トラック covers almost all types of trucks in everyday conversation. Unless you need to be specific (e.g., fire truck, tow truck), トラック is the safest choice.
トラック can also mean 'track' (as in running track or music track) in Japanese. Context usually makes it clear, but be aware of the homonym.
農家の人は軽トラックをよく使います。
Farmers often use kei trucks.
Alternative term, also common.
ダンプトラックが砂利を運んでいる。
The dump truck is carrying gravel.