shinkansen

English

Etymology

From Japanese 新(しん)幹(かん)線(せん) (shinkansen, literally “new trunk line”).

Noun

shinkansen (plural shinkansen or shinkansens)

1. (rail transport) A Japanese high-speed railway line.
2. (rail transport) A high-speed passenger train which runs on such a line; a bullet train.
   • 2014 July 2, Yoko Sudo, “Luxury Shinkansen Train to Feature Foot Baths”, in The Wall Street Journal:

     East Japan Railway Co., known as JR East, this week unveiled its newest luxury shinkansen cars featuring ashiyu, in which passengers can soak their tired feet while speeding through the beautiful, mountainous, hot-spring-rich region.

Derived terms

• mini-shinkansen

Translations

bullet train — see bullet train

Japanese

Romanization

shinkansen

1. Rōmaji transcription of しんかんせん