パスポート

• Reading: パスポート
• Romaji: pasupooto
• Kanji breakdown: From English 'passport' → パスポート (katakana loanword). Also called 旅券 (りょけん) in formal/official contexts.
• Pronunciation: /pa.su.poː.to/

Meaning

Passport — the essential travel document for international travel.

While パスポート is simply the Japanese word for passport, it carries additional cultural weight in Japan. The Japanese passport is consistently ranked as the most powerful in the world for visa-free access, a source of national pride. Getting your first パスポート is a milestone for young Japanese people. The word is also used metaphorically — パスポート to describe something that grants you access to a new world or experience.

Examples

1. パスポートの期限切れてた、やばい。 My passport expired — this is bad.
2. 初めてパスポート取ったときワクワクしたなあ。 I was so excited when I got my first passport.
3. パスポートと航空券だけは絶対忘れないで。 Whatever you do, don't forget your passport and plane ticket.

Usage Guide

Context: travel, daily life, official

Tone: practical, essential

Do Say

• パスポート更新しなきゃ、期限もうすぐだ。 (I need to renew my passport, it expires soon.)
• パスポート何色？赤？ (What colour is your passport? Red?)

Don't Say

• ビザをパスポートと混同しない — パスポートは身分証明書、ビザは入国許可 (Don't confuse a visa with a passport — a passport is ID, a visa is entry permission)

Common Mistakes

• Not knowing the formal term 旅券 (りょけん) — used on official documents and by immigration officials
• Confusing パスポート with ビザ — the passport is the document, the visa is the entry permission

Origin & History

From English/French 'passport.' Adopted into Japanese as international travel became accessible. The Japanese passport's global reputation for visa-free access has made it a point of cultural significance beyond its practical function.

Cultural Context

Era: Standard modern vocabulary

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal

Regional notes: Used across Japan. The Japanese passport consistently ranks as the world's most powerful for visa-free access. Red (10-year) and blue (5-year) covers.