乗客

• Reading: じょうきゃく
• Romaji: joukyaku
• Kanji breakdown: 乗 (jou) — ride, board; 客 (kyaku) — guest, customer
• Pronunciation: /dʑoː.kʲa.kɯ/

Meaning

Passenger. A person travelling in a vehicle, plane, or ship.

A noun referring to passengers on any form of transport — trains, buses, planes, ships, or taxis. Commonly appears in news reports, announcements, and travel contexts. Often used with counters: 乗客百人 (100 passengers). More formal than お客さん when specifically referring to transport users.

Examples

1. 飛行機の乗客は全員無事だった。 All the passengers on the plane were safe.
2. 電車が満員で乗客が降りられなかった。 The train was so packed that passengers couldn't get off.
3. 乗客の皆様にお知らせいたします。 Attention all passengers: we have an announcement.

Usage Guide

Context: transportation, news, announcements

Tone: formal

Origin & History

Composed of 乗 (ride, board) and 客 (guest, customer). Together they describe a person who rides as a guest on a vehicle.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal