航空

• Reading: こうくう
• Romaji: koukuu
• Kanji breakdown: 航 (kou) — navigate, sail; 空 (kuu) — sky, air
• Pronunciation: /koː.kɯː/

Meaning

Aviation; flying; air travel. The operation and navigation of aircraft.

A noun primarily seen in compounds related to air travel and the aviation industry. Extremely common in 航空会社 (koukuu gaisha, airline), 航空券 (koukuuken, airline ticket), and 航空便 (koukuubin, airmail). Also used in 航空機 (koukuuki, aircraft) and 航空宇宙 (koukuu uchuu, aerospace).

Examples

1. 航空券の値段が去年より上がった。 Airline ticket prices have gone up compared to last year.
2. 彼女は航空会社でキャビンアテンダントをしている。 She works as a cabin attendant for an airline.
3. 航空便で荷物を送ると早く届く。 Sending packages by airmail makes them arrive faster.

Usage Guide

Context: travel, transportation, business

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

Composed of 航 (navigate, sail) and 空 (sky, air). Originally 航 referred to ocean navigation; combined with 空, it describes navigation through the sky.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal