トラック

• Reading: トラック
• Romaji: torakku
• Pronunciation: /to.ɾak.kɯ/

Meaning

Truck; a large vehicle for transporting goods. Also: a running track.

A loanword noun with two distinct meanings: (1) from English 'truck,' a large vehicle for carrying cargo, and (2) from English 'track,' an oval course for running or racing. Context usually makes the meaning clear. Common compounds: トラック運転手 (torakku untenshu, truck driver), トラック競技 (torakku kyougi, track events).

Examples

1. 大きなトラックが荷物を運んでいた。 A big truck was hauling cargo.
2. 陸上部の練習でトラックを10周走った。 I ran 10 laps around the track at track-and-field practice.
3. 引っ越しの時にトラックを借りた。 I rented a truck when I moved.

Usage Guide

Context: transportation, sports, daily life

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

Borrowed from English 'truck' (vehicle) and 'track' (running course). Both words entered Japanese as the same katakana representation トラック, becoming homonyms in Japanese.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal