運転

• Reading: うんてん
• Romaji: unten
• Kanji breakdown: 運 (un/hako) — carry, transport, luck; 転 (ten/koro) — roll, turn, tumble
• Pronunciation: /ɯ.n.te.n/

Meaning

Driving; operation of a vehicle or machine. The act of controlling and steering.

A Group 3 する verb (運転する). Primarily means driving a car, but also applies to operating trains, buses, machinery, and equipment. The transitive form takes を (車を運転する). Related words include 運転手 (driver) and 運転免許 (driving licence).

Examples

1. 父が車を運転して駅まで送ってくれた。 My father drove me to the station.
2. 運転中にスマホを見てはいけません。 You must not look at your phone while driving.
3. この機械の運転方法を教えてください。 Please teach me how to operate this machine.

Usage Guide

Context: driving, commuting, workplace

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

Compound of 運 (carry, transport) and 転 (roll, turn). Literally means to carry and turn, evoking the motion of wheels and steering.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal