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運転手
untenshu
driver
タクシーの運転手は道を知っている。
The taxi driver knows the way.
formal
A person who operates a vehicle such as a car, bus, or train.
バスの運転手は安全運転を心がけています。
The bus driver always drives carefully.
彼はトラックの運転手として働いています。
He works as a truck driver.
Used for professional drivers. For casual contexts, 運転する人 (person who drives) may be used.
Pro Tip
Distinguish from 運転士
運転手 is used for vehicles like cars, buses, and trucks, while 運転士 (unten-shi) is used for trains and other rail vehicles.
Word Origin
From 運転 (unten, 'operation/running of a vehicle') + 手 (shu, 'person in charge'). The term emphasizes the role of the person operating the vehicle.
Usage Notes
Commonly used in formal contexts. In informal speech, ドライバー (from English 'driver') is often preferred, especially for car drivers.
Word Breakdown
運転
operation/running of a vehicle
root手
person in charge
suffix和英辞典