自転車

Japanese

Coined in Japan in 1870 in the Meiji period in reference to a patented tricycle design.[1] Later used to refer to bicycles.

Compound of Sinitic-derived elements 自 (ji, “self”) +‎ 転 (ten, “rolling”, simplified modern form of 轉) +‎ 車 (sha, “vehicle”).

On’yomi: Goon
- (Tokyo) じてんしゃ [jìtéꜜǹshà] (Nakadaka – [2])[2][3]
- (Tokyo) じてんしゃ [jìtéńshá] (Heiban – [0])[2][3]
- IPA^(key): [d͡ʑitẽ̞ɰ̃ɕa̠]

(Irregular reading)
- (Tokyo) じでんしゃ [jìdéꜜǹshà] (Nakadaka – [2])
- (Tokyo) じでんしゃ [jìdéńshá] (Heiban – [0])
- IPA^(key): [d͡ʑidẽ̞ɰ̃ɕa̠]

自転車 (shinjitai kanji, kyūjitai kanji 自轉車, counter 台, hiragana じてんしゃ, rōmaji jitensha, historical hiragana じてんしや)

(slang) チャリンコ (charinko)
(slang) チャリ (chari)
(slang) ママチャリ (mamachari): a bicycle with extra baskets for groceries and children, generally ridden by young mothers

自転車横断帯 (じてんしゃおうだんたい, jitensha ōdantai) (road sign) bicycle crossing
自転車競技 (じてんしゃきょうぎ, jitensha kyōgi): a bicycle competition (race)
自転車競走 (じてんしゃきょうそう, jitensha kyōsō): a bicycle race
自転車操業 (じてんしゃそうぎょう, jitensha sōgyō): “bicycle operations” → a business model that requires regular infusions of external capital to remain viable (similar to riding a bicycle, as halting operations means immediate bankruptcy, much as stopping pedaling causes a bicycle rider to fall over)
自転車屋 (じてんしゃや, jitensha-ya): a bike shop, a bicycle store
自転車旅行 (じてんしゃりょこう, jitensha ryokō): a bicycle trip, bike touring

1997, Toshihiko Saitō, くるまたちの社会史: 人力車から自動車まで (Kuruma-tachi no Shakai-shi: Jinrikisha Kara Jidōsha Made, “A Social History of Cars: From Rickshaws to Automobiles”) (in Japanese), Tōkyō: Chūōkōron-sha, →ISBN
1998, NHK日本語発音アクセント辞典 (NHK Japanese Pronunciation Accent Dictionary) (in Japanese), Tōkyō: NHK, →ISBN
2006, 大辞林 (Daijirin), Third Edition (in Japanese), Tōkyō: Sanseidō, →ISBN