The Meaning of hassha [発車] In Japanese

発車
はっしゃ
Romaji: hassha N4

What does 発車 mean?

Translation and Meaning

departure, start of movement

Definition

発車 means the departure of a vehicle, the moment a train, bus, or other vehicle leaves a stop and begins to move. It is a noun that can take する to form 発車する, a verb used in transport contexts to describe the act of leaving a station or starting to move.

Type

Noun (suru-verb)

Stroke Order

Meanings

  • The departure of a vehicle from a station or stop, commonly seen in timetables and announcements.
  • The moment a vehicle begins to move, with the engine starting and wheels turning.
  • Metaphorically, the start of an operation or service in formal contexts, though this usage is less common.

Etymology

発 indicates starting or emitting, while 車 means vehicle; together they form 発車 read はっしゃ, a compound noun. The phonology shows rendaku and gemination, turning はつ + しゃ into はっしゃ in modern Japanese.

Composition

  • 発 — to start, to emit; contributes the sense of initiation.
  • 車 — vehicle or cart; denotes the object whose departure is described.

Usage

Used in transportation contexts such as railway and bus operations, signage, and travel writing; appears with 発車する to describe the act verb-ally in formal or semi-formal language; in casual talk, 出発する is also common when referring to trips not bound to a vehicle.
💡 Tips
Mnemonico: associe 発 como gatilho de início e 車 como veículo; quando o gatilho dispara, o veículo hassha parte, e as rodas começam a girar — conecte as duas imagens para lembrar o significado e a leitura.

Variations

  • 出発 (しゅつぱつ, shuppatsu) – broader departure, not limited to vehicles.
  • 発進 (はっしん, hasshin) – start moving, especially for machinery or engines.
  • 発車する (はっしゃする, hassha suru) – to depart (verb form derived from the noun).

Example Phrases

  • 今朝、 駅のホームで 私の列車は もう 発車しました。
    kesa, eki no hōmu de watashi no ressha wa mō hassha shimashita.
    This morning at the station platform, my train has already departed.
    Lista:
    • 今朝 (kesa) – this morning
    • 駅のホームで (eki no hōmu de) – at the station platform
    • 私の列車は (watashi no ressha wa) – my train
    • もう (mou) – already
    • 発車しました (hassha shimashita) – departed
    Core point: 「発車」 is a noun meaning the departure of a vehicle; here it combines with する to form 発車します/しました, meaning has departed.
発車