motorcycle
オートバイ
解説 Definition
オートバイ、二輪の自動車という意味です。日本語の「バイク」に近い意味で、英語では bicycle ではなく、エンジンやモーターで走る乗り物を指します。
A road vehicle with two wheels that is powered by an engine or motor and ridden by a person sitting astride it. Unlike a bicycle, it does not depend primarily on pedaling, and riders normally use protective equipment such as a helmet.
覚え方のコツ Memory Tip
motor「動力を生むもの」＋ cycle「車輪を使う乗り物」の複合語と分ければ、「エンジンやモーターで走る二輪車」と理解できます。ride a motorcycle、buy a motorcycle、wear a helmet on a motorcycle が典型表現です。日本語の「バイク」は英語では bicycle の意味にもなり得るため、motorcycle と言うと明確です。
Break motorcycle into motor and cycle. Motor supplies the idea of mechanical power, while cycle points to wheels and a wheeled vehicle. Together they describe a powered two-wheeled vehicle. Learn it with common expressions: ride a motorcycle, buy a motorcycle, and wear a helmet on a motorcycle. This word is clearer than bike, because bike can refer to either a bicycle or a motorcycle depending on context. Picture a rider sitting astride the vehicle, using an engine rather than pedals as the main source of movement.
例文
He rides a motorcycle to work.
彼はオートバイで通勤しています。
My uncle bought a new motorcycle.
叔父は新しいオートバイを買いました。
You must wear a helmet on a motorcycle.
オートバイに乗るときはヘルメットをかぶらなければなりません。
motorcycle の類義語・関連語
類義語
紛らわしい語
motorcycle の語源・成り立ち Etymology
motorcycle は motor と cycle の複合語です。motor はラテン語 motor（動かすもの、語根 mov-）、cycle はギリシャ語 kyklos（輪・円）に由来し、「車輪で動く乗り物」と考えると意味がつかめます。関連語に motion、bicycle があります。
Motorcycle is a compound of motor and cycle, created for a powered two-wheeled vehicle. Motor comes from Latin motor, “a mover,” and belongs to the word family of move and motion. Cycle ultimately comes from Greek kyklos, meaning “circle” or “wheel.” The combination therefore identifies a cycle whose movement is supplied by a motor rather than mainly by human pedaling.
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