Translation and Meaning of: ヘリコプター - herikoputa-

The word 「ヘリコプター」 (herikoputā) is a gairaigo derived from the English "helicopter". It has been incorporated into the Japanese vocabulary to describe the rotary-wing aircraft widely used for transportation, rescue, and various other applications. Written in katakana, 「ヘリコプター」 reflects the practice of adapting foreign words to the phonetic system of Japanese, maintaining a pronunciation close to the original.

In everyday use, 「ヘリコプター」 is widely recognized in contexts such as emergency transport, military or commercial operations. For example, expressions like 「救急ヘリコプター」 (kyūkyū herikoputā) refer to emergency helicopters, while 「観光ヘリコプター」 (kankō herikoputā) describes helicopters used for tourism. This term is flexible and often appears in professional or technical contexts related to aviation.

The introduction of the concept of helicopters in Japan occurred during the 20th century, as aviation technology developed globally. The term was incorporated into the language as part of the modernization and globalization process, especially during and after World War II, when helicopters began to be widely used in both military and civilian contexts.

Additionally, 「ヘリコプター」 is often abbreviated to 「ヘリ」 (heri) in informal conversations, especially in situations where the meaning is clear from the context. For example, it is common to hear 「ヘリで移動する」 (heri de idō suru), which means "to travel by helicopter." This abbreviation is typical in Japanese and makes daily use of the word easier.

Today, 「ヘリコプター」 is an essential word in the vocabulary related to aviation in Japan, highlighting the ongoing influence of foreign technologies on the Japanese language and culture.

Vocabulary

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Synonyms and similar words

回転翼機 (Kaiten'yokuki) - Rotary wing machine generally refers to helicopters.
チョッパー (Choppā) - Slang for helicopter, often used informally.
ヘリ (Heri) - Abbreviation for helicopter.
ヘリコプタ (Herikoputa) - Unfinished or incomplete shape for helicopter.
ヘリコプター (Herikoputā) - Standard term used for helicopter.
ヘリコプター航空機 (Herikoputā kōkūki) - Rotary-wing aircraft, specifically helicopter.