Gino 1 Seibi › Japanese car mechanic vocabulary
Japanese vocabulary for car maintenance work
The test is in Japanese with furigana, but being able to read a word is not the same as knowing it. This page collects the work words and part names that come up most, with readings and meanings.
Last updated: 2026-10-10
Why learn the vocabulary separately
A true/false item usually turns on one verb: remove (取り外す), fit (取り付ける), tighten (締め付ける), replace (交換する), measure (測定する). Misread one verb and a true statement becomes false. Part names are mostly katakana borrowed from English and often shown with the English in brackets, so the hardest words are the kanji words for jobs and conditions such as wear, looseness and leaks.
Work and condition words
| Word | Reading | Vietnamese | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| 点検 | てんけん | kiểm tra | inspection |
| 整備 | せいび | bảo dưỡng | maintenance |
| 分解 | ぶんかい | tháo rời | disassembly |
| 組立て | くみたて | lắp ráp | assembly |
| 締付け | しめつけ | siết chặt | tightening |
| 交換 | こうかん | thay thế | replacement |
| 測定 | そくてい | đo | measurement |
| 摩耗 | まもう | mòn | wear |
| 緩み | ゆるみ | độ lỏng | looseness |
| 漏れ | もれ | rò rỉ | leak |
| 異音 | いおん | tiếng kêu lạ | abnormal noise |
| 振れ | ふれ | độ đảo | runout |
| 隙間 | すきま | khe hở | clearance |
| 冷却水 | れいきゃくすい | nước làm mát | coolant |
| 潤滑 | じゅんかつ | bôi trơn | lubrication |
| 燃焼室 | ねんしょうしつ | buồng đốt | combustion chamber |
| 圧縮 | あっしゅく | nén | compression |
| 排気 | はいき | khí xả | exhaust |
| 電圧 | でんあつ | điện áp | voltage |
| 抵抗 | ていこう | điện trở | resistance |
| 比重 | ひじゅう | tỷ trọng | specific gravity |
| Part | Vietnamese | English |
|---|---|---|
| シリンダ・ヘッド | nắp máy | cylinder head |
| ピストン | pít-tông | piston |
| クランクシャフト | trục khuỷu | crankshaft |
| カムシャフト | trục cam | camshaft |
| ラジエータ | két nước làm mát | radiator |
| サーモスタット | van hằng nhiệt | thermostat |
| オイル・ポンプ | bơm dầu | oil pump |
| オルタネータ | máy phát điện | alternator |
| スタータ | máy khởi động | starter motor |
| クラッチ | ly hợp | clutch |
| ディファレンシャル | bộ vi sai | differential |
| ブレーキ・パッド | má phanh đĩa | brake pad |
| ショック・アブソーバ | giảm chấn | shock absorber |
The second table lists part names in katakana. Say the Japanese sound out loud: ラジエータ is "ra-ji-e-ta", not "radiator", because the test is written the Japanese way.
How to learn them well
- Learn by system. Cooling: 冷却水, ラジエータ, サーモスタット, ウォータ・ポンプ. Brakes: ブレーキ・パッド, ディスク, キャリパ, ブレーキ液.
- Link words to pictures. Whenever an item has a figure, point at each part and name it in Japanese.
- Watch the opposite pairs. 取り付け / 取り外し, 締付け / 緩み, 吸入 / 排気, 直流 / 交流. Items often swap one word of a pair to make a false statement.
- Practise with papers. Do a mock paper with translation on, then redo it with translation off.
Measuring tool names
The practical part often asks about measuring tools, so learn their names: ノギス (vernier caliper), マイクロメータ (micrometer), ダイヤル・ゲージ (dial gauge), シックネス・ゲージ (feeler gauge), サーキット・テスタ (circuit tester), トルク・レンチ (torque wrench). How to read each one is explained in reading measuring tools.
See also reading true/false items and the study tips.
Sources checked: the JASPA specified skills test page (2024 test summary), the MLIT implementation rules and acceptance handbook (MLIT page) and the Prometric booking page. Rules can change, so check the latest version at these sources.
FAQ
Does the test have furigana?
Yes. Under the MLIT rules every kanji has furigana, and technical terms may carry English notes.
How should I study vocabulary?
In pairs: a work word (点検, 交換, 測定...) and the katakana part it applies to. Note any new word while doing a paper and review it that evening.
Why are part names in katakana?
Most part names are borrowed from English and written in katakana, and the test often adds the English in brackets, for example ピストン（piston）. Knowing the Japanese sound helps you read faster.
Does the app translate the items?
Every item in the app has furigana and Vietnamese and English translation that you can switch on and off.
Take a mock exam and see right away which items you missed and why.
Try it free now3 free papers with furigana. Opens in your browser, no sign-up.
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