What is the difference between "ひこうき" and "飛行機"?

"ひこうき" means "airplane" (N5), whereas "飛行機" represents "airplane, plane" (N4).

Kanji Homophone Battle

Pronunciation Trap: "ひこうき (hikouki)"

Same sound, completely different Kanji! Choose the right conceptual writing.

Kanji Option A

ひこうき (hikouki)

N5 / CEFR

Kanji Option B

ひこうき (hikouki)

N4 / CEFR

In Japanese, many words share the exact same pronunciation "ひこうき (hikouki)" but are written with different Kanji, changing the meaning entirely.

ひこうき (Level: N5): Translates to "airplane" and is used when This noun refers to an "airplane" or "aircraft." It's a common word for long-distance travel. Often used with verbs like 乗る.
飛行機 (Level: N4): Maps to "airplane, plane" and carries the nuance of A mode of air travel for long distances or international trips..

Mixing these up can easily result in unnatural writing. Look at the bilingual context cards below to master the conceptual boundaries!

Bilingual Context for "ひこうき"

私はひこうきで海外へ旅行に行きました。

I went on a trip overseas by airplane.

Bilingual Context for "飛行機"

飛行機でヨーロッパへ旅行しました。

I traveled to Europe by plane.

Which Kanji perfectly fits this blank space?

Which Kanji perfectly fits the blank: "私は＿＿＿で海外へ旅行に行きました。" (Meaning: "I went on a trip overseas by airplane.")

🎉 Correct Answer!

Correct! "ひこうき" is used for "airplane" in the context: "I went on a trip overseas by airplane.".