shinkansen
/ʃɪn.kɑːnˈsɛn/
Japanese Origin
Technology
Original Word
新幹線
Kanji (shinkansen)
Entered English
1960s
First recorded usage in English
The Story Behind "shinkansen"
From Japanese 'shinkansen' (新幹線), literally 'new trunk line', Japan's high-speed rail network inaugurated in 1964. The word has entered global vocabulary as a symbol of technological advancement and punctuality.
Example Usage
"The shinkansen reached speeds of over 300 km/h on the way to Osaka."