新幹線

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 新幹線(しんかんせん) means Japan's Shinkansen high-speed railway.
• Basic usage: It is used for a train taken on a business trip or a seat someone has reserved.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• に marks the transport boarded
  • 新幹線に乗った means taking the Shinkansen. The Japanese verb 乗る(のる) marks the vehicle boarded with に.
• The first morning service
  • 朝一番の新幹線 refers to the first Shinkansen service that morning.