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B1 noun 2 min read

欠航

kekko

When you hear 欠航 (kekkou), it means a flight has been canceled. This isn't just a delay; the flight isn't happening at all.

You'll usually see this word in airports or hear it in announcements when there are problems like bad weather or issues with the plane itself. For example, if there's a typhoon, you might hear about many flights experiencing 欠航.

It's an important word to know if you're traveling in Japan. Knowing this word can help you understand why your travel plans might change unexpectedly.

When discussing travel, particularly air travel, you'll often encounter the term 欠航 (kekkou), which refers to the cancellation of a flight. This is distinct from a flight being delayed (遅延 - chien) or diverted (目的地変更 - mokutekichi henkou).

Understanding 欠航 is crucial for anyone navigating travel in Japan, as it directly impacts your plans. The term itself is a combination of 欠 (ketsu), meaning 'lack' or 'absence,' and 航 (kou), referring to 'navigation' or 'voyage.'

Therefore, 欠航 literally means the absence of a voyage. It's a very practical and common word in travel contexts.

Practice it Examples

§ What 欠航 (kekkou) means

The Japanese word 欠航 (けっこう, kekkou) is a noun that specifically refers to the cancellation of a flight. You'll encounter this word in situations where an airplane trip is called off, whether it's before departure or even after it's been announced. Think of it as the direct equivalent of "flight cancellation" in English.

DEFINITION: The cancellation of a flight, often due to weather or mechanical issues.

It's important to understand that 欠航 (kekkou) is used exclusively for flights. You wouldn't use it for a canceled train, bus, or any other form of transportation. For those, you'd use different words, which we'll cover in another lesson. For now, stick to flights when you hear or use 欠航.

§ When to use 欠航 (kekkou)

You'll typically hear or see 欠航 (kekkou) in official announcements, news reports, or when you're directly dealing with an airline. It's a common term to know if you travel frequently or live in Japan.

Airport Announcements: If your flight is canceled, you'll hear announcements using this word.
News Reports: During bad weather, like typhoons or heavy snow, news channels will report on flight cancellations using 欠航.
Airline Communication: When an airline notifies you of a canceled flight, they will use 欠航.
Checking Flight Status: On airline websites or airport screens, you'll see 欠航 to indicate a canceled flight.

Let's look at some examples to see how 欠航 (kekkou) is used in context.

悪天候のため、フライトが欠航になりました。

This means: "Due to bad weather, the flight was canceled." Here, 悪天候 (akutenkou) means "bad weather."

機械トラブルで多くの便が欠航しました。

This translates to: "Many flights were canceled due to mechanical problems." 機械トラブル (kikai toraburu) refers to "mechanical problems."

When you see 欠航, it’s often paired with a reason for the cancellation. Common reasons include:

悪天候 (akutenkou): Bad weather
強風 (kyoufuu): Strong winds
雪 (yuki): Snow
台風 (taifuu): Typhoon
機材故障 (kizai koshou): Equipment malfunction (similar to 機械トラブル)

台風の影響で、明日の沖縄行きのフライトは欠航が決定しました。

This means: "Due to the typhoon's influence, tomorrow's flight to Okinawa has been decided as canceled."

Understanding 欠航 is crucial for anyone who plans to travel by air in or to Japan. It's a practical word that you'll definitely encounter in real-world situations, so make sure to commit it to memory!

Fun Fact

Many Japanese words related to travel and transportation use the kanji 航 (kou).

Examples by Level

飛行機が欠航になりました。

My flight was cancelled.

になる (ni naru) means 'to become'

今日は飛行機が欠航です。

The flight is cancelled today.

です (desu) is a polite copula (be/is/are)

飛行機の欠航は残念です。

Flight cancellation is regrettable.

残念 (zannen) means 'regrettable/unfortunate'

雨で欠航になりました。

It was cancelled due to rain.

で (de) indicates cause/reason

欠航の連絡がありました。

There was a notice of cancellation.

連絡 (renraku) means 'notice/contact'

次の飛行機も欠航ですか？

Is the next flight also cancelled?

も (mo) means 'also/too'

欠航で旅行に行けません。

I can't go on a trip because of the cancellation.

行けません (ikemasen) is the negative potential form of 'to go'

欠航は初めてです。

This is my first cancellation.

初めて (hajimete) means 'for the first time'

悪天候のため、航空会社は全便の欠航を発表した。

Due to bad weather, the airline announced the cancellation of all flights.

〜ため: due to, because of

フライトの欠航が決まり、旅行計画が台無しになった。

The flight cancellation was decided, and my travel plans were ruined.

〜が決まる: to be decided; 台無しになる: to be ruined

機械の故障により、成田発の便が欠航となりました。

Due to mechanical failure, the flight from Narita was cancelled.

〜により: due to, by means of

欠航便の乗客は、代替便を待つために空港で一晩過ごした。

Passengers of the cancelled flight spent the night at the airport waiting for an alternative flight.

〜ために: in order to; 〜過ごす: to spend (time)

台風の影響で、多くの国際線が欠航する見込みです。

Due to the typhoon's influence, many international flights are expected to be cancelled.

〜の影響で: due to the influence of; 〜見込みです: it is expected that

出発直前の欠航は、旅行者にとって大きな不便だ。

A cancellation right before departure is a great inconvenience for travelers.

〜直前: just before; 〜にとって: for (someone)

欠航の連絡が遅れたため、多くの人が空港で足止めされた。

Because the cancellation notification was late, many people were stranded at the airport.

〜が遅れる: to be delayed; 足止めされる: to be stranded

航空券を購入する際は、欠航時の対応についても確認しておきましょう。

When purchasing airline tickets, be sure to check the procedures for cancellations as well.

〜際は: at the time of; 〜についても: regarding also; 〜確認する: to confirm

Common Collocations

欠航便 cancelled flight

欠航率 cancellation rate

欠航情報 cancellation information

欠航決定 cancellation decision

全便欠航 all flights cancelled

一部欠航 partial cancellations

欠航補償 cancellation compensation

欠航手続き cancellation procedures

欠航の原因 reason for cancellation

欠航が増える cancellations increase

Common Phrases

飛行機が欠航する。

The flight is cancelled.

悪天候のため欠航。

Cancelled due to bad weather.

欠航になる可能性がある。

There's a possibility of cancellation.

欠航便が出た。

A cancelled flight occurred.

欠航のお知らせ。

Cancellation announcement.

欠航で予定が狂った。

Plans were disrupted by the cancellation.

欠航便の振り替え。

Transfer for a cancelled flight.

欠航はめったにない。

Cancellations are rare.

欠航で足止めされた。

Stranded due to a cancellation.

欠航のため、チケットを払い戻しました。

Because of the cancellation, I refunded my ticket.

Word Origin

Comes from the kanji 欠 (ketsu, meaning 'lack' or 'deficiency') and 航 (kou, meaning 'navigation' or 'voyage').

Original meaning: The combination literally means 'lacking navigation' or 'failure to voyage'.

Sino-Japanese (kango)

Cultural Context

When a flight is canceled in Japan, whether domestic or international, you'll often hear the term 欠航 (kekkou). It's a very common and direct term used in announcements at airports, on news reports, and by airline staff. While it often implies a cancellation for reasons beyond the airline's immediate control (like weather), it can also be used for other reasons.

Practice in Real Life

Real-World Contexts

You're at the airport, and you hear an announcement about flight cancellations.

飛行機が欠航になりました。
悪天候のため、欠航便が多数出ています。
欠航便の振り替え手続きをお願いします。

You're checking a flight status online or on an airport display.

欠航便情報はこちらです。
〇〇便は欠航です。
現在の欠航状況を確認する。

You're talking to a friend about travel plans and a flight gets cancelled.

残念ながら、飛行機が欠航になったんだ。
欠航で旅行が台無しになったよ。
欠航にならないといいんだけど。

You're explaining to someone why you couldn't make it to a meeting or event.

飛行機の欠航で、会議に間に合いませんでした。
欠航のため、イベントに参加できませんでした。
突然の欠航で、予定が狂ってしまいました。

You're at a hotel and need to extend your stay because of a cancelled flight.

欠航のため、もう一泊お願いします。
飛行機が欠航になったので、延泊できますか？
欠航で帰れなくなったので、部屋をお願いします。

Conversation Starters

"飛行機が欠航になった経験はありますか？ (Have you ever experienced a flight cancellation?)"

"欠航の際、どのように対応しましたか？ (How did you handle it when your flight was cancelled?)"

"欠航の理由として、一番多いのは何だと思いますか？ (What do you think is the most common reason for flight cancellations?)"

"もし飛行機が欠航になったら、まず何をしますか？ (If your flight is cancelled, what's the first thing you do?)"

"欠航による遅延や宿泊費用は、航空会社が負担すべきだと思いますか？ (Do you think airlines should cover delays and accommodation costs due to cancellations?)"

Journal Prompts

飛行機が欠航になった時のことを想像して、その状況と感情を日本語で書きましょう。(Imagine your flight is cancelled, and write about the situation and your feelings in Japanese.)

欠航によって旅行計画が変更になった場合、どのように対応しますか？具体的なシナリオを考えて書きましょう。(If your travel plans change due to a cancellation, how would you deal with it? Think of a specific scenario and write about it.)

「欠航」という言葉を使って、短い物語を日本語で書いてみましょう。(Write a short story in Japanese using the word "欠航".)

飛行機が欠航になった時、旅行者はどのような権利を持っていると思いますか？日本語で意見を述べましょう。(What rights do you think travelers have when their flight is cancelled? Express your opinion in Japanese.)

欠航を避けるために、旅行前にできる対策は何だと思いますか？日本語でアドバイスを書きましょう。(What measures do you think can be taken before traveling to avoid cancellations? Write your advice in Japanese.)

Test Yourself 24 questions

sentence order A2

Tap words below to build the sentence

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer: 雨で飛行機が欠航しました。

'雨で' (due to rain) is the reason, followed by '飛行機が' (the airplane) as the subject, and '欠航しました' (was canceled) as the verb.

sentence order A2

Tap words below to build the sentence

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer: これは欠航のお知らせです。

'これは' (This is) introduces the sentence, '欠航の' (of cancellation) modifies 'お知らせです' (an announcement).

sentence order A2

Tap words below to build the sentence

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer: たぶん欠航になりそうです。

'たぶん' (probably) comes first, followed by '欠航' (cancellation) and 'になりそうです' (looks like it will become/be).

multiple choice B1

Choose the most appropriate word to complete the sentence: 悪天候のため、飛行機は___になりました。

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer: 欠航

The sentence indicates that due to bad weather, the plane was '欠航' (canceled). '出発' means departure, '到着' means arrival, and '運行' means operation.

multiple choice B1

Which of the following situations would most likely lead to 欠航?

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer: 飛行機の整備不良 (poor plane maintenance)

Poor plane maintenance is a common reason for flight cancellations. The other options describe different scenarios, not direct causes for cancellation.

multiple choice B1

もし飛行機が欠航になったら、どうなりますか？

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer: 飛行機が飛ばなくなる (The plane will not fly)

If a flight is canceled (欠航), it means the plane will not fly. The other options are incorrect outcomes of a cancellation.

true false B1

欠航は、飛行機が出発する直前に決まることが多い。

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer: True

Flight cancellations are often decided shortly before departure, especially if the reason is sudden bad weather or a last-minute mechanical issue.

true false B1

飛行機が欠航になっても、乗客はいつもすぐに代替便に乗れる。

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer: False

While airlines try to rebook passengers, it's not always possible to get on an immediate alternative flight, especially if many flights are canceled or the destination is popular.

true false B1

欠航は、主に良い天気の中で発生する。

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer: False

Cancellations (欠航) are typically caused by bad weather, mechanical issues, or other problems, not good weather.

listening C1

The flight to Okinawa was cancelled due to bad weather.

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer: 悪天候により、沖縄行きのフライトは欠航となりました。