Where does “自転車” come from?

自転車 (Japanese) comes from Chinese 車, from Proto-Tocharian kuk(ä)le, from Proto-Indo-European kʷékʷlos, from Proto-Indo-European kʷel- — to turn.

自転車 (Japanese): a bicycle

Definitions

  1. a bicycle

Ancestry of “自転車”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Chinese車—
2Proto-Tochariankuk(ä)lewagon, cart
3Proto-Indo-Europeankʷékʷloswheel; circle
4Proto-Indo-Europeankʷel-to turn

Words derived from “自転車”

Every word from Proto-Indo-European kʷel- →Every word from Proto-Indo-European kʷékʷlos →Every word from Proto-Tocharian kuk(ä)le →