Translation guide
The English word 'across' has several core meanings: moving from one side to the other, being on the opposite side, or covering a whole area. This guide helps learners choose the right Japanese expression based on the intended meaning.
Expressing physical movement from one side of something to the other, such as crossing a street, river, or room.
The most common verb for crossing something like a street, bridge, or river. Focuses on the action of going across.
道路を渡る。
Cross the street.
橋を渡ってください。
Please cross the bridge.
Means to cut across or traverse, often implying moving across a space or in front of something. More about the path than the destination.
猫が道を横切った。
A cat crossed the street.
To go over or beyond something, like a mountain or border. Implies overcoming an obstacle or boundary.
山を越える。
Cross the mountains.
Indicating that something is located on the other side of a street, river, room, etc.
Literally 'the other side of ~'. A very natural way to say something is across from where you are.
銀行は通りの向こう側です。
The bank is across the street.
川の向こう側に家が見える。
I can see a house across the river.
A slightly more casual or abbreviated version of 向こう側, meaning 'on the other side of'.
駅はあの通りの向こうにあります。
The station is across that street.
Means 'opposite' or 'facing'. Often used for buildings directly across from each other.
Expressing that something extends over or is spread throughout an area, or applies to a wide range of things.
Attached to a noun indicating a place or time, meaning 'throughout' or 'all over'. Very common and versatile.
世界中を旅したい。
I want to travel across the world.
そのニュースは国中に広まった。
The news spread across the country.
A more formal pattern meaning 'over a period/range' or 'spanning'. Used for time, space, or scope.
会議は3時間にわたって続いた。
The meeting continued across three hours.
この問題は複数の分野にわたっている。
This problem extends across multiple fields.
Intransitive verb meaning 'to spread' or 'to extend'. Used when something naturally covers an area.
Expressing the idea of coming across something or someone unexpectedly.
Literally 'to find by chance'. A straightforward way to say you came across something.
古い写真を偶然見つけた。
I came across an old photo.
To encounter unexpectedly, often used for people or situations. Slightly literary or dramatic.
森で熊に出くわした。
I came across a bear in the forest.
Formal word for encountering, often used for difficulties or dangers.
困難に遭遇する。
To come across difficulties.
English uses 'across' in many idiomatic ways that don't map directly to a single Japanese word. For example, 'across the board' is 全面的に (ぜんめんてきに), and 'to get a point across' is 要点を伝える (ようてんをつたえる). Always consider the underlying meaning before translating.
渡る (わたる) is for crossing something like a bridge or street where you go from one side to the other. 横切る (よこぎる) emphasizes cutting across a space, often in front of someone. 越える (こえる) is for going over obstacles like mountains or borders.
The post office is across from the bank.
砂漠が広がっている。
The desert stretches across the land.