Translation guide
The English word "crossing" can refer to the act of moving across something, a place where you cross, or an intersection. This guide covers natural Japanese expressions for these meanings.
Describing the action of going from one side to the other.
General term for crossing, especially roads, rivers, or continents. Often used in compounds.
道路の横断は危険です。
Crossing the road is dangerous.
Common verb for crossing a bridge, street, river, etc. Focuses on moving across.
橋を渡ってください。
Please cross the bridge.
To cross over a mountain, border, or obstacle. Implies going beyond a point.
山を越えると町が見えた。
After crossing the mountain, we saw the town.
To cross (a street, room, etc.) in a horizontal direction; to cut across.
猫が道を横切った。
A cat crossed the street.
Referring to a designated area for pedestrians or vehicles to cross.
Pedestrian crossing, crosswalk. The standard term.
横断歩道を渡りましょう。
Let's cross at the crosswalk.
Railroad crossing. Specifically where a road and railway intersect.
Intersection, crossing of roads. More general than crosswalk.
Describing when two things intersect or overlap.
Moving from one country or region to another.
Crossing a border, often used in news or formal contexts.
密入国者が国境を越境した。
Illegal immigrants crossed the border.
To cross a national border. More common in everyday speech than 越境.
彼らは国境を越えて逃げた。
They crossed the border and fled.
横断 (おうだん) is a noun often used in compounds like 横断歩道 (crosswalk). 渡る (わたる) is a verb meaning 'to cross' and is more common in daily speech. Use 渡る for simple actions, 横断 for formal or compound terms.
The English loanword クロッシング is not commonly used in Japanese. Use native terms like 横断歩道 or 踏切 instead.
踏切で電車を待った。
I waited for the train at the railroad crossing.
次の交差点を右に曲がってください。
Turn right at the next crossing.
二つの道が交わるところ
where the two roads cross