Translation guide
A jetty is a structure extending into water, used as a landing pier, breakwater, or walkway. In Japanese, the word depends on the function: a pier for boats, a breakwater, or a simple wooden landing.
A structure where boats dock, often with a walkway.
General term for a pier or jetty, often wooden, used for boarding boats or fishing.
桟橋から船に乗り込んだ。
We boarded the boat from the jetty.
釣り人が桟橋の先端に立っていた。
Anglers were standing at the end of the jetty.
A larger wharf or quay, often in a port, for cargo or passenger ships. More industrial than 桟橋.
大型船が埠頭に接岸した。
A large ship docked at the jetty.
A wharf or landing place, often used in set phrases or literary contexts. Can imply a more traditional or scenic jetty.
波止場には小さな漁船が並んでいた。
Small fishing boats were lined up at the jetty.
A structure built to protect a harbor or shore from waves, often made of rocks or concrete.
A breakwater or jetty designed to protect a harbor from waves. Often a solid wall extending into the sea.
防波堤の上を歩いて灯台まで行った。
We walked along the jetty to the lighthouse.
港は長い防波堤で守られている。
The harbor is protected by a long jetty.
A groin or jetty, often a narrow structure extending from the shore to control erosion or currents. Less common for recreational use.
A simple, often wooden structure extending into a lake or river, used for fishing or tying up small boats.
A landing place for boats, often a simple jetty or dock. Common in rural or lakeside settings.
湖の船着き場でカヌーを借りた。
We rented a canoe at the jetty on the lake.
Also used for small wooden jetties, especially for fishing or pleasure boats.
桟橋 is the most common word for a recreational or fishing jetty, often wooden. 埠頭 is a larger, industrial wharf. 波止場 is more literary and often appears in place names or nostalgic contexts.
In English, 'pier' can also mean an amusement area built over water. In Japanese, that is usually 遊歩道 (ゆうほどう) or 観光桟橋 (かんこうさんばし), not just 桟橋.
桟橋の先端まで歩いた。
We walked to the end of the jetty.
防波堤が港を強い波から守っている。
The jetty protects the harbor from strong waves.
A jetty was built to prevent coastal erosion.
小さな桟橋にボートを係留した。
We moored the boat at the small jetty.