Translation guide
The English word "runway" has two main meanings: an airport runway and a fashion runway. These are expressed with different Japanese words. This guide covers both, plus related terms.
The strip where aircraft take off and land.
Standard term for an airport runway. Used in all contexts.
飛行機が滑走路に着陸した。
The plane landed on the runway.
滑走路が凍結しているため、出発が遅れている。
Departures are delayed because the runway is icy.
Loanword from English, used in aviation contexts, but less common than 滑走路. Often seen in compound terms.
ランウェイのライトが点灯した。
The runway lights turned on.
The platform where models walk to display clothes.
The standard term for a fashion runway. Used in fashion shows and related contexts.
滑走路 is the native Japanese term and is more common in everyday news and conversation. ランウェイ is a loanword used in technical or international contexts, but may sound slightly jargon-like. Stick with 滑走路 for general use.
Using 滑走路 for a fashion runway would be incorrect and confusing. Always use ランウェイ for fashion contexts.
The model walked down the runway.
彼女はランウェイデビューを果たした。
She made her runway debut.
Literally 'flower path', this term is used in kabuki and sometimes metaphorically for a runway-like stage extension. Rarely used for fashion runways.
歌舞伎役者が花道を通って登場した。
The kabuki actor appeared through the hanamichi.