A pedestrian is anyone using the road on foot, and the term is primarily used in traffic safety contexts.
Word in 30 Seconds
- A person traveling on foot on a road.
- Commonly used in traffic safety and legal contexts.
- Essential term for road signs and traffic news.
概要
歩行者（ほこうしゃ）は、車や自転車などの乗り物に乗らず、自分の足で道路を通行している人を指す名詞です。交通安全の観点から、道路交通法などの法的な文脈や、日々のニュース、標識などで頻繁に登場します。2) 使用パターン: 主に「歩行者を守る」「歩行者に注意する」といった動詞と組み合わせて使われます。また、「歩行者専用道路」のように、特定の場所を指す複合語の一部としても重要です。3) 一般的な文脈: 交通事故のニュースや、交通安全教育の場面で最もよく見かけます。例えば、横断歩道での歩行者の優先権や、歩行者の安全確保といった話題で不可欠な用語です。4) 類語との比較: 「通行人」は単に通り過ぎる人を指しますが、「歩行者」はより交通法規や安全という視点が含まれた、公的なニュアンスが強い言葉です。
Examples
歩行者に注意して運転してください。
everydayPlease drive carefully, watching out for pedestrians.
ここは歩行者専用道路です。
formalThis is a pedestrian-only road.
歩行者の安全を守るための対策が必要です。
academicMeasures are needed to ensure the safety of pedestrians.
Common Collocations
Common Phrases
歩行者天国
Pedestrian paradise (car-free zone)
歩行者用信号
Pedestrian traffic light
Often Confused With
Refers to a passerby in a general sense, focusing on the act of passing through a place rather than road safety status.
Grammar Patterns
How to Use It
Usage Notes
The word is formal and usually appears in legal, official, or safety-related contexts. It is rarely used in casual conversation to describe friends or acquaintances walking. Use it when discussing traffic, urban planning, or road safety.
Common Mistakes
Learners often use '歩行者' to describe anyone walking on the street in a casual sense. Remember it has a slightly technical or formal feel. For casual situations, '歩いている人' is a safer, more natural choice.
Tips
Use with traffic safety verbs
Pair '歩行者' with verbs like '守る' (protect) or '注意する' (watch out for) to sound natural in safety discussions.
Don't confuse with casual passersby
Avoid using '歩行者' in casual social settings. Use '通行人' if you are just talking about someone walking by on the street.
Strict Japanese traffic manners
In Japan, respecting pedestrians at crosswalks is a major social and legal rule. Understanding this term is key to understanding Japanese road culture.
Word Origin
Derived from the kanji for 'walk' (歩), 'go' (行), and 'person' (者). It literally describes a person who is in the process of walking.
Cultural Context
Japan has a very strong emphasis on traffic safety. '歩行者' is a central term in the national awareness campaigns to reduce traffic accidents.
Memory Tip
Think of '歩' (walk) + '行' (go) + '者' (person) = The person going by walking. It sounds like a formal classification of someone on the road.
Frequently Asked Questions
4 questions「歩行者」は交通安全や法律の文脈で使われることが多く、道路を利用する人という属性に焦点があります。一方、「通行人」は単にそこを通り過ぎる人を指す日常的な言葉です。
はい、日本の法律では横断歩道において歩行者が優先されます。車は歩行者が渡ろうとしている場合、必ず一時停止しなければなりません。
道路標識やニュース、交通安全のポスターなどで頻繁に見かけます。特に「歩行者優先」や「歩行者専用」といった標識でよく使われます。
はい、年齢に関係なく、自分の足で道路を歩いている人はすべて歩行者です。学校の交通安全教室などでもこの言葉が使われます。
Test Yourself
横断歩道では、車は___を優先しなければなりません。
交通ルールにおいて、横断歩道では歩行者が最も優先されるためです。
Score: /1
Summary
A pedestrian is anyone using the road on foot, and the term is primarily used in traffic safety contexts.
- A person traveling on foot on a road.
- Commonly used in traffic safety and legal contexts.
- Essential term for road signs and traffic news.
Use with traffic safety verbs
Pair '歩行者' with verbs like '守る' (protect) or '注意する' (watch out for) to sound natural in safety discussions.
Don't confuse with casual passersby
Avoid using '歩行者' in casual social settings. Use '通行人' if you are just talking about someone walking by on the street.
Strict Japanese traffic manners
In Japan, respecting pedestrians at crosswalks is a major social and legal rule. Understanding this term is key to understanding Japanese road culture.
Examples
3 of 3歩行者に注意して運転してください。
Please drive carefully, watching out for pedestrians.
ここは歩行者専用道路です。
This is a pedestrian-only road.
歩行者の安全を守るための対策が必要です。
Measures are needed to ensure the safety of pedestrians.
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