When you're talking about streets in Japanese, you'll often hear the word 通り (toori). It refers to a main road or avenue in a city. You might use it when giving directions or describing where something is located. For example, if you want to say 'main street,' you can say 大通り (ōdōri). It's a useful word to know for navigating Japanese cities!
§ What does “通り” mean and when do people use it?
“通り” (Toori) is a common Japanese noun you'll hear and see frequently. At its most basic, it means 'street' or 'avenue'. Think of it as a general term for a public road in a city or town.
- DEFINITION
- Street; avenue. A path or road, often in an urban setting, used for transportation.
When you're talking about specific streets, you'll often find “通り” attached to the end of the street name. For example, 'Shinjuku-dori' (新宿通り) would be Shinjuku Street. It's a bit like how we use 'Street' or 'Avenue' after a name in English, but it's much more integral to the Japanese street naming system.
この通りは広いです。
Kono ōtoori wa hiroi desu. (This street is wide.)
店はあの通りにあります。
Omise wa ano ōtoori ni arimasu. (The shop is on that street.)
It's not just for named streets, though. You can use “通り” when talking about any street, whether it has a specific name or not. For instance, if you're giving directions, you might say, “この通りを真っすぐいってください” (Kono toori o massugu itte kudasai), which means, 'Please go straight down this street.'
You'll also encounter “通り” in slightly more abstract senses, although these are less common at the A2 level. For instance, it can refer to 'as...; in the way of...' For example, “あの人の言った通り” (Ano hito no itta toori) means 'as that person said'. However, for now, focus on its meaning as a physical street.
- When referring to a general street:
あの通りには小さい店がたくさんあります。
Ano ōtoori ni wa chiisai omise ga takusan arimasu. (There are many small shops on that street.)
- When naming a specific street:
銀座通りは買い物に人気の場所です。
Ginza-dori wa kaimono ni ninki no basho desu. (Ginza Street is a popular place for shopping.)
Notice the pronunciation change from 'toori' to 'dori' when it follows a noun. This is a common phonetic change in Japanese called rendaku. Don't worry too much about the technical term, just be aware that it happens and your ear will get used to it.
“通り” is a fundamental word for navigating and describing urban environments in Japanese. Mastering its basic usage will significantly improve your ability to understand and give directions, and generally talk about places in Japan.
How Formal Is It?
"この大通りはいつも交通量が多いです。 (This main street always has a lot of traffic.)"
"あの通りに新しいお店ができました。 (A new shop opened on that street.)"
"この道、どこに続くの？ (Where does this road lead?)"
"おみちをわたるときは、てをあげてね。 (When you cross the road, raise your hand.)"
"あのストリート、いつも賑やかだよね。 (That street is always lively, isn't it?)"
Examples by Level
この通りは広いです。
This street is wide.
この (kono) - this; 通り (toori) - street; は (wa) - topic particle; 広い (hiroi) - wide; です (desu) - is/are.
あそこに大きい通りがあります。
There is a big street over there.
あそこ (asoko) - over there; に (ni) - location particle; 大きい (ookii) - big; 通り (toori) - street; が (ga) - subject particle; あります (arimasu) - there is/are (for inanimate objects).
その通りをまっすぐ行ってください。
Please go straight down that street.
その (sono) - that; 通り (toori) - street; を (o) - direct object particle; まっすぐ (massugu) - straight; 行って (itte) - go (te-form of 行く iku); ください (kudasai) - please.
私は毎日この通りを歩きます。
I walk this street every day.
私 (watashi) - I; は (wa) - topic particle; 毎日 (mainichi) - every day; この (kono) - this; 通り (toori) - street; を (o) - direct object particle; 歩きます (arukimasu) - walk.
この通りにはお店がたくさんあります。
There are many shops on this street.
この (kono) - this; 通り (toori) - street; には (niwa) - emphasis on location; お店 (omise) - shop; が (ga) - subject particle; たくさん (takusan) - many; あります (arimasu) - there is/are (for inanimate objects).
駅の前に通りがあります。
There is a street in front of the station.
駅 (eki) - station; の (no) - possessive particle; 前 (mae) - front; に (ni) - location particle; 通り (toori) - street; が (ga) - subject particle; あります (arimasu) - there is/are (for inanimate objects).
この通りはとてもきれいです。
This street is very clean.
この (kono) - this; 通り (toori) - street; は (wa) - topic particle; とても (totemo) - very; きれい (kirei) - clean; です (desu) - is/are.
子どもたちは通りで遊びます。
Children play on the street.
子どもたち (kodomotachi) - children; は (wa) - topic particle; 通り (toori) - street; で (de) - location of action particle; 遊びます (asobimasu) - play.
この通りはいつも人が多いです。
This street is always crowded with people.
その通りをまっすぐ行ってください。
Please go straight down that street.
通りに新しい店ができました。
A new store opened on the street.
彼は通りで友達に会いました。
He met a friend on the street.
この通りには信号がありません。
There are no traffic lights on this street.
子供たちが通りで遊んでいます。
Children are playing on the street.
あの通りは静かで好きです。
I like that street because it's quiet.
通りを渡るときは気をつけてください。
Please be careful when crossing the street.
Idioms & Expressions
"通りを渡る"
To cross the street
信号が青になったら、通りを渡りましょう。
neutral"大通り"
Main street; thoroughfare
この大通りはいつも車が多いです。
neutral"一本道"
A straight road; one way street
ここから駅まで一本道ですよ。
neutral"通りに面している"
Facing the street
この店は広い通りに面しています。
neutral"通りがかりの人"
Passerby
通りがかりの人に道を尋ねました。
neutral"通りを歩く"
To walk down the street
毎朝、この通りを歩いて通勤しています。
neutral"通りに人がたくさんいる"
The street is crowded with people
お祭りなので、通りに人がたくさんいます。
neutral"裏通り"
Back street; alley
美味しいレストランは裏通りに隠れていることが多いです。
neutral"通りに沿って"
Along the street
この通りに沿って歩くと、公園があります。
neutral"通りを曲がる"
To turn down a street
次の角で通りを右に曲がってください。
neutralFrequently Asked Questions
10 questionsThe most common way to say 'street' in Japanese is 通り (tōri). It can also refer to an avenue or a main road.
Yes, you can generally use 通り (tōri) for various types of streets, from smaller roads to larger avenues. For very narrow alleyways, you might hear phrases like 細い道 (hosoi michi - narrow road) or 路地 (roji - alley).
通り (tōri) specifically refers to a street or avenue, often with buildings alongside it. 道 (michi) is a more general term for 'road,' 'path,' or 'way,' and can include unpaved paths or even a metaphorical 'way of doing things.'
While 通り (tōri) is very common, you might also hear 道 (michi) as a general term for road, as mentioned. For a main road or highway, you might use 街道 (kaidō) or 幹線道路 (kansen dōro).
You can use 通り (tōri) like this:
- この通りは広いです。 (Kono tōri wa hiroi desu.) - This street is wide.
- まっすぐこの通りを行ってください。 (Massugu kono tōri o itte kudasai.) - Please go straight down this street.
Yes, 通り (tōri) has several other meanings depending on the context and kanji. For example, as a verb stem, it can mean 'to pass through,' 'to go along,' or 'to be accepted.' As a noun, it can also refer to 'avenue,' 'way,' 'method,' or 'as ...; according to ....'
When giving an address in Japan, you typically don't refer to a specific street name in the same way you would in English. Instead, addresses are structured by prefecture, city, ward, block, and building number. You might use a street name if giving directions to a landmark on a particular street, but it's not usually part of the formal address itself.
Yes, 通り (dōri) is frequently used as a suffix in street names, like 渋谷通り (Shibuya-dōri) or 銀座通り (Ginza-dōri).
You can ask 'Which street is this?' by saying: これは何の通りですか？ (Kore wa nan no tōri desu ka?)
When used alone or as a general noun, the pronunciation is typically tōri. However, when it's part of a compound word or a street name, the pronunciation can sometimes change to dōri due to a phonetic phenomenon called rendaku. For example, 銀座通り (Ginza-dōri).
Test Yourself 36 questions
This street is wide.
There's a street over there.
Which street are you going to?
Read this aloud:
これは通りですか？
Focus: 通り (toori)
You said:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
まっすぐこの通りを行ってください。
Focus: まっすぐ (massugu)
You said:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
その通りはとても賑やかです。
Focus: 賑やか (nigiyaka)
You said:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Write a short sentence saying 'This street is long.'
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
この通りは長いです。
Write a short sentence saying 'That is a street.'
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
あれは通りです。
Write a short sentence asking 'Is this street wide?'
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
この通りは広いですか？
What kind of street is it?
Read this passage:
これはきれいな通りです。多くの人が歩いています。
What kind of street is it?
The passage says 'きれいな通り' which means 'beautiful street'.
The passage says 'きれいな通り' which means 'beautiful street'.
What is true about that street?
Read this passage:
あの通りはとても静かです。車が少ないです。
What is true about that street?
The passage states 'とても静かです' which means 'very quiet'.
The passage states 'とても静かです' which means 'very quiet'.
What can you find on this street?
Read this passage:
この通りに店がたくさんあります。毎日、にぎやかです。
What can you find on this street?
The passage says '店がたくさんあります' which translates to 'there are many shops'.
The passage says '店がたくさんあります' which translates to 'there are many shops'.
Imagine you are giving directions to a friend. Write a simple sentence in Japanese telling them that the shop is on this street. Use 「通り」.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
この通りに店があります。
Write a short sentence describing a street that is very busy. Use 「通り」.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
その通りはとても賑やかです。
You want to ask someone if they know the name of a certain street. Write the question in Japanese. Use 「通り」.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
この通りの名前を知っていますか？
田中さんはどこを通って会社に行きますか？
Read this passage:
田中さんは毎日、この通りを通って会社に行きます。この通りはいつも人が多いです。たくさんの店があります。
田中さんはどこを通って会社に行きますか？
田中さんは「この通りを通って会社に行きます」と書かれています。
田中さんは「この通りを通って会社に行きます」と書かれています。
銀座通りはどんな通りですか？
Read this passage:
これは銀座通りです。いつもきれいな花が飾られています。車も人もたくさん通ります。
銀座通りはどんな通りですか？
「いつもきれいな花が飾られています」と書かれています。
「いつもきれいな花が飾られています」と書かれています。
夜、駅前の通りが明るくなるのはなぜですか？
Read this passage:
駅前の通りは、夜になるととても明るくなります。たくさんのレストランがあるので、いつも賑やかです。
夜、駅前の通りが明るくなるのはなぜですか？
「たくさんのレストランがあるので、いつも賑やかです。」レストランの明かりで明るくなることが暗示されています。
「たくさんのレストランがあるので、いつも賑やかです。」レストランの明かりで明るくなることが暗示されています。
This street is always lively, isn't it?
Please go straight down that street.
Turn the next corner, and you'll come out onto a wide street.
Read this aloud:
この通りは一方通行ですか？
Focus: 一方通行 (ippō tsūkō)
You said:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
あの通りに新しいカフェができました。
Focus: 新しいカフェ (atarashii kafe)
You said:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
この通りは夜になると静かになります。
Focus: 静かになります (shizuka ni narimasu)
You said:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
The speaker is commenting on a street.
Someone enjoys walking on a certain type of street.
The speaker is referring to a street with many cafes.
Read this aloud:
この通りの向こうに銀行があります。
Focus: 通り (toori)
You said:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
一本裏の通りに静かな公園を見つけました。
Focus: 裏の通り (ura no toori)
You said:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
この通りは一方通行なので注意してください。
Focus: 一方通行 (ippō tsūkō)
You said:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Go straight down that street.
This street is always lively, isn't it?
Which street should I turn on?
Read this aloud:
この通りを渡るときは気をつけてください。
Focus: と
You said:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
あそこの通りに新しいカフェができました。
Focus: とおり
You said:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
私が住んでいる通りはとても静かです。
Focus: しずか
You said:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
/ 36 correct
Perfect score!
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