A2 Collocation 中性

道を渡る

Michi o wataru

Cross the street

Phrase in 30 Seconds

A fundamental phrase used to describe the physical act of moving from one side of a street to the other.

  • Means: To cross a road or street using the particle 'o' to indicate the path.
  • Used in: Giving directions, talking about safety, or describing daily commutes.
  • Don't confuse: With '{道|みち}を{通|とお}る' which means to pass through or along a road.
🚶 + 🛣️ = {道|みち}を{渡|わた}る

Explanation at your level:

This phrase is very simple. '{道|みち}' means 'road' and '{渡|わた}る' means 'to cross'. You use the particle '{を|を}' in the middle. It is like saying 'I cross the street'. You use it when you walk in the city. For example: '{道|みち}を{渡|わた}ります' (I cross the road).
At this level, you use '{道|みち}を{渡|わた}る' to give directions or talk about safety. You can use the te-form to make requests: '{道|みち}を{渡|わた}ってください' (Please cross the road). It's important to remember that '{を|を}' shows the path you are moving through. This is a common pattern for movement verbs in Japanese.
Intermediate learners should notice how '{道|みち}を{渡|わた}る' functions in complex sentences. For instance, using the conditional: '{道|みち}を{渡|わた}れば、{右|みぎ}に{公園|こうえん}があります' (If you cross the road, there is a park on the right). You might also encounter the transitive version '{渡|わた}す' (to hand over), which helps clarify that '{渡|わた}る' is the intransitive action of the subject moving themselves.
Upper-intermediate students should distinguish between '{道|みち}を{渡|わた}る' and more formal terms like '{道路|どうろ}を{横断|おうだん}する'. You should also be aware of the nuance of '{横切|よこぎ}る' (to cut across). In B2 contexts, you might see this phrase in news reports about traffic safety or urban planning, where the focus is on pedestrian flow and safety regulations.
At the advanced level, the focus shifts to the semantic nuances of the particle '{を|を}' as a marker of 'traversed space'. This usage contrasts with '{に|に}' (destination) or '{で|で}' (location of action). You can analyze how '{道|みち}を{渡|わた}る' appears in literature to symbolize transitions or the crossing of boundaries, and how the verb '{渡|わた}る' maintains its ancient connection to water even in modern urban descriptions.
Near-native mastery involves understanding the cognitive linguistics behind '{道|みち}を{渡|わた}る'. This includes the 'Path' schema where the road is viewed as a two-dimensional plane being bisected. You should be able to discuss the historical etymology from the 'Manyoshu' era to the present, and recognize how the phrase interacts with Japanese social harmony (wa) through strict adherence to traffic signals as a form of collective social responsibility.

意思

To go from one side of a road to the other.

🌍

文化背景

Children are taught to raise their hands when crossing to be seen by drivers. This is called 'te o ageru'. The 'Green Man' on signals is actually called 'Ao-shingo' (Blue Signal) in Japanese, even though it is green. Shibuya Crossing is the most famous place to '{道|みち}を{渡|わた}る' in the world, known as a 'scramble crossing'. Pedestrian bridges ({歩道橋|ほどうきょう}) are very common in Japan to help people cross busy highways safely.

🎯

The 'O' Rule

Always use 'o' with 'wataru'. If you use 'ni', Japanese people will understand, but it will sound like you are landing 'on' the road rather than crossing it.

💬

The Hand Raise

If you want to look like a local (or a very polite tourist), a slight nod to a driver who stops for you while you cross is a great way to show 'Arigato'.

意思

To go from one side of a road to the other.

🎯

The 'O' Rule

Always use 'o' with 'wataru'. If you use 'ni', Japanese people will understand, but it will sound like you are landing 'on' the road rather than crossing it.

💬

The Hand Raise

If you want to look like a local (or a very polite tourist), a slight nod to a driver who stops for you while you cross is a great way to show 'Arigato'.

⚠️

Jaywalking

Even if the road is empty, waiting for the light is the social norm. Crossing on red is seen as slightly rude or reckless.

自我测试

Fill in the missing particle and verb form.

{危|あぶ}ないから、{走|はし}って{道|みち}（　）{渡|わた}（　　　）。

✓ 正确！ ✗ 不太对。 正确答案： a

'o' is the correct particle, and 'ranaide kudasai' (please don't) fits the 'dangerous' context.

Which sentence is the most natural for giving directions?

How do you say 'Cross the road at that signal'?

✓ 正确！ ✗ 不太对。 正确答案： a

Option 'a' uses the correct particle and verb for crossing.

Match the phrase to the situation.

You are with a child at a crosswalk.

✓ 正确！ ✗ 不太对。 正确答案： a

Raising your hand is the standard safety practice for children in Japan.

🎉 得分： /3

视觉学习工具

常见问题

4 个问题

Yes! '{橋|はし}を{渡|わた}る' is the standard phrase for crossing a bridge.

'Michi' is the general word for road/way. 'Douro' is more formal/technical, like 'roadway' or 'thoroughfare'.

It is intransitive. You are the one doing the moving. The transitive version is 'watasu' (to hand over).

'De' marks where an action happens, but 'o' marks the space you move through. Since crossing is movement through a space, 'o' is used.

相关表达

🔗

{橋|はし}を{渡|わた}る

similar

To cross a bridge

🔗

{道|みち}を{横切|よこぎ}る

similar

To cut across the road

🔗

{道|みち}を{通|とお}る

contrast

To pass through/along a road

🔗

{世|よ}を{渡|わた}る

specialized form

To make one's way in the world

在哪里用

🗺️

Giving directions

Tourist: すみません、{駅|えき}はどこですか？

Local: あそこの{信号|しんごう}で{道|みち}を{渡|わた}って、まっすぐですよ。

neutral
🧒

Teaching a child

Parent: {道|みち}を{渡|わた}る{時|とき}は、{手|て}を{挙|あ}げてね。

Child: はーい！

informal
🚦

With a friend at a busy street

Friend A: {信号|しんごう}、{赤|あか}だよ。{止|と}まって。

Friend B: あ、ごめん。{青|あお}になったら{道|みち}を{渡|わた}ろう。

informal
📱

Reporting a delay

Employee: すみません、{工事|こうじ}でなかなか{道|みち}を{渡|わた}れなくて、5{分|ふん}{遅|おく}れます。

Boss: わかりました。{気|き}をつけて。

neutral
👵

Helping an elderly person

Young Person: {荷物|にもつ}を{持|も}ちましょうか？{一緒|いっしょ}に{道|みち}を{渡|わた}りましょう。

Elderly Person: ありがとうございます。{助|たす}かります。

formal
🛰️

GPS Navigation

GPS Voice: 300メートル{先|さき}、{交差点|こうさてん}を{右|みぎ}に{曲|ま}がり、{道|みち}を{渡|わた}ります。

formal

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of 'Michi' as 'Me-Cheating' (the road) and 'Wataru' as 'Water-u'. You cross the 'Water-u' to get across the 'Me-Cheating' road!

Visual Association

Imagine a giant blue 'Green Man' signal character holding your hand and helping you walk across a black-and-white striped zebra crossing.

Rhyme

Look left, look right, cross the {道|みち} when the light is bright!

Story

You are standing at a busy Shibuya crossing. You see the {道|みち} (road). You wait for the light. When it turns green, you {渡|わた}る (cross) like a pro, reaching the Starbucks on the other side.

Word Web

{道|みち} (Road){渡|わた}る (To cross){信号|しんごう} (Signal){横断歩道|おうだんほどう} (Crosswalk){右|みぎ} (Right){左|ひだり} (Left){危|あぶ}ない (Dangerous){止|と}まる (To stop)

挑战

Next time you are outside, narrate your actions in Japanese. When you reach a street, say out loud: '{今|いま}から{道|みち}を{渡|わた}ります' (I'm going to cross the road now).

In Other Languages

English high

To cross the road

Japanese uses a specific particle 'o' for the space traversed.

Spanish high

Cruzar la calle

Spanish uses the definite article 'la' while Japanese uses the particle 'o'.

French high

Traverser la rue

French 'traverser' can also be used for 'going through' a forest, similar to Japanese 'o'.

German moderate

Die Straße überqueren

German uses a prefix 'über-' to emphasize the 'over/across' aspect.

Arabic high

يعبر الطريق (ya'bur al-tariq)

Arabic verb conjugation changes based on the gender of the subject.

Chinese high

过马路 (guò mǎlù)

Chinese doesn't use particles like 'o' to mark the road.

Korean high

길을 건너다 (gil-eul geonneoda)

The sounds are different, but the logic is identical.

Portuguese high

Atravessar a rua

Portuguese often uses 'atravessar' for both literal and figurative crossings.

Easily Confused

道を渡る 对比 {道|みち}を{通|とお}る

Both use 'michi o' and a movement verb.

Think of 'wataru' as a '+' (crossing) and 'tooru' as a '|' (passing along).

道を渡る 对比 {道|みち}を{曲|ま}がる

Both are used in directions.

'Magaru' is turning a corner; 'wataru' is going to the other side.

常见问题 (4)

Yes! '{橋|はし}を{渡|わた}る' is the standard phrase for crossing a bridge.

'Michi' is the general word for road/way. 'Douro' is more formal/technical, like 'roadway' or 'thoroughfare'.

It is intransitive. You are the one doing the moving. The transitive version is 'watasu' (to hand over).

'De' marks where an action happens, but 'o' marks the space you move through. Since crossing is movement through a space, 'o' is used.

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