How to Say ‘Cross at the traffic light’ in Japanese
信号を渡って
shingou o watatsu te
[sheen-goh oh waht teh]
💬 Usage Tip: Literally “cross the traffic light,” but the natural meaning is “cross at the intersection/crosswalk by the light.”
🇯🇵 In Japan: When giving directions, Japanese often use landmarks like [信号], convenience stores, and big buildings rather than street names.
Phrase Breakdown
信号
shingou
[sheen-goh]
traffic light; signal
信号 means “traffic light” in everyday directions. Often used as a landmark: 次の信号, 大きい信号, etc.
信号を渡って、すぐ右に駅の入口があります。
After crossing the light, the station entrance is immediately on the right.
を
o
[oh]
(object marker)
を shows what you cross/do. With 渡る, it marks the thing/point you cross (street, bridge, intersection).
信号を渡ってから、左に曲がってください。
After crossing the light, please turn left.
渡っ
watatsu
[waht]
cross (something)
Verb stem of 渡る. In direction-giving, it commonly means to cross a road/intersection at a crosswalk.
信号を渡って、地下鉄の駅に行けます。
If you cross the light, you can get to the subway station.
て
te
[teh]
and; (do) ~ing (te-form connector)
て connects this action to what comes next. Here it means “cross … and then …”.
信号を渡って、左へ行ってください。
Cross the light, then go left.
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