How to Say ‘Cross the traffic light, and turn left.’ in Japanese
信号を渡って、左に曲がってください。
shingou o watatsu te hidari ni magatsu te kudasai
[sheen-goh oh waht teh hee-dah-ree nee mah-gaht teh koo-dah-sigh]
💬 Usage Tip: The comma shows a natural pause. The [〜て] form chains actions smoothly: cross → turn.
🇯🇵 In Japan: Japanese directions often come as short step-by-step commands like this—listen for the verbs at the end of each chunk.
Phrase Breakdown
信号
shingou
[sheen-goh]
traffic light; signal
Used as a landmark in step-by-step directions. Here it refers to the intersection with a traffic light.
信号を渡って、左に曲がってください。
Cross the traffic light (intersection), then turn left.
を
o
[oh]
(object marker)
Marks what you cross: 信号を渡る.
信号を渡って、左に曲がってください。
Cross the traffic light (intersection), then turn left.
渡って
watatsu te
cross (te-form)
Te-form for sequencing actions: “cross (and then) …”
橋を渡って、まっすぐ行ってください。
Cross the bridge, then go straight.
Words in this phrase
渡っ
watatsu
[waht]
cross
Stem of 渡る. In directions it implies crossing the street at the signal/crosswalk.
信号を渡って、左に曲がってください。
Cross the traffic light (intersection), then turn left.
て
te
[teh]
(te-form)
Connects to ください: 曲がってください (please turn).
信号を渡って、左に曲がってください。
Cross the traffic light (intersection), then turn left.
左に曲がってください。
hidari ni magatsu te kudasai
Please turn left.
Left + direction particle に + polite request to turn (曲がってください). The 。 ends the sentence.
信号を渡ったら、左に曲がってください。
After you cross the traffic light, please turn left.
Words in this phrase
左
hidari
[hee-dah-ree]
left
Direction word used with に to specify where to turn: 左に曲がる.
信号を渡って、左に曲がってください。
Cross the traffic light (intersection), then turn left.
に
ni
[nee]
to; toward
Direction marker. 左に = “to the left.”
信号を渡って、左に曲がってください。
Cross the traffic light (intersection), then turn left.
曲がっ
magatsu
[mah-gaht]
turn
Stem of 曲がる in て-form. Used in polite requests for directions.
信号を渡って、左に曲がってください。
Cross the traffic light (intersection), then turn left.
て
te
[teh]
(te-form)
Connects to ください: 曲がってください (please turn).
信号を渡って、左に曲がってください。
Cross the traffic light (intersection), then turn left.
ください
kudasai
[koo-dah-sigh]
please (do)
Polite request used after て-form. Standard for giving directions to a station.
信号を渡って、左に曲がってください。
Cross the traffic light (intersection), then turn left.
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