How to Say ‘Cross the traffic light.’ in Japanese
信号を渡ってください。
shingou o watatsu te kudasai
[sheen-goh oh waht teh koo-dah-sigh]
💬 Usage Tip: [〜てください] is a polite “please do …”. It’s perfect for asking/giving directions to the nearest station.
🇯🇵 In Japan: Using polite forms like [ください] with strangers is the norm, especially when asking for help.
Phrase Breakdown
信号
shingou
[sheen-goh]
traffic light; signal
A common landmark in directions: 信号. In this sentence, it refers to the intersection/crosswalk at the traffic light.
この信号を渡ってください。
Please cross this traffic light (intersection).
を
o
[oh]
(object marker)
を marks 信号 as the thing you cross. Very typical pattern: ～を渡ってください (Please cross ~).
信号を渡ってください。
Please cross the traffic light (intersection).
渡って
watatsu te
cross (te-form)
Te-form of 渡る (to cross). With ください: 渡ってください = “please cross.”
横断歩道を渡ってください。
Please cross at the crosswalk.
Words in this phrase
渡っ
watatsu
[waht]
cross (something)
Verb stem of 渡る in て-form request. Used for crossing streets/bridges/intersections when giving directions.
信号を渡ってください。
Please cross the traffic light (intersection).
て
te
[teh]
and; (do) ~ing (te-form)
て-form used with ください to make a polite request: 渡ってください = “Please cross.”
信号を渡ってください。
Please cross the traffic light (intersection).
ください
kudasai
[koo-dah-sigh]
please (do); please give me
Polite request. Verb-て + ください = “Please do ~.” Very common for directions (行ってください / 曲がってください).
信号を渡ってください。
Please cross the traffic light (intersection).
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