How to Say ‘Cross the traffic light, left, right?’ in Japanese
信号を渡って、左ですね。
shingou o watatsu te hidari desu ne
[sheen-goh oh waht teh hee-dah-ree dess neh]
💬 Usage Tip: You repeat the instruction and add [ですね] to confirm the key point. Great survival strategy when nervous.
🇯🇵 In Japan: Repeating back directions is common in Japan; it shows you’re listening and helps avoid mistakes.
Phrase Breakdown
信号を渡って
shingou o watatsu te
cross the traffic light (intersection), and then…
信号 + を + 渡って. Te-form is used to connect steps in directions.
信号を渡って、まっすぐです。
Cross the traffic light, then go straight.
Words in this phrase
信号
shingou
[sheen-goh]
traffic light; signal
Landmark used for confirming the route. 信号 can be “the traffic light/intersection.”
信号を渡って、左ですね。
Cross the light, then left, right?
を
o
[oh]
(object marker)
Marks 信号 as the object of 渡る: 信号を渡って.
信号を渡って、左ですね。
Cross the light, then left, right?
渡っ
watatsu
[waht]
cross
Stem of 渡る in te-form. Used when repeating back directions: 渡って…
信号を渡って、左ですね。
Cross the light, then left, right?
て
te
[teh]
and; then (te-form)
Links the first step to what follows, often with a pause/comma: 渡って、左…
信号を渡って、左ですね。
Cross the light, then left, right?
左ですね
hidari desu ne
Left, right? / So it’s left, right?
Confirmation phrase: 左 (left) + ですね (confirming). Used to check you understood the directions.
右ですね。
Right, correct?
Words in this phrase
左
hidari
[hee-dah-ree]
left
Direction being confirmed. Very common when checking: 左ですね / 右ですね.
信号を渡って、左ですね。
Cross the light, then left, right?
です
desu
[dess]
is (polite)
Polite copula used when confirming: 左です (It’s left).
信号を渡って、左ですね。
Cross the light, then left, right?
ね
ne
[neh]
right? (confirmation)
ね asks for agreement/confirmation. Here: “left, right?”
信号を渡って、左ですね。
Cross the light, then left, right?
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