How do you say "Isn't this route a detour?" in Japanese?

"Isn't this route a detour?" in Japanese is "この道だと遠回りじゃないですか。". This phrase is commonly used in Japan.

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How to Say ‘Isn't this route a detour?’ in Japanese

Q: What does "この道だと遠回りじゃないですか。" mean in English?

"この道だと遠回りじゃないですか。" means "Isn't this route a detour?" in English. Usage tip: [〜じゃないですか] often raises a concern by saying "isn't it ...?" rather than making a blunt statement. You can reuse it to sound less direct: [高くないですか] "Isn't it expensive?"

この道だと遠回りじゃないですか。

kono michi da to toomawari ja nai desu ka

[koh-noh mee-chee dah toh toh-oh-mah-wah-ree jah nai dess kah]

💬 Usage Tip: [〜じゃないですか] often raises a concern by saying "isn't it ...?" rather than making a blunt statement. You can reuse it to sound less direct: [高くないですか] "Isn't it expensive?"

Phrase Breakdown

この道

kono michi

this road; this route

Used to point to a specific road or route near the speaker.

Example

この道をまっすぐ行きます。

Go straight on this road.

Words in this phrase

この

kono

[koh-noh]

this

Means 'this,' modifying a following noun.

Example

この道だと遠回りじゃないですか。と聞きました。

I asked, 'Isn't this road a detour?'

道

michi

[mee-chee]

road; route

A road or route being discussed.

Example

この道だと遠回りじゃないですか。少し気になります。

Isn't this road a detour? I'm a little concerned.

だ

[dah]

is; it is

Plain form of です, linking the noun phrase to what follows.

Example

この道だと遠回りじゃないですか。と伝えました。

I conveyed, 'Isn't this road a detour?'

と

[toh]

if; when it is

Shows a condition: 'if it is this road' or 'taking this road.'

Example

この道だと遠回りじゃないですか。と心配しました。

I worried, 'If it's this road, isn't it a detour?'

遠回り

toomawari

[toh-oh-mah-wah-ree]

detour; roundabout way

A longer route than necessary.

Example

この道だと遠回りじゃないですか。と感じました。

I felt, 'Isn't this road a detour?'

じゃ

[jah]

isn't it

Colloquial negative copula part used in questions or soft assertions.

Example

この道だと遠回りじゃないですか。と丁寧に言いました。

I politely said, 'Isn't this road a detour?'

ない

nai

[nai]

not

Negative element meaning 'not.'

Example

この道だと遠回りじゃないですか。と確認しました。

I checked, 'Isn't this road a detour?'

です

desu

[dess]

is; polite form

Polite copula used to make the sentence courteous.

Example

この道だと遠回りじゃないですか。と穏やかに聞きました。

I gently asked, 'Isn't this road a detour?'

か

[kah]

question marker

Marks the sentence as a question.

Example

この道だと遠回りじゃないですか。と運転手さんに聞きました。

I asked the driver, 'Isn't this road a detour?'

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