Japanese word of the day: 渡る (Wataru)

What does 渡る (Wataru) mean?

渡る (Wataru) (う-verb, intransitive) – To cross; to go across; to traverse. This verb is used when you move from one side to another, such as crossing a street, a bridge, or a river. It’s a common and practical verb in daily life.

Kanji details for 渡

Character: 渡 — transit, ford, ferry, cross, import, deliver, diameter, migrate
Radical: water 水 (氵, 氺)

Example sentences with 渡る (Wataru)

• 道路を渡ってください。
  (Dōro o watatte kudasai.)
  🚶‍♂️ Please cross the street.

• 橋を渡りました。
  (Hashi o watarimashita.)
  🌉 I crossed the bridge.

• 川を渡るのは危険です。
  (Kawa o wataru no wa kiken desu.)
  ⚠️ Crossing the river is dangerous.

Confused about how to conjugate 渡る?
Our conjugation tables can help.

渡る (Wataru) in context

渡る is a useful verb for describing movement from one side to another. You’ll use it when talking about crossing streets, bridges, rivers, or any boundary. It’s often seen in everyday conversation, travel, and directions.

A quick tip: The te-form 渡って (watatte) is handy for making requests or describing ongoing actions, like 渡ってください (please cross).

Whether you’re navigating city streets or nature trails, 渡る is the word that helps you get across safely in Japanese.