The Meaning of ōdan [横断] In Japanese

横断
おうだん
Romaji: ōdan N4

What does 横断 mean?

Translation and Meaning

crossing, crossing over, traverse

Definition

横断 means the act or instance of crossing from one side to another, typically referring to crossing a street, river, or border. It is used as a noun and can be combined with する to form 横断する, meaning to cross or traverse. In traffic contexts it appears in safety and driving-related discourse.

Type

Noun; Suru-verb (横断する)

Stroke Order

Meanings

  • Describes the act of moving from one side to the other in a physical space such as a street, river, or border.
  • In traffic contexts, refers to crossing areas and the concept of pedestrians crossing, often appearing in regulatory language and signage.
  • Metaphorical or cross‑domain usage, indicating spanning across disciplines, cultures, or geographic boundaries.

Etymology

On’yomi: ōdan; The compound uses the Sino-Japanese readings of 横 and 断, typical of Sino-Japanese compounds; Phonetic evolution: The pronunciation has remained stable in modern Japanese, with a long vowel indicated by the macron in ō.

Composition

  • 横: horizontal, side
  • 断: cut, sever
  • Combination conveys moving across a boundary from one side to the other, yielding the core sense of crossing.

Usage

横断 is used both in speech and formal writing. As a noun, it denotes the crossing itself; as a verb, 横断する expresses the act of crossing. In safety, transport, and academic writing it appears with combinations and in phrases describing how to navigate across spaces or boundaries.
💡 Tips
Mnemonic: Visualize a horizontal line (横) being cut (断) to create a path from one side to the other; imagine stepping across that line to cross a street or river.

Variations

  • 渡る (wataru) — cross; Romaji: wataru
  • 跨ぐ (matagu) — to span, cross; Romaji: matagu
  • 横断歩道 (ōdan hodō) — pedestrian crossing; Romaji: ōdan hodō

Example Phrases

  • 横断 したい とき は 信号 を 待って 安全 に 渡る。
    oudan shitai toki wa shingou o matte anzen ni wataru.
    When you want to cross, wait for the signal and cross safely.
    Lista:
    • 横断 (oudan) – crossing
    • したい (shitai) – want to
    • とき (toki) – time/when
    • は (wa) – topic marker
    • 信号 (shingou) – signal
    • を (o) – object marker
    • 待って (matte) – wait
    • 安全 (anzen) – safety
    • に (ni) – to
    • 渡る (wataru) – to cross
    Aqui 「横断」 funciona como substantivo na expressão 「横断したいときは」, indicando ‘quando quiser atravessar’.
横断