Meaning and Usage
"トンネル" refers to a tunnel, typically an underground or mountain passage for vehicles or pedestrians. It is a loanword from English and is used in everyday conversation and written Japanese.
Common Contexts
You will often hear "トンネル" when talking about roads, railways, or mountain passages. It can describe both natural and man-made tunnels.
Collocations and Patterns
- トンネルを抜ける (pass through a tunnel): used to describe moving through or beyond a tunnel.
- 長いトンネル (long tunnel): emphasizes the length of the tunnel.
- トンネル工事 (tunnel construction): refers to the building or engineering work of tunnels.
Register and Nuance
"トンネル" is neutral and commonly used in both formal and informal contexts. Because it is a loanword, it sounds modern and technical.
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes confuse "トンネル" with "洞窟" (どうくつ, cave). Remember, "トンネル" is a man-made passage, while "洞窟" is a natural cave.