Meaning and Usage
The verb またぐ means "to straddle" or "to step over" something by spreading your legs or crossing over an object. It is often used when physically crossing over fences, bridges, or obstacles.
Common Contexts
You will frequently see またぐ used in everyday situations involving movement, such as crossing fences, stepping over puddles, or climbing stairs with wide steps. It can also describe something spanning across an area, like a bridge over a river.
Collocations and Patterns
- フェンスをまたぐ: to straddle a fence, often implying physically stepping over it.
- 川をまたぐ: to span a river, used for bridges or roads.
- 足をまたいで: to straddle with legs, often describing how someone moves.
Register and Nuance
またぐ is a neutral verb suitable for both casual and formal contexts. It describes a physical action clearly and is not metaphorical in common use.
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes confuse またぐ with 跨る (also read またがる), which can mean "to span" or "to extend over" but is more formal and often used for abstract or larger-scale spans. またぐ is more physical and concrete, focusing on the action of stepping or straddling.