Meaning and Usage
渡る (わたる) primarily means "to cross" or "to go across" something like a river, road, or bridge. It is a common verb used in everyday situations when describing movement from one side to another.
Common Contexts
You will often hear 渡る used with physical crossings such as 川を渡る (cross a river) or 道を渡る (cross a street). It can also be used metaphorically, for example, 渡り鳥 (わたりどり) means "migratory bird," literally "bird that crosses (regions)."
Collocations and Patterns
- 橋を渡る: to cross a bridge, a very common phrase.
- 道を渡る: to cross the street, important for daily conversation.
- 川を渡る: to cross a river, often used in travel or nature contexts.
- 渡り鳥: migratory bird, a compound noun using 渡る.
Register and Politeness
渡る is a neutral verb and can be used in both casual and polite speech. When speaking politely, it is often combined with ます form (渡ります).
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes confuse 渡る with 横断する, which also means "to cross." 渡る is more general and often used for crossing natural or constructed obstacles, while 横断する is more formal and often used for crossing streets or roads specifically. Remember 渡る is more versatile and common in daily conversation.