YukaIf you’re walking down a street and reach the end, do you say 突き当たり or 行き止まり? Both seem to mean “dead end” — but there’s a difference!
ReiGreat question! 突き当たり means the end of a path where you can turn, while 行き止まり is a true dead end where there’s no way through at all.
| 突き当たり (tsukiatari) | 行き止まり (ikidomari) | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | End of a road / T-junction end | Dead end — no exit |
| Can you turn? | Yes — turn left or right | No — you must go back |
| Usage | Giving directions | Warning signs, dead-end streets |
| Example | 突き当たりを右に曲がってください。 | この道は行き止まりです。 |
突き当たり — The End Where You Can Turn
突き当たり describes the point at the end of a path, corridor, or street — where you “bump into” the end. Crucially, you can turn left or right. This word is very common in giving directions.
- 突き当たりを左に曲がってください。— Please turn left at the end.
- 突き当たりに郵便局があります。— There’s a post office at the end of the street.
- 廊下の突き当たりがトイレです。— The bathroom is at the end of the hallway.
行き止まり — True Dead End
行き止まり (literally “the place where going stops”) means a complete dead end — no exit, no turn. You have to turn back the way you came. You’ll see this on road signs.
- この道は行き止まりです。— This road is a dead end.
- 行き止まりの看板があった。— There was a dead-end sign.
- そこまで行ったら行き止まりだよ。— If you go that far, it’s a dead end.
Quick Memory Tip
Think of it this way: 突き当たり = you “bump into” something (突く = to poke/bump), so you arrived at the end and can go left or right. 行き止まり = “going has stopped” (行き = going, 止まり = stopping), so there is nowhere else to go.
Common Mistakes for English Speakers
Both words translate as “dead end” in English, but 突き当たり is not really a dead end — it is a T-junction end where the road stops but you can turn. Using 行き止まり when you mean 突き当たり could confuse someone by implying they must turn back when they can actually continue in another direction.
Quick Quiz
Which word would you use on a road sign warning that there is no exit ahead?
Answer: 行き止まり
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