“tōru” vs. “wataru”：Which Do We Use in Crossing A Bridge?

2020年10月1日2022年8月21日

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“tōru” vs. “wataru”：Which Do We Use in Crossing A Bridge?

What is the difference between “通とおる(tōru) and 渡わたる(wataru)”? Which do you use in crossing a bridge? After reading this, you would be answering this question. Let me introduce what their subtle differences are and how you correctly use them such as native speakers today!

通とおる (tōru)

Pass, Walk, Go (Though) / 通过 / 통과하다 / Vượt qua, đi qua

“通とおる(tōru)” means “Pass/Walk/Go (Though)” and which has been used as the meaning of “to move in a specified direction.” The basic way to use it is “私わたしは___を通とおる。(I pass ___.)”, etc. For instance, “私わたしはここを通とおる。(I pass here.)”, etc. The tips for using it are that basically “通とおる” is used not only for people, animals but things are also used such as “車くるまが通とおる (A car passes.)”. And it is used as the meaning of “People/Animal/Things Pass/Walk/Go (Though)”. Everybody could use this in daily conversations and business situations as formal such as “私わたしはここを通とおるよ。(I pass here.)” as casual and “私わたしはここを通とおります。(I pass here.)” as formal and used as the polite way.

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Sample

yuka

通とおれる？ (Can you pass though?) (你能通过吗？) (지나갈 수 있어?) (Có thể đi qua được không?) (tōreru?)

tatsuya

ここ通とおってきたの？ (You passed/walked through here?!) (你路过这里来的吗？) (여길 통해서 왔어?) (Bạn đã đi qua chỗ này để đến à?) (koko tōtte kita no?)

yuka

後うしろ通とおるね。 (Behind you.) (我要从你背后通过哦。) (뒤쪽으로 지나갈게.) (Tôi đi qua phía sau bạn đấy nhé.) (ushiro tōru ne.)

tatsuya

さっきパトカーが通とおったよ。 (A police car passed through a while ago.) (刚才有辆警车经过。) (아까 경찰차가 지나갔어.) (Lúc nãy một chiếc xe cảnh sát vừa đi ngang qua đấy.) (sakki patokā ga tōtta yo.)

渡わたる (wataru)

Cross, Go across / 渡过 / 지나가다 / Đi qua

“渡わたる(wataru)” means “Cross / Go across” and which has been used as the meaning of “to go or stretch from one side of something such as a road, river, room, etc to the other” The basic way to use it is “私わたしは___を渡わたる。(I cross/go across ___.)”, etc. For instance, “私わたしは川かわを渡わたる。(I cross/go across a river.)”, etc. The tips for using it are that “渡わたる” is used for “RIVER, ROAD, FOOTBRIDGE, etc.” which we can GO FROM ONE SIDE to THE OTHER” and it includes the meaning of “通とおる”. So, we can say “私わたしは歩道橋ほどうきょうを渡わたる。(I cross/go across a footbridge.)” and “私わたしは歩道橋ほどうきょうを通とおる。(I walk through a footbridge.)”. Although we could imagine about “私わたしは歩道橋ほどうきょうを渡わたる。(I cross/go across a footbridge.)” which has the END OF THE FOOTBRIDGE, “私わたしは歩道橋ほどうきょうを通とおる。(I walk through a footbridge.)” is JUST “to WALK THE FOOTBRIEDE”. Everybody could use this in daily conversations and business situations as formal such as “私わたしは歩道橋ほどうきょうを渡わたるよ。(I cross/go across a footbridge.)” as casual and “私わたしは歩道橋ほどうきょうを渡わたります。(I cross/go across a footbridge.)” as formal and used as the polite way.

Sample

yuka

横断歩道おうだんほどうを渡わたる前まえは気きをつけてね！ (Be careful before crossing the crosswalk.) (穿越人行道前要小心！) (횡단 보도를 건너기 전엔 조심해야해!) (Hãy cẩn thận trước khi băng qua đường dành cho người đi bộ nhé.) (ōdan hodō wo wataru mae wa kiwotsukete ne!)

tatsuya

この川かわ渡わたってきたの？ (You crossed this river?!) (你穿越这条河过来的吗？) (이 강을 건너왔어?) (Bạn đã băng qua con sông này à?) (kono kawa watatte kita no?)

yuka

この橋はしを渡わたってね！ (Go across this bridge!) (请渡过这座桥！) (이 다리를 건너와!) (Hãy băng qua cây cầu này nhé.) (kono hashi wo watatte ne!)

tatsuya

道みちを渡わたるときは手てを上あげてね！ (Raise your hand when you cross the street!) (穿越马路时要举起手哦！) (길을 건널 때는 손을 들어줘야해!) (Khi bạn băng qua đường hãy giơ tay lên cao nha!) (michi wo wataru toki wa te wo agete ne!)