Translation guide
The English word 'along' is used in several ways: to indicate movement or position following a line or path, to mean 'together with' someone, or to describe progress. Japanese expresses these ideas with different particles, verbs, and phrases. Direct translation is often unnatural.
Expressing that something moves or is located following the length of something, like a road, river, or wall.
This is the most common and natural way to say 'along' a physical path or line. It follows a noun indicating the path.
I walked along the river.
Please go straight along this road.
Used as a noun modifier to describe something located along a path, like 'a shop along the street'.
a shop along the street
A verb meaning 'to go along' or 'to follow' a path, often used in written or literary contexts. Attaches to nouns with を.
Indicating that a person accompanies another, or that something is brought along.
Means 'together' and is the most common way to express doing something along with someone. Often used with verbs like 行く (go) or 来る (come).
Describing how something is progressing, often with 'come along' or 'get along'.
The verb 進む means 'to progress' or 'to advance'. Use it to say how a project or task is coming along.
Meaning 'in addition to' or 'together with' something else.
Can also mean 'along with' in the sense of 'together with' non-human things.
English 'along' has no single Japanese equivalent. Using a dictionary translation like 沿って for 'come along' (as in accompany) will sound unnatural. Always consider the meaning first.
に沿って is the standard way to say 'along a path'. を伝って is more literary and implies moving while touching or following the contour of something, like a wall or a rope.
I walked along the beach.
He walked along the wall.
Do you want to come along to see a movie?
She's coming along too.
Used when you bring a person (or sometimes a pet) along. 連れて行く means 'take along', 連れて来る means 'bring along'.
Can I bring a friend along?
I brought my younger brother along.
A formal verb meaning 'to accompany'. Used in official or written contexts.
A guardian must come along. (lit. accompaniment of a guardian is required)
Work is coming along well.
The plan isn't getting along very well.
For 'getting along' with people, meaning to have a good relationship. うまくやっている means 'getting along well'.
I get along with him.
Another way to say 'get along well' with someone, literally 'relationship is good'.
We get along very well.
Please send a photo along with the documents.
A more formal way to say 'in addition to' or 'along with'.
Along with my salary, I also got a bonus.
She brought her sister along.
How is your project coming along?