Translation guide
How to express the act of crossing a river in Japanese, from literal physical crossing to metaphorical uses.
Describing the action of moving from one side of a river to the other, on foot, by vehicle, or by swimming.
The most common and neutral way to say 'cross a river'. Uses the particle を to mark the river as the space being traversed.
橋を渡って川を渡った。
I crossed the river by crossing the bridge.
Specifically swimming across a river.
The standard way to say 'swim across a river'. Combines 泳ぐ (swim) with 渡る (cross).
彼は流れの速い川を泳いで渡った。
He swam across the fast-flowing river.
Using 'crossing a river' as a metaphor for overcoming a difficult situation or reaching a goal.
Can be used metaphorically, similar to English. Often appears in proverbs or poetic language.
人生の大きな川を渡る時が来た。
The time has come to cross the great river of life.
渡る (わたる) is the default for crossing a river, focusing on moving from one side to the other. 越える (こえる) emphasizes going over an obstacle and is more common for mountains or walls, but can be used for rivers when the crossing is challenging.
Use を with 渡る to mark the river being crossed. Do not use に or で. 川に渡る is incorrect.
川を渡る
cross the river (correct)
日没前に川を渡らなければならない。
We need to cross the river before sunset.
子供たちはいかだで川を渡った。
The children crossed the river on a raft.
He crossed the river by walking through the shallows.
Implies crossing over a river, often with a sense of overcoming an obstacle. Can be used for crossing via bridge or by fording.
山道で小さな川を越えた。
We crossed a small river on the mountain path.
A formal or literary term for crossing a river, often used in military or expedition contexts.
軍隊が渡河作戦を開始した。
The army began the river-crossing operation.
A more common metaphorical expression for overcoming difficulties, not specific to rivers but often used where English might say 'cross that bridge'.
その問題はもう乗り越えた。
We've already crossed that bridge.