Translation guide
A dike is a barrier built to control water, such as a levee along a river or a sea wall. In Japanese, the word depends on the context: a river embankment, a sea wall, or a smaller ditch or channel.
A raised bank built to prevent a river from flooding.
The most common and general term for an embankment or levee along a river or coast. Used in everyday conversation and news.
The river dike broke.
Walk on top of the dike.
Often refers to a smaller, grassy embankment, sometimes natural. Can also mean a riverbank in a more casual sense.
We sat on the dike and watched fireworks.
A barrier built to protect the coast from high tides, storm surges, or tsunamis.
Specifically a sea wall or tide embankment. Used in technical and disaster prevention contexts.
The sea dike protected the town from the tsunami.
Literally 'coast embankment'. A more descriptive term for a coastal dike.
Construction of the coastal dike is progressing.
A trench or channel for drainage or irrigation, sometimes called a dike in English.
A sheet of rock that formed in a crack in a pre-existing rock body.
The geological term for a dike. Used in earth science contexts.
Basalt dikes can be seen in this cliff.
堤防 (teibō) is the standard term for a constructed embankment, often made of concrete or reinforced earth. 土手 (dote) implies a more natural, grassy slope and is used in casual settings. For official or disaster-related contexts, use 堤防.
The English word 'dike' can also be a derogatory term for a lesbian. This meaning has no direct Japanese equivalent and should not be translated literally. If you need to refer to the slur, explain it in English or use a descriptive phrase.
The dike along the road is clogged with leaves.