Translation guide
An embankment is a raised structure of earth, stone, or concrete built to hold back water or support a road or railway. In Japanese, the most common and useful word is 堤防 (teibō) for flood control, while 土手 (dote) is used for natural or grassy riverbanks. For road/railway embankments, 盛土 (morido) is the technical term. This guide covers these and other related terms with examples and usage notes.
A raised bank built to prevent a river or sea from flooding.
The standard term for a man-made embankment built for flood control. Used in formal and everyday contexts.
この堤防は洪水から町を守っている。
This embankment protects the town from floods.
堤防が決壊した。
The embankment collapsed.
Often refers to a natural or grassy riverbank, but can also mean a man-made embankment. More casual than 堤防.
子供たちが土手で遊んでいる。
The children are playing on the embankment.
川の土手に桜が植えられている。
Cherry trees are planted on the river embankment.
A somewhat literary or traditional term for an embankment or bank, often used in place names or older texts.
その堤は江戸時代に築かれた。
That embankment was built in the Edo period.
A raised bank of earth or stone carrying a road or railway.
Technical term for an embankment constructed by piling up soil, commonly used in civil engineering for roads and railways.
線路の盛土が崩れた。
The railway embankment collapsed.
高速道路の盛土工事が進んでいる。
The construction of the highway embankment is progressing.
Refers to the act of building an embankment or the embankment itself, often used in engineering contexts.
Can also refer to a road or railway embankment in casual speech, though less precise.
A structure built to protect the coast from erosion or storm surges.
Specifically a seawall or coastal levee designed to prevent flooding from high tides or tsunamis.
防潮堤が津波の被害を軽減した。
The seawall reduced the damage from the tsunami.
General term for a coastal embankment or levee.
海岸堤防の整備が急がれている。
The maintenance of coastal embankments is urgently needed.
Any raised bank or slope, often grassy, not necessarily for flood control.
The most common word for a grassy bank or slope, such as along a river or road.
土手に座って川を眺めた。
I sat on the embankment and watched the river.
Technical term for a slope or bank, especially in civil engineering. Not used in everyday conversation.
堤防 (teibō) is the standard term for a man-made flood-control embankment, often made of concrete or reinforced earth. 土手 (dote) is more casual and can refer to any grassy bank or slope, including natural riverbanks. Use 堤防 for formal or technical contexts, and 土手 for everyday descriptions of scenery or casual activities.
The English loanword バンク (banku) means 'bank' as in a financial institution, not an embankment. Avoid using it to translate 'embankment'.
The railway gradient was eased by the embankment.
Weeds are overgrown on the embankment along the railway.
Slope protection work is necessary.