Translation guide
In Japanese, the word for 'pavement' depends on whether you mean the sidewalk for pedestrians, the paved road surface, or paving materials. The most common everyday term is 歩道 (hodō) for sidewalk.
The paved path alongside a road where people walk.
The standard word for sidewalk or pavement in the sense of a pedestrian walkway. Used in everyday conversation and official contexts.
Please walk on the pavement.
This pavement is narrow, isn't it?
Literally 'people path', used in formal or legal contexts, such as traffic signs or regulations. Less common in daily speech.
This is a pavement. Bicycles are not allowed.
The hard surface of a road, as opposed to a dirt road.
A paved road. Used when distinguishing from unpaved roads. 舗装 means 'paving'.
Is this road paved?
Paving or pavement as a surface. Often used in compound words or technical contexts.
A paved road/path. A descriptive phrase using the passive form of 舗装する.
The material used to pave a surface.
Paving material. Technical term used in construction or engineering.
This paving material is highly durable.
Asphalt. The most common paving material for roads. Often used in everyday contexts.
Paving stones or flagstones, often used for garden paths or decorative pavements.
In British English, 'pavement' means sidewalk, but in American English it often means the road surface. In Japanese, 歩道 (hodō) specifically means sidewalk, while 道路 (dōro) means road. Use 歩道 for the pedestrian path.
歩道 is the everyday word for sidewalk. 人道 is more formal and often seen on signs or in legal texts. In conversation, stick with 歩道.
道路の舗装が傷んでいる。
The road pavement is damaged.
I'm looking for a paved road.
They lay asphalt on the road.
庭に敷石を並べた。
I arranged paving stones in the garden.