Translation guide
The legal or customary right to proceed first in traffic or on a path. This guide covers how to express this concept in Japanese, from traffic rules to everyday situations.
The legal right of a vehicle or pedestrian to proceed before others at an intersection or on a road.
The standard term for 'right of way' in traffic contexts. Literally 'priority right'. Used in legal and everyday driving situations.
At this intersection, vehicles going straight have the right of way.
Short for 優先権, often used in compound terms like 優先道路 (priority road). Common on road signs.
You are on a priority road (with right of way).
A more formal or legal term, explicitly 'traffic priority right'. Used in official documents or detailed traffic regulations.
Pedestrians are granted the right of way.
The right of a pedestrian to cross a road safely, often at a crosswalk.
The customary or polite practice of yielding to others on sidewalks, trails, or in buildings.
The general phrase for 'yield the way' or 'give way'. Used when you let someone go first out of courtesy.
On narrow paths, let's yield to each other.
Literally 'let someone go ahead'. Used in casual situations when you allow someone to pass.
Please, go ahead. (yielding right of way)
The navigational rule determining which vessel or aircraft must give way.
Technical term for 'navigational priority' used in maritime and aviation contexts.
Under international rules, sailing vessels may have right of way over power-driven vessels.
Avoid directly translating 'right of way' as 道の権利 (みちのけんり). This sounds odd and is not used in Japanese. Use 優先権 or 優先 instead.
In Japan, yielding is often done with a slight bow or hand gesture. Saying どうぞ (please, go ahead) is common when giving way.
Here pedestrians have the right of way, so cars must stop.