Translation guide
The English word "runway" has two main meanings: an airport runway and a fashion runway. These are expressed with different Japanese words. This guide covers both, plus related terms.
The strip where aircraft take off and land.
The platform where models walk to display clothes.
The standard term for a fashion runway. Used in fashion shows and related contexts.
滑走路 is the native Japanese term and is more common in everyday news and conversation. ランウェイ is a loanword used in technical or international contexts, but may sound slightly jargon-like. Stick with 滑走路 for general use.
Using 滑走路 for a fashion runway would be incorrect and confusing. Always use ランウェイ for fashion contexts.
Standard term for an airport runway. Used in all contexts.
The plane landed on the runway.
Departures are delayed because the runway is icy.
Loanword from English, used in aviation contexts, but less common than 滑走路. Often seen in compound terms.
The runway lights turned on.
The model walked down the runway.
She made her runway debut.
Literally 'flower path', this term is used in kabuki and sometimes metaphorically for a runway-like stage extension. Rarely used for fashion runways.
The kabuki actor appeared through the hanamichi.