Translation guide
The paved path for pedestrians alongside a road. In Japanese, the most common word is 歩道 (hodō). Note that British English 'pavement' corresponds to the same concept.
The standard paved path for walking along the side of a street.
The standard, neutral term for a sidewalk or pavement. Used in all contexts.
歩道を歩いてください。
Please walk on the sidewalk.
この通りには広い歩道があります。
This street has a wide sidewalk.
Literally 'people path', often used in legal or formal contexts, or to distinguish from vehicle roads. Less common in everyday speech.
車道と人道を分ける。
Separate the roadway and the sidewalk.
Literally 'pedestrian path', used in urban planning or signage. Very formal and technical.
歩行者道の整備が進んでいる。
The development of pedestrian paths is progressing.
Referring to the sidewalk as a place where something happens or is located.
Use 歩道 (sidewalk) with the particle に for location. Natural in all contexts.
歩道に自転車が止めてある。
A bicycle is parked on the sidewalk.
歩道に人がたくさんいる。
There are many people on the sidewalk.
Use で when an action takes place on the sidewalk.
歩道で遊んではいけません。
Don't play on the sidewalk.
Emphasizing the separation between pedestrian and vehicle areas.
Common phrase meaning 'sidewalk and roadway'. Used to talk about the distinction.
歩道と車道の区別がはっきりしていない。
The distinction between sidewalk and roadway is not clear.
The English word 'sidewalk' specifically means the pedestrian path, not the road itself. In Japanese, 道路 (dōro) means 'road', and 歩道 (hodō) means 'sidewalk'. Don't use 道路 when you mean sidewalk.
If you are used to British English, 'pavement' is the same as 'sidewalk' and translates to 歩道. In American English, 'pavement' usually means the road surface, which is 舗装 (hosō) or 路面 (romen).