Translation guide
Describes a large group of people moving forcefully in a particular direction, often with a sense of pressure or momentum. In Japanese, this is expressed through specific nouns, verbs, and descriptive phrases that capture the movement and density of the crowd.
To describe a crowd that is pushing or surging forward, often in a dense, wave-like motion.
Literally 'people wave', this is the most common and natural way to describe a surging crowd. It emphasizes the wave-like, rhythmic movement of a large group of people.
駅のホームは人波でごった返していた。
The station platform was packed with a surging crowd.
人波に押されて前に進めなかった。
I was pushed by the surging crowd and couldn't move forward.
A phrase meaning 'surging crowd' or 'crowd pressing forward'. It emphasizes the forceful, incoming movement of the crowd, often used in news or descriptive writing.
押し寄せる群衆に柵が壊された。
The barrier was broken by the surging crowd.
A general word for 'crowd' or 'multitude'. It doesn't inherently convey surging, but can be used with verbs like 押し寄せる (to surge) to express the idea.
群衆が一斉に押し寄せた。
The crowd surged forward all at once.
To describe a crowd that is tightly packed and pushing, often in a chaotic or uncomfortable situation.
Refers to a bustling, crowded place with people jostling. It implies a noisy, chaotic crowd, often used for busy streets or stations.
雑踏の中で財布をすられた。
I had my wallet stolen in the surging crowd.
年末の雑踏はすごい。
The year-end surging crowds are intense.
To emphasize the powerful, unstoppable movement of a crowd.
Literally 'like an avalanche', this phrase describes a crowd moving with overwhelming force and speed. It is somewhat literary and dramatic.
雪崩を打って群衆が出口に殺到した。
The crowd surged toward the exit like an avalanche.
人波 focuses on the wave-like movement of a crowd, often in a directional flow. 雑踏 emphasizes the chaotic, noisy, and crowded nature of a place. Use 人波 for a crowd surging in a particular direction, and 雑踏 for a general bustling, jostling crowd.
人波に流されて改札を出た。
I was carried by the surging crowd out of the ticket gate.
雑踏をかき分けて進んだ。
I pushed my way through the surging crowd.
Directly translating 'surging crowd' as 押し寄せる群衆 is grammatically correct but can sound stiff or overly descriptive in casual conversation. In many contexts, 人波 or 雑踏 are more natural and idiomatic.
An idiomatic phrase meaning 'pushing and shoving'. It vividly describes a crowd where people are physically pressing against each other.
コンサート会場は押し合いへし合いの大混乱だった。
The concert venue was in chaos with a surging, pushing crowd.