Translation guide
The English word 'traffic' can refer to vehicles on roads, the movement of people or goods, or data on a network. This guide helps you choose the right Japanese expression based on what kind of traffic you mean.
今日は交通量が多いですね。
There's a lot of traffic today.
渋滞にはまっています。
I'm stuck in traffic.
Referring to cars, trucks, and other vehicles moving on streets or highways.
The general term for traffic as a system or flow of vehicles. Used in formal and everyday contexts.
この道は交通量が多い。
This road has a lot of traffic.
交通事故に気をつけてください。
Please be careful of traffic accidents.
Specifically means traffic jam or congestion. Use this when traffic is heavy and slow-moving.
高速道路で渋滞に巻き込まれた。
I got stuck in a traffic jam on the expressway.
朝の渋滞を避けるために早く出発した。
I left early to avoid the morning traffic jam.
Literally 'car', but often used in casual speech to refer to traffic or the presence of many cars.
この辺りはいつも車が多いね。
There's always a lot of traffic around here.
Referring to the flow of pedestrians, passengers, or freight.
Also used for the movement of people or goods, not just vehicles. Common in phrases like 'pedestrian traffic'.
駅の利用者数が多く、人の交通が絶えない。
The station has many users, and pedestrian traffic never stops.
Refers to coming and going, often used for people or vehicles moving back and forth. Slightly formal.
Specifically means pedestrian traffic or footfall. Used to describe how many people are walking in an area.
Referring to internet or network data flow.
Loanword from English, commonly used in IT contexts for network traffic.
サーバーのトラフィックが急増している。
Server traffic is surging.
Means communication volume or data traffic. More technical than トラフィック.
Referring to trafficking of drugs, weapons, or people.
Means illegal selling or trafficking, especially of drugs.
警察が麻薬の密売を摘発した。
The police busted a drug trafficking operation.
Means smuggling, often used for goods like weapons or contraband.
交通 (kōtsū) is the general term for traffic flow, while 渋滞 (jūtai) specifically means a traffic jam. Use 渋滞 when you want to emphasize that traffic is congested and slow.
The loanword トラフィック is only used for network/data traffic. Using it for road traffic sounds unnatural. Stick to 交通 or 渋滞 for vehicles.
商店街は人の往来が激しい。
The shopping street has heavy pedestrian traffic.
夜になると人通りが少なくなる。
At night, pedestrian traffic decreases.
今月の通信量が上限に達した。
This month's data traffic has reached the limit.
Specifically means human trafficking.
人身売買は重大な犯罪です。
Human trafficking is a serious crime.
Gun trafficking is a problem.