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.
There's a lot of traffic today.
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.
This road has a lot of traffic.
Specifically means traffic jam or congestion. Use this when traffic is heavy and slow-moving.
Literally 'car', but often used in casual speech to refer to traffic or the presence of many cars.
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'.
Referring to internet or network data flow.
Referring to trafficking of drugs, weapons, or people.
Means illegal selling or trafficking, especially of drugs.
Please be careful of traffic accidents.
高速道路で渋滞に巻き込まれた。
I got stuck in a traffic jam on the expressway.
I left early to avoid the morning traffic jam.
There's always a lot of traffic around here.
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.
The shopping street has heavy pedestrian traffic.
Specifically means pedestrian traffic or footfall. Used to describe how many people are walking in an area.
At night, pedestrian traffic decreases.
Loanword from English, commonly used in IT contexts for network traffic.
Server traffic is surging.
Means communication volume or data traffic. More technical than トラフィック.
This month's data traffic has reached the limit.
The police busted a drug trafficking operation.
Specifically means human trafficking.
Human trafficking is a serious crime.
Means smuggling, often used for goods like weapons or contraband.
Gun trafficking is a problem.
a route to avoid traffic jams
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.