Translation guide
How to express 'tread' in Japanese, covering physical stepping, treading on things, treading carefully, and figurative uses like treading a path or treading water.
To place one's foot on something, often with pressure or accidentally.
The most common verb for stepping or treading on something. Can be used for both intentional and accidental stepping.
He stepped on my foot.
Be careful not to tread on the glass.
To tread on something forcefully, stomp, or trample. Implies stronger pressure or deliberate crushing.
A colloquial, emphatic form of 踏みつける, often used when stepping on something accidentally with force or when annoyed.
To walk cautiously, often in a dangerous area or figuratively in a delicate situation.
To walk along a path, or figuratively to follow a particular way of life or career.
To stay afloat in water by moving the legs and arms, or figuratively to maintain a situation without progress.
The standard term for treading water physically.
To offend or encroach on someone's area of responsibility.
The pattern on a tire or sole of a shoe.
English 'tread' covers many meanings that require different Japanese expressions. Using 踏む for 'tread water' or 'tread a path' would be incorrect. Always match the specific meaning.
Don't tread on the flowers.
He angrily trampled on his hat.
誰かが私の靴を踏んづけた。
Someone trod on my shoe hard.
Please watch your step. The path is slippery.
To act cautiously, used in figurative contexts like handling sensitive topics or negotiations.
We must tread carefully on this issue.
To walk stealthily or gingerly, as if treading lightly to avoid noise or danger.
He tread softly into the room.
He trod the same path as his father.
To follow or trace a path, often with a sense of retracing steps or following a predetermined route.
They trod the path that ancient travelers followed.
He was treading water in the deep end.
Figurative: to strive to maintain the status quo, like treading water in a job or project without advancing.
The company is just treading water right now.
He trod on my toes (by interfering in my work).
To butt in or meddle, often implying stepping on someone's toes socially.
Be careful, that person tends to tread on people's toes.
Loanword from English, commonly used for tire tread.
The tire tread is worn down.
Literally 'groove', used for the tread pattern on tires or soles.
The tread on my shoes has worn smooth.
tread a path
He trod lightly so as not to wake the baby.
We need to tread carefully in these negotiations.