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.
ガラスを踏まないように気をつけて。
Be careful not to tread on the glass.
To tread on something forcefully, stomp, or trample. Implies stronger pressure or deliberate crushing.
彼は怒って帽子を踏みつけた。
He angrily trampled on his hat.
A colloquial, emphatic form of 踏みつける, often used when stepping on something accidentally with force or when annoyed.
誰かが私の靴を踏んづけた。
Someone trod on my shoe hard.
To walk cautiously, often in a dangerous area or figuratively in a delicate situation.
Literally 'be careful of your feet/step'. Used for physical caution, like on uneven ground.
足元に気をつけてください。道が滑りやすいです。
Please watch your step. The path is slippery.
To act cautiously, used in figurative contexts like handling sensitive topics or negotiations.
この問題については慎重に行動しなければならない。
We must tread carefully on this issue.
To walk stealthily or gingerly, as if treading lightly to avoid noise or danger.
彼はそろりと部屋に入った。
He tread softly into the room.
To walk along a path, or figuratively to follow a particular way of life or career.
Literally 'walk a path', often used figuratively for life paths, careers, or historical courses.
彼は父親と同じ道を歩んだ。
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.
彼らは昔の旅人がたどった道を歩いた。
They trod the path that ancient travelers followed.
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.
彼は深いところで立ち泳ぎをしていた。
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.
会社は今、現状維持に努めているだけだ。
The company is just treading water right now.
To offend or encroach on someone's area of responsibility.
To invade someone's territory or area of expertise, similar to treading on toes.
彼は私の領域を侵した。
He trod on my toes (by interfering in my work).
To butt in or meddle, often implying stepping on someone's toes socially.
あの人はすぐ出しゃばるから気をつけて。
Be careful, that person tends to tread on people's toes.
The pattern on a tire or sole of a shoe.
Loanword from English, commonly used for tire tread.
タイヤのトレッドがすり減っている。
The tire tread is worn down.
Literally 'groove', used for the tread pattern on tires or soles.
靴の裏の溝がなくなった。
The tread on my shoes has worn smooth.
花を踏まないでください。
Don't tread on the flowers.
彼は赤ちゃんを起こさないようにそっと歩いた。
He trod lightly so as not to wake the baby.
この交渉では慎重に行動する必要がある。
We need to tread carefully in these negotiations.