渋谷スクランブル交差点
Shibuya sukuranburu kōsaten
Shibuya crossing is 渋谷スクランブル交差点 in Japanese.
This phrase refers to the famous pedestrian crossing located in the Shibuya district of Tokyo. While 渋谷スクランブル交差点 specifically identifies the scramble-style crossing, the term スクランブル交差点 (scramble crossing) is the standard way in Japanese to describe this specific type of multi-directional pedestrian crossing.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase 渋谷スクランブル交差点 is composed of 渋谷 (Shibuya, the district name), スクランブル (the loanword for 'scramble') and 交差点 (crossing or intersection).
Which one should you use?
渋谷スクランブル交差点 is a formal way to refer to the crossing that explicitly includes the word 'scramble'. In contrast, 渋谷交差点 (Shibuya Kōsaten) is a more general, formal way to say Shibuya Crossing.
How do you pronounce it?
Shibuya sukuranburu kōsaten
Did you know?
- The term スクランブル is also used in Japanese military or police contexts to describe the 'scrambling' of jets or units for an emergency takeoff.
- In Japanese, the word 交差点 (crossing) is composed of characters meaning 'exchange' and 'point', reflecting the intersection as a point where paths trade places.
- The word スクランブル (scramble) is a 'wasei-eigo' word, meaning it is English-inspired Japanese that is not used in this way by native English speakers to describe traffic.
Examples in context
- 渋谷交差点には多くの人が行き交っています。Many people come and go at Shibuya Crossing.
- 渋谷のスクランブル交差点で友達と待ち合わせをしましょう。Let's meet up with friends at Shibuya's scramble crossing.
- 渋谷スクランブル交差点はとても有名です。Shibuya sukuranburu kousaten wa totemo yuumei desu.Shibuya crossing is very famous.
- 渋谷スクランブル交差点で待ち合わせしましょう。Shibuya sukuranburu kousaten de machiawase shimashou.Let's meet at Shibuya crossing.
- 渋谷スクランブル交差点は人が多いですね。Shibuya sukuranburu kousaten wa hito ga ooi desu ne.Shibuya crossing has a lot of people, doesn't it?
Example conversation
Kenta and Yui are planning their sightseeing route in Tokyo.
- 結衣 Yuiどこで写真を撮りたいですか？Doko de shashin o toritai desu ka?Where do you want to take photos?
- 健太 Kenta渋谷スクランブル交差点で撮りたいです。Shibuya sukuranburu kousaten de toritai desu.I want to take them at Shibuya Crossing.
- 結衣 Yuiいいですね。一緒に行きましょう。Ii desu ne. Issho ni ikimashou.That sounds good. Let's go together.
- 健太 Kentaはい、楽しみです！Hai, tanoshimi desu!Yes, I'm looking forward to it!
