Japanese word

伝う

Pronunciation

Romajitsutau

Meaning

  • verbgo along

Example

山道を伝って歩きます。san dō o tsuta tte aru ki ma su

I walk along the mountain path.

Illustration for 伝う (go along)

More examples

迷ったときは、川を伝って村へ戻ります。mayo tta to ki wa kawa o tsuta tte mura e modo ri ma su

When I get lost, I return to the village by following the river.

Core concept

Expresses movement that stays along a route or surface and follows its course from one place toward another.

Common phrases

  • 川を伝ってkawa o tsuta tte

    follow a river

  • 尾根を伝うo ne o tsuta u

    go along a ridge

  • 斜面を伝うsha men o tsuta u

    go along a slope

Similar words

辿るtadoru: To follow a route or trace its course from one place to another.
沿うsou: To move along the side or course of a road, river, or coastline.

Definition in Japanese

道筋や細長い物をたどり、そこから離れずに進む。michi suji ya hoso naga i mono o ta do ri so ko ka ra hana re zu ni susu mu

Word origin

The native Japanese verb 伝う (tsutau) comes from the older form 伝ふ (tsutafu), which was used for movement that follows something such as a route or surface.

Usage tips

  • When 伝う (tsutau) takes a route such as 山道 (yamamichi) as its object, the route is the thing followed rather than a destination.

Other meanings

  • run downverb

Word lists with this word