Japanese word

大通り

Pronunciation

Romajiōdōri

Meaning

  • nounmain street

Example

この大通りには店がたくさんあります。ko no ō dō ri ni wa mise ga ta ku sa n a ri ma su

This main street has many shops.

Illustration for 大通り (main street)

More examples

夕方になると、大通りは人でにぎわいます。yū gata ni na ru to ō dō ri wa hito de ni gi wa i ma su

In the evening, the main street becomes crowded.

Core concept

Means a prominent street wide enough and important enough to function as one of the main routes in a built-up area.

Common phrases

  • 大通りを歩くō dō ri o aru ku

    walk down the main street

Similar words

表通りomotedōri: A principal street that forms the public-facing route through a town or district.
目抜き通りmenukitōri: A prominent central street in a town or district, often lined with shops and businesses.

Definition in Japanese

人や車の往来が多く、店や事業所などが集まりやすい幅広い主要道路。hito ya kuruma no ō rai ga ō ku mise ya ji gyō sho na do ga atsu ma ri ya su i haba hiro i shu yō dō ro

Word origin

大通り (ōdōri) is a native Japanese compound of 大 (ō, "large") and 通り (dōri, "road"), with the first part specifying the road's size or importance.

Usage tips

  • English speakers often associate boulevard with a tree-lined or formally designed road, but 大通り (ōdōri) simply identifies a major street.

Other meanings

  • avenuenoun
  • boulevardnoun

Word lists with this word