Japanese word

対岸

Pronunciation

Romajitaigan

Meaning

  • nounopposite bank

Example

川の対岸に町が見えます。kawa no tai gan ni machi ga mi e ma su

I can see a town on the opposite bank.

Illustration for 対岸 (opposite bank)

More examples

対岸から花火の音が聞こえます。tai gan ka ra hana bi no oto ga ki ko e ma su

Fireworks can be heard from the opposite bank.

Core concept

Presents the bank facing the observer across a body of water as its counterpart on the far side.

Common phrases

  • 対岸の火事tai gan no ka ji

    someone else's problem

  • 対岸に渡るtai gan ni wata ru

    cross to the opposite bank

  • 対岸に着くtai gan ni tsu ku

    reach the opposite bank

Similar words

向こう岸mukōgishi: The everyday term for the bank across a river, lake, or other body of water.
彼岸higan: The shore across a body of water in a literary or religious expression.

Definition in Japanese

川などを挟んで、こちら側と向かい合う反対側の岸。kawa na do o hasa n de ko chi ra gawa to mu ka i a u han tai gawa no kishi

Word origin

対岸 (taigan) is a Sino-Japanese compound of 対 (tai, "facing or opposite") and 岸 (gan, "bank or shore"), meaning the facing bank across the water.

Usage tips

  • The meaning of 対岸 (taigan) depends on the observer's position, so either bank can be the 対岸 (taigan) when viewed from the other side.

Word lists with this word