Japanese word

渋滞

Pronunciation

Romajijūtai

Meaning

  • nountraffic jam

Example

高速道路が渋滞しています。kō soku dō ro ga jū tai shi te i ma su

There is a traffic jam on the highway.

Illustration for 渋滞 (traffic jam)

More examples

事故の影響で渋滞がさらにひどくなっています。ji ko no ei kyō de jū tai ga sa ra ni hi do ku na tte i ma su

The traffic jam has gotten even worse because of the accident.

Core concept

Refers to vehicles being held up because too many of them occupy the same road at once.

Common phrases

  • 渋滞が起きるjū tai ga o ki ru

    a traffic jam occurs

  • 渋滞に巻き込まれるjū tai ni ma ki ko ma re ru

    get caught in a traffic jam

  • 渋滞を避けるjū tai o sa ke ru

    avoid a traffic jam

Similar words

混雑konzatsu: A large number of people or vehicles gather in one place or route, making movement difficult.
交通麻痺kōtsūmahi: Traffic in an area loses its normal flow, leaving vehicles unable to move as usual.
立ち往生tachiōjō: A vehicle or person becomes unable to move forward or get out of a place.

Definition in Japanese

道路に自動車などが集中し、流れが悪くなって進行しにくい状態。dō ro ni ji dō sha na do ga shū chū shi naga re ga waru ku na tte shin kō shi ni ku i jō tai

Word origin

The Sino-Japanese compound combines 渋 (jū, "sluggish") with 滞 (tai, "stagnant"), expressing traffic that loses its smooth movement.

Usage tips

  • English speakers often use traffic jam for both a short delay and a long delay, while gridlock more strongly suggests that vehicles cannot move.

Other meanings

  • gridlocknoun

Related words

  • 渋滞するjūtaisurube congestedverb

Word lists with this word