Japanese word

突き当たる

Pronunciation

Romajitsukiataru

Meaning

  • verbcome to a dead end

Example

この道は壁に突き当たります。ko no michi wa kabe ni tsu ki a ta ri ma su

This road comes to a dead end at the wall.

Illustration for 突き当たる (come to a dead end)

More examples

山道を下ると、深い谷に突き当たりました。san dō o kuda ru to fuka i tani ni tsu ki a ta ri ma shi ta

As I went down the mountain path, I came to a deep ravine.

Core concept

突き当たる (tsukiataru) marks the point where continued progress meets a barrier, whether the barrier is a physical object or the end of a path.

Common phrases

  • 壁に突き当たるkabe ni tsu ki a ta ru

    hit a wall

  • 問題に突き当たるmon dai ni tsu ki a ta ru

    run into a problem

  • 困難に突き当たるkon nan ni tsu ki a ta ru

    run into difficulties

Similar words

行き止まるikitomaru: To end at a place where movement along a route cannot continue.
行き詰まるikizumaru: To become unable to make progress because an obstacle or difficulty blocks the way forward.

Definition in Japanese

進行して壁や物にぶつかり、または進む先がなくなること。shin kō shi te kabe ya mono ni bu tsu ka ri ma ta wa susu mu saki ga na ku na ru ko to

Word origin

突き当たる (tsukiataru) joins 突き (tsuki), from 突く (tsuku, "thrust or push"), with 当たる (ataru, "hit or meet"), and describes forward motion ending in contact.

Usage tips

  • In Japanese road directions, 突き当たり (tsukiatari) can be followed by a turn instruction, linking the idea of a dead end with the next step in a route.

Other meanings

  • bump into ___verb
  • collide with ___verb

Related words

Word lists with this word