Japanese word

舗装

Pronunciation

Romajihosō

Meaning

  • nounpavement

Example

道路の舗装を直します。dō ro no ho sō o nao shi ma su

I will repair the pavement.

Illustration for 舗装 (pavement)

More examples

雨の後は、舗装が滑りやすくなります。ame no ato wa ho sō ga sube ri ya su ku na ri ma su

After rain, the pavement becomes slippery.

Core concept

It means covering a road or other surface with a firm layer that makes it suitable for use.

Common phrases

  • 道路の舗装dō ro no ho sō

    road pavement

  • 舗装工事ho sō kō ji

    paving work

  • 舗装を施すho sō o hodoko su

    pave

Definition in Japanese

道路などの表面をアスファルトやコンクリートなどで覆って整えること。また、その仕上がった表面。dō ro na do no hyō men o a su fa ru to ya ko n ku rī to na do de ō tte totono e ru ko to ma ta so no shi a ga tta hyō men

Word origin

舗 (ho, "to lay out") and 装 (sō, "to cover or equip") form this Sino-Japanese compound for laying a covering over a surface.

Usage tips

  • 舗装 (hosō) can describe treated surfaces in parking lots, school grounds, and paths as well as roads, because it refers to the surfacing rather than to a road itself.

Other meanings

  • pavingnoun

Opposites

  • 未舗装mihosōunpavednoun

Related words

  • 舗装するhosōsurupaveverb
  • 舗装化hosōkapavingnoun

Word lists with this word