Translation and Meaning of: 横切る - yokogiru

Etymology of the word 「横切る」 (yokogiru)

The Japanese word 「横切る」 (yokogiru) is composed of two kanji: 「横」 and 「切」. The first kanji, 「横」 (yoko), means "horizontal", "side", or "beside", and is common in words that describe directions or positions. It is associated with the idea of something being distributed in a lateral sense, as opposed to a vertical one. The second kanji, 「切」 (kiri), means "to cut" or "to cross". When combined, 「横」 and 「切る」 convey the idea of "crossing laterally" or "cutting to the side", indicating the action of crossing something in a transversal direction.

Definition and Use of 「横切る」

In the Japanese language, 「横切る」 (yokogiru) is a verb that means "to cross" or "to traverse," particularly in the sense of crossing a street, river, or any other defined space horizontally. In everyday use, it is often employed to describe the action of crossing a street or pathway, suggesting lateral movement. For example, when crossing a street, a pedestrian would be "横切る" the passage. This word can be very useful in dialogues that describe movements in large cities or urban landscapes, where crossing streets and other spaces is a regular part of daily life.

Origem e Evolução Histórica

The origin of the verb 「横切る」 dates back to the oldest roots of the Japanese language, where the idea of crossing or traversing was a fundamental part of everyday life, especially in times when maps and routes were not as developed. The individual kanji have distinct stories; 「横」, for example, has a long history of use in Japanese culture, associated with positions and directions, while 「切る」 is a widely used kanji with nuances that range from cutting literally to symbolically cutting paths or ties. With the modernization and urbanization of Japan, the use of the word has solidified, mainly due to the need to describe movements in environments saturated with roads and trails.

Today, 「横切る」 is part of the basic vocabulary when it comes to describing movement in modern urban texts or literary narratives. Without a doubt, it is one of those verbs that illustrates well the economy and precision of the Japanese language in capturing complex actions in just a single verb. Like many words in Japanese, it depends on the context to define its use, but it maintains a clarity that reflects the precise and orderly structure of the language.

Vocabulary

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Verb conjugation of 横切る

横切る - dictionary form
横切って - Forma て imperativo
横切れる - potential form
横切らせる - causative form
横切られる - passive form

Synonyms and similar words

横断する (oudan suru) - atravessar
横切りする (yokogiri suru) - horizontal cutting action, cross quickly
横切る (yokogiru) - cross (generally referring to crossing something horizontally)
横 (yoko) - lateral, side