Hi everyone!
Welcome to Everyday Kanji! In this series, we’re going to present pictures of kanji seen in various places in Japan taken by the team members at JapanesePod101.com. That’s right – kanji seen and used everyday!

In this blog and on Twitter we’ll be presenting pictures with kanji based on a theme, such as kanji seen on road signs, shop signs, restaurant menus, product packaging, and lots more! You can also see the kanji pictures everyday on Twitter if you follow us! We’ll be changing the theme of the pictures every week.

This Everyday Kanji theme is Traffic signs, part 2!

追突注意 (tsuitotsu chūi)：This means “Watch out for rear-end collisions”. Do you remember the meaning of 先(saki) in 100m 先? We saw this kanji in Everyday Kanji #3! This sign means “turn around 100m ahead and you’ll find a parking lot.”

追突 (tsuitotsu) = rear-end collision
● 追 (tsui) = chase
● 突 (totsu) = thrust

注意 (chūi) = caution, attention
● 注 (chū) = annotate, comment
● 意 (i) = feeling, thoughts

Sample Sentence:
この先、渋滞しています。追突に注意してください。
Kono saki, jūtai shite imasu. Tsuitotsu ni chūi shite kudasai.
Congested traffic ahead. Watch out for rear-end collisions.

原付 (gentsuki)： This is a short version of 原動機付自転車 (gendōki tsuki jitensha)*. Do you know what kind of 自転車(= bicycle) this is?

原付 refers to a “motor scooter” or “moped”. This sign means that two-step right turns for mopeds are prohibited. The rule is a little complicated, but you can find more info on it here under “Right Turns”:
www.thejapanfaq.com/bikerfaq-classes.html

原付 (gentsuki) = moped
● 原 (gen) = original
● 付 (tsuki) = attach

* 原動機付自転車 (gendōki tsuki jitensha) = 原動機 + 付 + 自転車
● 原動機 (gendōki) = motor
● 付 (tsuki) = attach
● 自転車 (jitensha) = bicycle

Sample Sentence:
私は、いつも駅まで原付で行きます。
Watashi wa, itsumo eki made gentsuki de ikimasu.
I always go to the station by moped.

横断禁止 (ōdan kinshi): This sign means “No crossing.” Do you remember the meaning of 禁止,which we saw in Everyday Kanji #2?

横断 (ōdan) = crossing
● 横 (ō) = horizontal
● 断 (dan) = cutting

禁止 (kinshi) = prohibition
● 禁 (kin) = prohibition
● 止 (shi) = stop

Sample Sentence:
この道路は、横断禁止です。
Kono dōro wa, ōdan kinshi desu.
Crossing this road is prohibited.

自転車通行可 (jitensha tsūkōka)：You might start to recognize some of these kanji by now! This phrase means “Bicycles Allowed (on this road)”

自転車 (jitensha) = bicycle
● 自 (ji) = self
● 転 (ten) = revolve
● 車 (sha) = car

通行可 (tsūkōka) = allowed to pass
● 通 (tsū) = passing
● 行 (kō) = going
● 可 (ka) = possible, can

Sample Sentence:
この歩道は、自転車通行可ですか。
Kono hodō wa, jitensha tsūkōka desu ka.
Can bikes use this road?

自転車・歩行者専用 (jitensha hokōsha senyō)：This sign means “this traffic light is (exclusively) for bicycles and pedestrians.”

自転車 (jitensha) = bicycle
● 自(ji) = self
● 転 (ten) = revolve
● 車 (sha) = car

歩行者 (hokōsha) = pedestrians
● 歩 (ho) = walk
● 行 (kō) = going
● 者 (sha) = person

専用 (senyō) = exclusive use
● 専 (sen) = exclusive
● 用 (yō) = utilize

Sample Sentence:
この道はせまいので、歩行者専用です。
Kono michi wa semai node, hokōsha senyō desu.
This street is narrow, so it’s exclusively for pedestrians.

If you think you can remember them all, try testing yourself with this video on Youtube!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kUBuGfzNtE8
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