アスファルト

あすふぁると
noun
asphalt, pavement
1. asphalt, paved surface
The dark material used to surface roads, or a road surface made of this material.
アスファルトの(みち)
An asphalt road.
(なつ)のアスファルトは(あつ)くなる。
Asphalt gets hot in summer.
(あめ)()はアスファルトが(すべ)りやすいので()をつけてください。
Please be careful because asphalt is slippery on rainy days.

アスファルト refers to both the material itself and paved surfaces in general. In everyday Japanese, it often simply means a paved road as opposed to a dirt or gravel path.

ETYMOLOGY:
From English/Dutch "asphalt." The Japanese pronunciation drops the final consonant cluster.

COMMON COLLOCATIONS:

  • アスファルトを()く: to lay asphalt
  • アスファルトの(うえ): on the asphalt
  • アスファルト舗装(ほそう): asphalt paving
  • アスファルトの(みち): an asphalt road

RELATED TERMS:

  • コンクリート: concrete (another common road/building material)
  • 舗装(ほそう): paving, pavement
  • 砂利(じゃり)(みち): gravel road (contrasts with paved roads)