1.
crossroads, fork in the road
A point where a road branches into two or more paths.
岐路で立ち止まった。
I stopped at the fork in the road.
道が岐路に分かれている。
The road splits at a fork.
山道の岐路で右の道を選んだ。
I chose the right path at the fork in the mountain trail.
2.
turning point, critical juncture
A decisive moment in life or a situation where an important choice must be made.
人生の岐路に立つ。
To stand at a crossroads in life.
会社は今、重要な岐路に立たされている。
The company now finds itself at a critical juncture.
転職するかどうか、人生の岐路で悩んでいる。
I'm agonizing at a crossroads in life over whether to change jobs.
Literally a place where a road branches. Most commonly used figuratively to describe a critical decision point in life, career, or events.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 人生の岐路 — crossroads in life
- 岐路に立つ — to stand at a crossroads
- 岐路に立たされる — to be placed at a crossroads
- 重要な岐路 — a critical juncture
USAGE:
The figurative sense (sense 2) is far more common than the literal one. The phrase 人生の岐路に立つ is a set expression frequently used when discussing major life decisions.
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 分岐点 — branching point (more technical or analytical)
- 分かれ道 — forked road (more literal, everyday)