1.
back alley; back street; side lane
A narrow street or alley behind or away from the main road. Can suggest hidden charm (a tucked-away restaurant) or seediness (a dark, deserted lane), depending on context.
裏路地に迷い込んだ。
I wandered into a back alley.
裏路地に隠れた名店がある。
There's a hidden gem of a restaurant in a back alley.
観光客で賑わう通りを一本入ると、静かな裏路地が広がっていた。
One street over from the tourist-packed road, a quiet back alley spread out before us.
A narrow lane behind or between main streets. In travel and food writing, 裏路地 often has a positive connotation — suggesting a charming, hidden-away spot. In crime or suspense contexts, it can suggest danger.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 裏路地に入る: to go into a back alley
- 裏路地の店: a shop in a back alley
- 裏路地散歩: strolling through back alleys
- 裏路地に迷い込む: to wander into a back alley
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 路地: alley, lane — more neutral; any narrow side street
- 裏通り: back street — slightly wider than an alley
- 横丁: side street, yokocho — often a short lane with shops or bars