1.
ferryboat; ferry
A small boat used to carry passengers across a river, lake, or narrow body of water. Historically common at river crossings in Japan, some still operate as tourist attractions.
渡し舟で川を渡った。
I crossed the river by ferryboat.
この渡し舟は江戸時代から続いている。
This ferry has been running since the Edo period.
観光客を乗せた渡し舟がゆっくりと対岸に向かった。
The ferryboat carrying tourists slowly headed toward the opposite bank.
渡し means 'crossing' or 'ferry point,' and 舟 means 'boat.' 渡し舟 refers to the small boats traditionally used to ferry people across rivers at designated crossing points. Before bridges were widely built, these were essential for travel.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 渡し舟に乗る (to ride the ferryboat)
- 渡し舟で渡る (to cross by ferry)
- 渡し舟の船頭 (ferryboat boatman)
CULTURAL NOTE:
渡し舟 were once a common sight at river crossings throughout Japan. Some famous historical ferry crossings, such as the 矢切の渡し on the Edo River, still operate as tourist attractions. The word evokes a sense of traditional Japanese landscapes.
SIMILAR WORDS:
- フェリー — ferry (modern, larger vessel for cars and passengers)
- 船 — boat, ship (general term)
- 屋形船 — houseboat (a pleasure boat with a roofed cabin, used for dining on rivers)