1.
roadside gutter; drainage ditch
A channel or ditch running alongside a road or building to carry away rainwater and wastewater.
側溝に落ち葉が詰まっている。
The drainage ditch is clogged with fallen leaves.
大雨のとき、側溝から水があふれた。
During the heavy rain, water overflowed from the roadside gutter.
自転車の前輪が側溝の蓋の隙間に挟まって転倒しそうになった。
The front wheel of my bicycle got caught in the gap of a gutter cover and I nearly fell over.
A compound of 側 (side) and 溝 (ditch, channel). Refers to the concrete or stone channels that run along the edges of roads in Japan to drain rainwater.
In Japanese residential areas, 側溝 are ubiquitous — nearly every street has them. They are often covered with metal or concrete grates. Bicycle riders in Japan learn to be careful of 側溝 grates, as thin tires can get caught in the gaps.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 側溝の蓋: gutter cover, drain cover
- 側溝の掃除: gutter cleaning
- 側溝に落ちる: to fall into a ditch
- 側溝が詰まる: for a gutter to become clogged
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 排水溝: drain, drainage channel — more general term for any drainage outlet
- 溝: ditch, groove — everyday word for any channel or groove
- 用水路: irrigation channel — carries water for agricultural use