1.
crossroads; four-way intersection
A place where four roads meet, forming a cross-shaped intersection. An older, more literary word compared to 交差点.
四つ辻を右に曲がる。
Turn right at the crossroads.
古い町並みに四つ辻がいくつもある。
There are many crossroads in the old townscape.
この四つ辻は昔から人や物が行き交う賑やかな場所だった。
This crossroads has been a lively place where people and goods have come and gone since long ago.
A compound of 四つ (four) and 辻 (intersection, street corner). 辻 is a kanji unique to Japanese (国字) that specifically means a road crossing.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 四つ辻に立つ: to stand at a crossroads
- 四つ辻を渡る: to cross the intersection
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 交差点: intersection — the standard modern term for any traffic intersection
- 十字路: crossroads — literally "cross-shaped road"; somewhat formal
- 辻: street corner, intersection — the base word; often appears in place names
- 三叉路: T-junction, three-way fork
CULTURAL NOTE:
辻 and 四つ辻 carry cultural significance in Japanese folklore. Crossroads were traditionally considered liminal spaces where the human and spirit worlds met. Many folk rituals (辻占 — divination at crossroads) took place at 四つ辻.