渡ります（わたります、watarimasu）
- to cross

The Japanese verb 渡ります ([渡ります]) means "to cross," "to go across," "to pass over," "to traverse," or "to ferry across." It describes the action of moving from one side of something (like a road, river, bridge, or even a period of time) to the other. The specific meaning depends on the context.

⚫︎橋を渡ります。 Translation: I cross the bridge. ⚫︎川を渡ります。 Translation: I cross the river. ⚫︎道路を渡ります。 Translation: I cross the road.

⚫︎This verb is used when you are physically moving across a space. ⚫︎It can also be used figuratively to describe passing through or overcoming a difficult situation or period. ⚫︎It is a common and versatile verb.

⚫︎The base form is 渡る ([渡る]). ⚫︎The polite/ ます form is 渡ります ([渡ります]). ⚫︎It is typically written in kanji 渡 ([渡]) with hiragana ります ([ります]). ⚫︎The okurigana (hiragana following the kanji) is ります ([ります]).

⚫︎横断します (おうだんします) - to cross, to traverse (formal) ⚫︎越えます (こえます) - to cross over, to go over (can imply overcoming an obstacle)

There isn't a direct antonym that perfectly mirrors all meanings of 渡ります. However, words that imply staying or not crossing could be considered opposites depending on the context. For example: ⚫︎留まります (とまります) - to stay, to remain

信号が青になったら、道路を渡ります。 ・Translation: When the traffic light turns green, I cross the road. ・Explanation: This shows the direct action of crossing a road at a designated place (the crosswalk, which is implied).

困難な時期を渡り切りました。 ・Translation: I got through a difficult period. ・Explanation: In this case, 渡ります ([渡ります]) is used metaphorically to mean to get through or overcome a difficult time.

The kanji 渡 ([渡]) originally meant "to ford a river" or "to cross over." The word likely evolved from this meaning, expanding to encompass crossing other things like bridges, roads, and periods of time.