通行人（つうこうにん、tsuukoうnin）
- passerby

The word 通行人 (つうこうにん, *tsuukounin*) means "pedestrian," "passerby," or "person passing by." It refers to individuals who are walking or moving through a specific area, such as a street, sidewalk, or public space. The emphasis is on the act of passing through. 通行人 are typically people who are not directly involved in what is happening in the area.

⚫︎その事故を目撃した通行人は、警察に連絡しました。 Translation: The pedestrian who witnessed the accident contacted the police. ⚫︎たくさんの通行人が通りを歩いていた。 Translation: Many passersby were walking on the street. ⚫︎彼女は、通行人に道を尋ねた。 Translation: She asked a passerby for directions.

This word is used in both formal and informal contexts. It's suitable for describing anyone who is simply moving through a space. It’s a common word, so it's useful in everyday conversations, news reports, and literary works. It can be used to describe an individual or a group of people.

通行人 is typically written in kanji. The reading is つうこうにん (hiragana). There are no other common ways to write this word. The okurigana is fixed, with no variations.

⚫︎ 歩行者 (*hokousha*) - "pedestrian," but slightly more formal. ⚫︎ 通行者 (*tsuukousha*) - similar to 通行人, but can also refer to people using other means of transportation. ⚫︎ 道行く人 (*michiyuku hito*) - "person passing by" (more literary).

There aren’t direct antonyms, as 通行人 describes a state rather than an action with an opposite. However, words describing someone who is stationary or involved in a situation could be considered contrasts: ⚫︎ 住人 (*juunin*) - "resident" or "inhabitant". ⚫︎ 参加者 (*sankasha*) - "participant".

事件現場には、多くの通行人が集まっていた。 ・Translation: Many passersby gathered at the scene of the incident. ・Explanation: This sentence describes the gathering of onlookers after an event.

彼は、通行人の邪魔にならないように、道の端を歩いた。 ・Translation: He walked along the edge of the road so as not to bother the pedestrians. ・Explanation: This sentence illustrates consideration for other people who are passing by.

The word 通行人 is formed by combining the following kanji: ⚫︎ 通行 (*tsuukou*): meaning "passage," "traffic," or "to pass through." ⚫︎ 人 (*nin*): meaning "person" or "people." Therefore, the word literally means "people who pass through."