横断

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: The written form is 横断, read おうだん. This noun denotes crossing from one side of a road or broad area to the other.
• Basic usage: 大通りの横断 concerns crossing a main road, while 大陸を横断する describes a long traversal of a continent from east to west.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Crossing a road by footbridge
  • A pedestrian bridge is used in order to cross a main road. Example: 大通りの横断には歩道橋を使いました。 — We used the pedestrian bridge to cross the main road.
• An expedition across a continent
  • The expedition travels across the continent from east to west. Example: 探検隊は大陸を東から西へ横断しました。 — The expedition crossed the continent from east to west.