歩行者

• Reading: ほこうしゃ
• Romaji: hokousha
• Kanji breakdown: 歩 (ho) — walk, step; 行 (kou) — go, travel; 者 (sha) — person
• Pronunciation: /ho.koː.ɕa/

Meaning

Pedestrian; walker. A person travelling on foot, especially on a road or pavement.

A formal noun used primarily in traffic, legal, and urban-planning contexts. Commonly seen on road signs (歩行者優先, pedestrians have priority) and in traffic rules. Related terms include 歩行者天国 (pedestrian zone/car-free zone, often abbreviated ホコ天) and 歩行者用信号 (pedestrian traffic light).

Examples

1. 歩行者優先の道路では車はゆっくり走らなければならない。 On roads where pedestrians have the right of way, cars must drive slowly.
2. 交差点で歩行者が渡り終わるまで待ってください。 Please wait at the intersection until pedestrians have finished crossing.
3. この通りは週末になると歩行者天国になる。 This street becomes a pedestrian zone on weekends.

Usage Guide

Context: traffic, road signs, urban planning, law

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

From Sino-Japanese 歩行 (hokou, walking/going on foot) + 者 (sha, person). Literally 'a person who walks,' used as the formal/legal term for someone travelling on foot.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal