渋滞

• Reading: じゅうたい
• Romaji: juutai
• Kanji breakdown: 渋 (juu/shibu) — astringent, sluggish; 滞 (tai/todokoo) — stagnate, linger
• Pronunciation: /dʑɯː.ta.i/

Meaning

Traffic congestion; traffic jam; gridlock. A backup of vehicles on roads or highways.

Used as a noun or する verb (渋滞する). Describes the situation where traffic flow slows to a crawl or stops completely. Very common in news, radio traffic reports, and daily conversation, especially around holidays and rush hours.

Examples

1. 朝の渋滞で会社に遅れてしまった。 I was late to work because of the morning traffic jam.
2. 高速道路が渋滞しています。 The highway is congested.
3. 渋滞を避けるために早く出ました。 I left early to avoid the traffic.

Usage Guide

Context: driving, commuting, news

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

Compound of 渋 (astringent, sluggish) and 滞 (stagnate, linger). Together they convey the idea of sluggish stagnation — a perfect description of stuck traffic.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal