How to say "along" in Japanese

• 沿いぞいJLPT N1approx.Common
  suffixAttaches directly after a noun: it describes something situated along that line, such as a shop on a street or a town on the coast. Think of it as pinning down a location.
  船ふねは海岸かいがん沿そいに航行こうこうしていた。↗

  The ship sailed along the coast.
• 伝いづたいCommon
  suffixAlso follows a noun, and pictures movement that follows or traces that line, often keeping close to it — walking along a wall, for instance. The 'following' nuance is what sets it apart.
• 沿ってそってCommon
  expressionThe verb-based form, used adverbially after a noun with に: it covers both traveling along something and one thing running parallel to another, as in a road that runs parallel to the coast.

Choose 「沿い」 after a noun for something located along a line, 「伝い」 for movement that follows or traces that line, and 「沿って」 in adverbial phrases for going along something or running parallel to it.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• 沿いぞいalong (a river, coast, railway, etc.)
• 伝いづたいalong (a wall, river, railroad tracks, etc.)
• 沿ってそってalong
• に沿ってにそってalong
• ころころ(rolling) along
• 筋すじon (a river, road, etc.)