How to say "bridge" in Japanese

• 橋はしJLPT N5approx.Common
  nounThe general word for a bridge, the structure spanning a river, valley or road. When you simply want to say 'bridge' without specifying the type, this is the word to reach for.
  あの橋はしは大変たいへん美うつくしい。↗

  That bridge is very beautiful.
• ブリッジCommon
  nounA loanword covering bridges for roads, railways, ships and similar structures. It often appears in technical, engineering or transport contexts, and can feel more specialized than the everyday word for a bridge.
  船客せんきゃくのブリッジ立ち入り禁止たちいりきんし。↗

  No passengers are allowed on the bridge.
• 桟橋さんばしJLPT N1approx.Common
  nounPrimarily means a wharf, jetty or pier — a structure built out over water for boarding ships. Its 'bridge' gloss is marginal, so it is seldom the word you want for an ordinary bridge; think waterfront structures instead.
• 陸橋りっきょうCommon
  nounA bridge over a road or railway: an overpass, flyover or viaduct. Use it when the bridge's function is to carry traffic or pedestrians across another road or rail line, rather than over water.
• 橋渡しはしわたしJLPT N1approx.Common
  noun, suru verb, intransitive verbThe figurative sense: mediation, good offices, or acting as a go-between or intermediary between two parties. Use it when 'bridge' describes connecting people or groups rather than a physical structure.

Use 橋 for a bridge in general, 「ブリッジ」 for road, railway or ship bridges, 陸橋 for one crossing a road or railway, 桟橋 mainly for piers and wharves, and 「橋渡し」 for the figurative sense of mediation or acting as a go-between.

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

• 橋はしbridge
• ブリッジbridge (road, railway, ship, etc.)
• 桟橋さんばしwharf
• 陸橋りっきょうbridge (over a road or railway)
• 橋渡しはしわたしmediation
• 柱ちゅうbridge (of a koto, etc.)
• 橋梁きょうりょうbridge
• 艦橋かんきょうbridge (e.g. on a warship)
• 架け橋となるかけはしとなるto bridge (e.g. cultural divides, technical differences, etc.)
• 架工義歯かこうぎしbridge
• 架かるかかるto span
• コントラクトブリッジcontract bridge
• 橋上きょうじょう(on the) bridge
• 埋めるうめるto plug (a gap)
• 駒こまbridge (of a violin, etc.)
• またぐto stretch over
• 架橋かきょうbridge
• 船橋ふなばしbridge (of a ship)
• 懸け橋かけはしbridge (between cultures, generations, etc.)