How to say "traverse" in Japanese

• 渡すわたすJLPT N5approx.Common
  godan verb, transitive verbIts core sense is ferrying or carrying something across, as in ferrying across a river; its 'traverse' sense is secondary, and it is seldom the verb for a person simply crossing an area.
  わたしを向こう側むこうがわへわたしてください。↗

  Please take me over to the other side.
• 横切るよこぎるJLPT N3approx.Common
  godan verb, transitive verbCovers the basic 'cross' sense of 'traverse': someone or something moves across an area from one side to the other, as in crossing a road; this is the natural choice for that sense.
  私は彼女かのじょが通とおりを横切よこぎるのを見みた。↗

  I saw her crossing the street.

For the ordinary sense of moving across an area, as in crossing a road, use 「横切る」; 「渡す」 is for ferrying or carrying a person or thing across, with 'traverse' only a secondary sense.

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

• 渡すわたすto ferry across (e.g. a river)
• 横切るよこぎるto cross (e.g. road)
• トラバースtraverse (in mountain climbing or skiing)
• トラバるto traverse (terrain)
• 踏み破るふみやぶるto walk (all the way) across
• 切るきるto cross