Word
停留所
Meaning in Englishbus or tram stop
Animated kanji stroke order
Word context
What it means
What does 停留所 mean? It refers to a designated place where buses and other public transit vehicles stop to pick up and drop off passengers. It is used in maps, timetables, road signs, and formal language to label where people can board or alight.
Main meanings
- Primary sense: a designated stopping point for public transit vehicles such as buses and trams
- Usage nuance: commonly appears on maps, schedules, and official signage; more formal than casual speech
- Colloquial alternative: バス停 (basu-tei) is widely used in everyday conversation and on street signs
How to use it
Used in formal signage, maps, timetables, and travel guides; in casual speech, people often say バス停; the term is neutral and widely understood in both directions, from planning documents to spoken language.
Variants and close terms
- バス停 (basu-tei) — casual term for bus stop
- 停留場 teiryūjō — variant sometimes seen in older or formal contexts
- 路線停留所 rosen teiryūjo — route-specific stop
Composition
- 停 stop, halt
- 留 stay, remain
- 所 place, location
- Together they form a compound meaning a place where vehicles stop and passengers stay to board and alight
Origin
Modern Japan saw the emergence of standardized bus and tram networks, with 停留所 appearing in signage and route terms during the Meiji to Taisho periods as urban transit expanded and standardized terminology developed.
Word class
Noun (名詞)
Related words by kanji and components
N2
名所
meisho
famous place
N2
役所
yakusho
government office, public office
N2
余所
yoso
another place, somewhere else, strange parts
N2
留守番
rusuban
care-taking, caretaker, house-watching
N3
所為
sei
cause, fault, reason
N3
留学
ryuugaku
studying abroad
N3
停止
teishi
stop, suspension, halt
N3
停電
teiden
power outage, electricity outage, blackout
N3
留める
tomeru
to fasten, to turn off, to detain