「横断する」と「横切る」の違い

Question

Could you explain the difference between 通りを横断する and 道路を横切る？

Answer 1

Like a million other pairs of words, the big difference is that the on-yomi word of Chinese origin ([横断]{おうだん} in this case) is more formal, technical, academic, etc. than its kun-yomi Yamato conterpart ([横切]{よこぎ}る). Here. Yamato means "originally Japanese".

The same phenomenon occurs in English as well where words of Latin origin are generally considered more formal and/or technical. "converse" vs. "chat", "profound" vs. "deep", etc.

「[横断]{おうだん}する」 is the Sino loanword 「横断」 with 「する」 added to make it a verb.

「Yokogiru」 is an original Japanese word with no foreign influence. Both "yoko" and "kiru" are originally Japanese words. It should "sound" more Japanese to Japanese-learners after a few months of study.

Thus, as far as meaning, 「横断する」 and 「横切る」 are synonymous at least when talking about "crossing a street".

Finally, the original Japanese word 「横切る」 has an extra important meaning that 「横断する」 does not. It can be used when talking about "idea/thought/emotion crossing your mind". Using 「横断する」 for this meaning is simply out of the question.

Answer 2

横断(する）is 音読み. 横切る is 訓読み. Both are saying the same thing - crossing the road.

As common with 音読み mode which follows old way of Chinese writing and pronunciation (both 漢音 - Chinese language spoken in 汉 (Han) during Bc 206 through AD 220 and 呉音　spoken in 呉 (Wu) during AD 222 through 280), 横断 might sound a bit stiffer than 横切る. But we say quite casually "道路を横断する - cross the street " and "横断禁止 - Crossing prohibited." We don't say "横切り禁止."

You don't need to be too meticulous about the difference of their usage. It's like arguing the deference between 美味（おい）しい and 美味(うま）い clamoulusly. I don't care the difference at all when I use any one of "横断する、""横切る、"渡る" and "突っ切る”. All sound to me saying the same thing.

Addendum:

As the origin of the word, 横断. Chinese have the word, 横断 (hengduan), but its usage seems to be different from ours. They use ”横断” for the thing like “横断面 - a cross section,” but not for "crossing street." They call ”横断する” as ”十字 (shizi)”, and “横断歩道橋” as ”天桥” or “跨路人行桥.”

I find the word, “横断” being used in the afore-mentioned way in ”現代中国語辞典” edited by 高坂順一 and published by 光生館. But neither "現代汉語詞典" published by 商務印書館 or "他功能常用字典," published by 新华出版社 at hand, both published in Beijing carries the word, “横断” under the heading of "横 - heng."

Answer 3

This is perhaps irrelevant for your case but 横断する is very tightly associated with a road while 横切る can take something other than a road as an objective:

大名行列の前を横切ったイギリス人
A Brit who cut across in front of the Daimyo samurai parade

Otoh I think it's a bit awkward to say

大名行列の前を横断したイギリス人

Answer 4

I think 横切る is often more proper when the subject of 横切る interrupts some flow.

道を横切る makes me imagine someone crossing a road by interrupting the traffic flow. 道を横断する doesn't make me imagine such situation.

不安が横切る is like an anxious feeling crosses one's mind interrupting other thoughts.

大名行列の前を／カメラの前を横切る is exactly interrupting a flow of 大名行列 or visible light.