passage / through traffic
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passage
A place, route, or opening that one can drive through, for example a gate, a tunnel, or a narrow alley.
Die Durchfahrt zum Hinterhof ist für große Lieferwagen zu niedrig.
The passage to the back courtyard is too low for large delivery vans.
through traffic
The act of driving, or permission to drive, through a specific area or place, often without stopping.
Wegen einer Baustelle ist die Durchfahrt in dieser Straße gesperrt.
Because of construction work, through traffic is blocked on this street.
The word is made up of the preposition 'durch' (through) and the noun 'die Fahrt' (the drive/trip). So it literally describes a 'drive through' something.
Die schmale Durchfahrt war eine Herausforderung für den Fahrer.
The narrow passage was a challenge for the driver.
You can often recognize the two meanings from context. If it is about size (e.g. 'eng' (narrow), 'breit' (wide), 'hoch' (high)), the physical route is meant. If it is about rules (e.g. 'verboten' (forbidden), 'gesperrt' (blocked/closed)), the act of driving through is meant.
Die Durchfahrt ist nur zwei Meter hoch.
The passage is only two meters high.
The expression 'Durchfahrt verboten!' (No through traffic!) is very common and appears on many traffic signs in Germany. It means that you are not allowed to drive through here.
Wir konnten die Straße nicht nehmen, ein Schild sagte „Durchfahrt verboten“.
We couldn't take the street; a sign said 'Durchfahrt verboten' (No through traffic).
transit
Durchfahrt and Durchreise can both refer to continuing through a place without staying for long. Durchfahrt places more emphasis on the actual act of passing through or on permission to do so, while Durchreise describes temporarily traveling through a place or country. Use Durchfahrt for the driving itself and Durchreise for the travel situation.
Wegen der Baustelle ist die Durchfahrt durch das Dorf heute nur eingeschränkt möglich.
Because of the construction work, driving through the village is only possible to a limited extent today.
Auf unserer Durchreise durch Österreich machten wir nur einen kurzen Halt in Salzburg.
While traveling through Austria, we made only a brief stop in Salzburg.
