If you are visiting Japan, you will most likely need to hop on a train at some point. It's a cheap way to travel longer distances and see as much of the city as you can. The Tokyo subway system is the most used subway system in the world and is very extensive. If it's your first time on the trains, you might need some help figuring it all out.
Today we'll learn how to pronounce subway in Japanese and the common phrases you'll hear in a Japanese subway station and other useful vocabulary and phrases to make your train travels fun and easy!
After this free audio lesson, you'll be a master at taking the subway in Japan!
Resources for further reading:
Rocket Record lets you perfect your Japanese pronunciation. Just listen to the native speaker audio and then use the microphone icon to record yourself. Once you’re done, you’ll get a score out of 100 on your pronunciation and can listen to your own audio playback. (Use a headset mic for best results.) Problems? Click here!
地下鉄
ちかてつ
Chikatetsu
Subway
電車
でんしゃ
Densha
Train
切符 / チケット
きっぷ / チケット
Kippu / Chiketto
Ticket
ホーム
ホーム
Hōmu
Platform
線
せん
Sen
Line
料金
りょうきん
Ryōkin
Fare
駅
えき
Eki
Station
乗り換え駅
のりかえ えき
Norikae eki
Interchange station
ホーム係員
ホーム かかりいん
Hōmu kakariin
Platform attendant
Like other major cities, the subway during peak hours is very busy so try to avoid travelling during rush hours if you can. Don't be alarmed by the platform attendants (also known as "oshiya") who help organize passengers onto the train during these peak hours. They are there to guide passengers into doors with more room but they will also help the doors close if the carriages are overflowing with people!
Here are some phrases you might hear while waiting for your train:
電車が到着します
でんしゃ が とうちゃく します
Densha ga tōchaku shimasu
The train is arriving.
線の内側でお待ち下さい
せん の うちがわ で おまち ください
Sen no uchigawa de omachi kudasai
Please stand behind the line.
ドア（扉）が開きます
ドア（とびら） が ひらきます
Doa (tobi-ra) ga hirakimasu
The doors are opening.
ドア（とびら）が閉まります
ドア（とびら） が しまり ます
Doa (tobi-ra) ga shimari masu
The doors are closing.
During your train ride, you might need to use these phrases to interact with other passengers:
ここに座ってもいいですか?
ここ に すわって も いいです か?
Koko ni suwatte mo iidesu ka?
Can I sit here?
（これは）あなたの鞄ですか?
（これは）あなた の かばん です か?
(Kore wa) anata no kaban desu ka?
Is this your bag?
ここにお座り下さい
ここ に おすわり ください
Koko ni osuwari kudasai
Please sit here.
すみません、これ落としましたよ
すみません、これ おとしました よ
Sumimasen, kore otoshimashita yo
Excuse me, you dropped this.
Finally, don't be too shy to ask for help if you can't navigate the maps. If you can't find a fellow passenger to help you, look for the subway staff who will be able to show you where to go.
すみません...
すみません...
Sumimasen...
Excuse me...
迷ってしまいました、助けてくれませんか?
まよって しまい ました、 たすけて くれません か?
Mayotte shimai mashita, tasukete kuremasen ka?
I'm lost, can you help me?
これは何線ですか?
これ は なに せん です か?
Kore wa nani sen desu ka?
What line is this?
___線は何処ですか?
___せん は どこです か?
___ sen wa dokodesu ka?
Where can I find the ____ line?
Have a safe trip!
Here are a few recommended Japanese lessons to try next!
Sayōnara!
Sayaka Matsuura: Rocket Japanese
Reinforce your learning from this lesson with the Rocket Reinforcement activities!