Language/Japanese/Vocabulary/Basic-Directions-and-Transportation

Japanese Vocabulary → Greetings and Introductions → Basic Directions and Transportation

In this lesson, we will be learning how to ask for and give directions, use basic transportation means, and navigate around a city in Japanese. This lesson is part of the "Complete 0 to A1 Japanese Course" and is designed for complete beginners who have no prior knowledge of the Japanese language.

Consider broadening your understanding by checking out these related lessons: Colors 色 & Colors.

Vocabulary

Here is a list of common words and phrases related to directions and transportation in Japanese:

Japanese	Pronunciation	English
行き方	yukikata	directions
どこですか？	doko desu ka?	where is it?
あちら	achira	over there
そちら	sochira	that way (polite)
こちら	kochira	this way (polite)
右	migi	right
左	hidari	left
止まります	tomarimasu	to stop
駅	eki	station
電車	densha	train
バス	basu	bus
タクシー	takushii	taxi
自転車	jitensha	bicycle
歩く	aruku	to walk

Phrases

Here are some useful phrases to help you navigate around a city in Japanese:

• 行き方を教えてください。(yukikata o oshiete kudasai.) - Can you tell me how to get there?
• このまま行くと、駅に着きます。(kono mama iku to, eki ni tsukimasu.) - If you keep going this way, you will arrive at the station.
• あちらへ行けば、コンビニがあります。(achira e ikeba, konbini ga arimasu.) - If you go over there, there is a convenience store.
• 左に曲がってください。(hidari ni magatte kudasai.) - Please turn left.
• このバスはどこへ行きますか？(kono basu wa doko e ikimasu ka?) - Where does this bus go?
• 駅で降りてください。(eki de orite kudasai.) - Please get off at the station.
• この自転車は借りられますか？(kono jitensha wa kariraremasu ka?) - Can I rent this bicycle?
• あのタクシーを止めてください。(ano takushii o tomete kudasai.) - Please stop that taxi.

Grammar

Here are some grammar points related to directions and transportation in Japanese:

～に行く (ni iku)

This is a basic verb pattern that means "to go to". The particle "ni" is used to indicate the destination. For example:

• 私は駅に行きます。(watashi wa eki ni ikimasu.) - I am going to the station.

～に着く (ni tsuku)

This is a basic verb pattern that means "to arrive at". The particle "ni" is used to indicate the destination. For example:

• 電車は何時に駅に着きますか？(densha wa nanji ni eki ni tsukimasu ka?) - What time does the train arrive at the station?

～で (de)

This particle can be used to indicate the means of transportation. For example:

• 私はバスで学校に行きます。(watashi wa basu de gakkou ni ikimasu.) - I go to school by bus.

～から (kara) / ～まで (made)

These particles can be used to indicate the starting point and destination respectively. For example:

• 私は駅から学校まで歩きます。(watashi wa eki kara gakkou made arukimasu.) - I walk from the station to school.

Practice

Here are some exercise questions to help you practice what you have learned in this lesson:

• この地図を見て、この場所からこの場所へ行く行き方を教えてください。(kono chizu o mite, kono basho kara kono basho e iku yukikata o oshiete kudasai.) - Look at this map and tell me how to get from this place to that place.
• 駅からバスでどこへ行けますか？(eki kara basu de doko e ikemasu ka?) - Where can I go by bus from the station?
• あのビルに行くには、どちらに曲がればいいですか？(ano biru ni iku ni wa, dochira ni magareba ii desu ka?) - Which way should I turn to get to that building?
• この場所からタクシーでどのくらいかかりますか？(kono basho kara takushii de dono kurai kakarimasu ka?) - How long does it take by taxi from this place?

Sources

• How to ask for directions in Japanese: basic words and phrases
• Basic Guide to Directions in Japanese | Tokyo Cheapo
• Transportation vocabulary in Japanese
• Appendix:1000 Japanese basic words - Wiktionary

Table of Contents - Japanese Course - 0 to A1

• Course Presentation

  ---

Hiragana Basics

• Hiragana Reading and Writing Practice
• Introduction to Japanese Sentence Structure
• Particle は and が
• Verb Conjugation
• Noun and Adjective Modification
• Question Words and Phrases

  ---

Greetings and Introductions

• Greetings
• Introducing Yourself and Others
• Describing People
• Counting Numbers and Time
• Basic Food and Drink Terminology
• Daily Activities and Hobbies
• Basic Directions and Transportation

  ---

Geography and History

• Introduction to Japanese Geography
• Brief History of Japan
• Traditional Arts and Customs
• Popular Culture and Entertainment

  ---

Adjectives and Adverbs

• Adjective Conjugation
• Adjective Types and Usage
• Adverb Types and Usage
• Comparison and Superlative
• Adjective and Adverbial Modification

  ---

Family and Social Relations

• Family Members and Titles
• Social Etiquette and Expressions
• Basic Workplace and Business Terminology
• Shopping and Consumer Culture

  ---

Religion and Philosophy

• Shinto and Buddhism
• Zen and Samurai Culture
• Contemporary Spiritual Movements

  ---

Particles and Conjunctions

• Particles に and で
• Particles へ and を
• Particles も and しか
• Conjunctions and Compound Sentences
• Conditional and Hypothetical Sentences

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Travel and Tourism

• Basic Travel and Tourism Vocabulary
• Famous Tourist Attractions and Landmarks
• Japanese Hospitality and Service Culture

  ---

Education and Science

• Educational System and Vocabulary
• Traditional and Modern Science and Technology
• Natural Disasters and Risk Prevention

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Prepositions and Interjections

• Prepositions and Postpositions
• Emphasis and Intensification
• Exclamation and Impression Expressions

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Arts and Media

• Film and Theater Terminology
• Music and Dance Terminology
• Art and Literature Terminology

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Politics and Society

• Basic Political Vocabulary
• Social Issues and Controversies
• Japanese Business and Work Culture

Other Lessons

• How to Say Hello and Greetings
• Places
• Count to 10
• Animal
• How to say Good Bye?
• Family
• Idiomatic Expressions
• The Shapes
• Longest word
• Daily Activities and Hobbies