Directions in Japanese
Ready to master directions in Japanese? After this free audio lesson you’ll be armed with the Japanese words and phrases you’ll need to find your way around Japan.
I wish it were as simple as learning the word for 'where' in Japanese and a few Japanese road signs, but there’s a little more to it than that! As you may have already guessed, understanding the directions you are given can be more challenging than asking the questions. But have no fear – just listen to the Japanese pronunciation in the audio and practice saying the Japanese words and phrases aloud, as you imagine yourself strolling around Tokyo or Kyoto!
Pronouncing directions in Japanese
えき は どう いけば いい です か
駅はどう行けばいいですか
Eki wa dō ikeba ii desu ka?
How do I get to the train station? (formal)
えき に は どう やって いくの
駅にはどうやっていくの
Eki ni wa dō yatte ikuno?
How do I get to the train station? (casual)
えき は どこ ですか
駅は何処ですか
Eki wa doko desuka?
Do you know where the train station is? (formal)
えき は どこ
駅は何処
Eki wa doko?
Do you know where the train station is? (casual)
Another more complete way of asking for directions is by saying…
すみません、 駅 へ いく ほうほう を おしえて ください
すみません、駅へ行く方法を教えて下さい
Sumimasen, eki e iku hōhō o oshiete kudasai.
Excuse me please! Could you please tell me where the train station is? (formal)
Here’s a list of some places you might like to go to and places you may pass on the way to getting there.
かんこう あんない じょ
観光案内所
Kankō annai jo
The travel information center
みち / とおり
道 / 通り
Michi / Tōri
The street
ショッピング センター / しょうてんがい
商店街
Shoppingu sentā / Shōtengai
The shopping centre
はくぶつかん
博物館
Hakubutsu kan
The museum
こうばん
交番
Kōban
The police station
びょういん
病院
Byōin
The hospital
こうえん
公園
Kōen
The park
しやくしょ
市役所
Shiyakusho
The city hall
こうしゅう トイレ
公衆トイレ
Kōshū toire
The public restrooms
まち の ちゅうしん / ちゅうしん がい
街の中心 / 中心街
Machi no chūshin / Chūshin gai
The town center
こうがい
郊外
Kōgai
The suburb
ビア ガーデン
-
Bia gāden
The beer garden
きねん ぶつ
記念物
Kinen butsu
The monument
バー / いざかや
居酒屋
Bā / Izakaya
The bar
Here are some words and phrases you might get to hear when asking for directions…
ひだり
左
Hidari
Left
みぎ
右
Migi
Right
ひだり へ
左へ
Hidari-e
To the left
みぎ へ
右へ
Migi-e
To the right
まっすぐ
真っ直ぐ
Massugu
Straight
おわり に
終わりに
Owari-ni
At the end of
はじめ に
始めに
Hajime-ni
At the beginning of
にし へ
西へ
Nishi-e
To the west
きた へ
北へ
Kita-e
To the north
みなみ へ
南へ
Minami-e
To the south
ひがし へ
東へ
Higashi-e
To the east
かど を まがって
角を曲がって
Kado o magatte
Around the corner
つぎ の とおり を ひだり へ
次の通りを左へ
Tsugi no tōri o hidari-e.
The next street to the left.
つぎ の とおり を みぎ へ
次の通りを右へ
Tsugi no tōri o migi-e.
The next street to the right.
つぎ の つぎ の とおり
次の次の通り
Tsugi no tsugi no tōri.
The street after the next.
かど
角
Kado
The corner
はし
橋
Hashi
The bridge
まえ に
前に
Mae ni
In front of
となり に
隣に
Tonari ni
Next to
When someone gives you directions, they’ll tell you that you need to take such-and-such street; turn left, and then follow another street…
とる
取る
Toru…
Take…
わたる
渡る
Wataru…
Cross...
たどる
辿る
Tadoru…
Follow...
いく
行く
Iku...
Go...
Now, you might want to know whether it is far or not…
とおい です か
遠いですか
Tōi desu ka?
Is it very far?
とおい です
遠いです
Tōi desu.
It’s far.
とおく ない です
遠くないです
Tōku nai desu.
It’s not far.
ちかい です か
近いですか
Chikai desu ka?
Is it close by?
ちかい です
近いです
Chikai desu.
It’s close by.
ちかく ない です
近くないです
Chikaku nai desu.
It's not close by.
Well done, you have just finished today’s lesson. I hope you enjoyed it.
Here are a few recommended Japanese lessons to try next!
- Talking about your emotions in Japanese is a great way to connect with Japanese.
- This lesson is all about describing your face in Japanese.
- Wanting to talk about your family in Japanese?
Sayaka Matsuura
Rocket Japanese
Rocket Reinforcement
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