Passes, platforms, delays and the words of a daily train journey.
Practise this list
From these 40 words, as many per round as you like — up to all of them: first what is due today, then new ones. First you choose, then you fill the gap, then you write it yourself. Mistakes come back again shortly.
More about this list
A Japanese commute runs on trains, and the station speaks its own register: announcements and signs use a formal kanji word where conversation uses a plain verb — 乗車 for 乗る, 遅延 for 遅れる. Lines also have a direction built into them: 上り trains run towards the capital or the main terminus and 下り trains away from it, which is worth knowing before you choose a platform.
The words
View
Verb (3)
乗り越すto ride beyond (the stop on one's ticket)VerbN3
一駅乗り越したので、降りた駅で差額を払った。I rode one station further than my ticket, so I paid the difference where I got off.
Mostly heard with the fare: 乗り越し精算 is paying for the extra stretch. Missing your stop by accident is 乗り過ごす.
乗り過ごすto miss one's stopVerbN3
スマホを見ていて、降りる駅を乗り過ごした。I was looking at my phone and missed my stop.
駆け込むto rush in (at the last moment)VerbN3
閉まりかけたドアに駆け込むのは危ないです。It is dangerous to rush through doors that are closing.
Station posters warn against 駆け込み乗車, dashing aboard as the doors close.
Noun (37)
定期券commuter pass; season ticketNounN3
定期券があるので、会社までの電車代はかかりません。I have a commuter pass, so the train to work costs me nothing extra.
Usually shortened to 定期 in speech.
停留所bus stop; tram stopNounN3
次の停留所で降りるときは、このボタンを押してください。If you want to get off at the next stop, please press this button.
The formal word; in conversation, バス停.
運賃fareNounN3
このバスは、運賃を降りるときに払います。On this bus you pay the fare when you get off.
乗車boarding; getting onNounN3
前のドアから乗車して、後ろのドアから降りてください。Please board through the front door and get off through the back.
Also a verb: 乗車する. The formal word for 乗る, heard in announcements.
下車getting off (a train or bus)NounN3
次の駅で下車して、歩いて美術館に向かいます。We get off at the next station and walk to the art museum.
Also a verb: 下車する. Breaking a journey on the way is 途中下車.
発車departure (of a train or bus)NounN3
ドアが閉まります。電車はまもなく発車します。The doors are closing. The train will depart shortly.
Also a verb: 発車する.
停車stopping (of a vehicle)NounN3
この電車は次の駅で五分ほど停車します。This train stops at the next station for about five minutes.
Also a verb: 停車する.
各駅停車local train (stopping at every station)NounN3
各駅停車は時間がかかりますが、座れることが多いです。The local train takes longer, but you can usually get a seat.
Also shortened to 各停, or simply called 普通.
快速rapid trainNounN3
快速に乗れば、三十分で空港に着きます。If you take the rapid train, you get to the airport in thirty minutes.
Skips some stations and usually needs no extra ticket, while many 特急 services do.
特急limited expressNounN4
この特急に乗るには、特急券も必要です。To ride this limited express you also need an express ticket.
On many private railways a limited express costs no more than an ordinary train; on others it needs a ticket of its own.
終点last stop; terminusNounN3
寝ていたら、いつの間にか終点に着いていた。I fell asleep, and before I knew it we had reached the last stop.
始発first train of the dayNounN3
始発に乗るために、四時に起きました。I got up at four to catch the first train.
The last train of the night is 終電.
乗り場boarding point; rank (for taxis); stopNounN4
タクシー乗り場は駅の東口にあります。The taxi rank is at the east exit of the station.
時刻表timetableNounN3
出かける前に、バスの時刻表を調べておきました。I checked the bus timetable before going out.
遅延delayNounN3
大雪のため、多くの電車に遅延が出ています。Because of the heavy snow, many trains are running late.
Formal; in conversation people say 遅れる. The station hands out a 遅延証明書 as proof for work or school.
回数券book of tickets; multi-ride ticketNounN3
毎週同じ駅まで行くので、回数券を買った。I go to the same station every week, so I bought a book of tickets.
座席seatNounN3
座席を後ろに倒してもいいですか。May I recline my seat?
More formal than 席; the word on tickets and signs.
指定席reserved seatNounN3
連休は混むので、早めに指定席を取りました。It gets crowded over the long weekend, so I booked a reserved seat early.
自由席unreserved seatNounN3
自由席は満席で、東京まで立ったままだった。The unreserved cars were full, so I stood all the way to Tokyo.
車両carriage; car (of a train)NounN3
この電車は、一番前の車両が女性専用です。On this train the front carriage is for women only.
車内inside the train or car; on boardNounN3
車内が暑かったので、上着を脱いだ。It was hot on the train, so I took off my jacket.
車掌conductor (on a train)NounN3
忘れ物をしたことを車掌さんに伝えました。I told the conductor that I had left something behind.
ホームplatformNounN4
三番線のホームは階段を上がって右です。The platform for track 3 is up the stairs on the right.
Short for English platform; it has nothing to do with "home".
線路railway trackNounN3
線路に物を落としたときは、駅員に知らせてください。If you drop something onto the tracks, tell a member of station staff.
路線line; routeNounN3
東京は路線が多すぎて、最初はよく迷いました。Tokyo has so many lines that I often got lost at first.
A route map is a 路線図.
つり革strap (to hold on to)NounN3
揺れますので、つり革におつかまりください。The train may sway, so please hold on to a strap.
網棚luggage rackNounN3
網棚にかばんを置いたまま、電車を降りてしまった。I got off the train and left my bag on the luggage rack.
精算fare adjustment; settling upNounN3
足りない運賃は、改札の横の機械で精算できます。You can pay any fare you owe at the machine beside the gates.
Also a verb: 精算する. The machine is a 精算機.
徒歩on foot; walkingNounN3
駅から徒歩十分のところに住んでいます。I live ten minutes' walk from the station.
The written word for walking, used in directions and property listings.
方面direction; bound forNounN3
新宿方面の電車は二番線から出ます。Trains towards Shinjuku leave from track 2.
上りinbound (towards the capital)NounN3
上りの電車は朝がいちばん混みます。Inbound trains are most crowded in the morning.
Also an uphill slope; the opposite is 下り.
下りoutbound (away from the capital)NounN3
夕方になると、下りの電車が混み始める。In the evening, the outbound trains start to fill up.
直通through service; directNounN3
この電車は地下鉄に直通しているので、乗り換えなしで都心まで行ける。This train runs straight on into the subway, so you can reach the city centre without changing.
Also a verb: 直通する. A direct phone line is a 直通電話.
券売機ticket machineNounN3
券売機の使い方がわからなくて、駅員さんに聞いた。I could not work out the ticket machine, so I asked a member of staff.
通過passing through (without stopping)NounN3
次の電車はこの駅を通過しますので、ご注意ください。The next train will pass through this station without stopping; please take care.
Also a verb: 通過する.
席seatNounN4
空いている席がなかったので、ドアの近くに立っていた。There were no free seats, so I stood near the door.
列車trainNounN3
列車の窓から、海がずっと見えていました。The sea was in view from the train window the whole way.
More formal than 電車, which strictly means an electric train.
