Speakin' Japanese: Asking for directions

To ask for directions or travel information, try using the following phrases.

Tokyo eki wa doko desuka?
(Where is Tokyo Station?)
“… wa doko desuka?” = Where is ...

• Byouin wa dokodesuka? (Where is a hospital?)
• Koban wa dokodesuka? (Where is a police station?)
• Toire wa dokodsuka? (Where is a bathroom?)

Eki made donokurai kakarimasuka?
(How long does it take to the station?)
“made donokurai kakarimasuka?” = How long does it take to ...

• Kyanpu Foster made donokurai kakarimasuka? (How long does it take to Foster military base?)
• Kuuko made donokurai kakarimasuka? (How long does it take to an airport?)

Mayoimashita.
(I am lost.)

• Michi ga wakarimasen. (I don’t know the way.)
• Basho ga wakarimasen. (I don’t know where it is.)

Pronunciation key: “A” is short (like “ah”); “E” is short (like “get”); “I” is short (like “it”); “O” is long (like “old”); “U” is long (like “tube”); and “AI” is a long “I” (like “hike”). Most words are pronounced with equal emphasis on each syllable, but “OU” is a long “O” with emphasis on that syllable.

takiguchi.takahiro@stripes.com