Trains and buses are how most people move in Japan. Systems are very reliable, but announcements are fast and full of set phrases. You do not need to understand every word: learn the key ones below.
IC cards
An IC card (such as Suica or PASMO in the Tokyo area, ICOCA in Kansai, and others) is a rechargeable card you tap at the gate. It works on most trains and buses, and in many shops. Buy one at a ticket machine, charge it with cash and tap in and out. Many phones can also hold an IC card.
| Japanese | Romaji | नेपाली | English | Listen |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ICカード | ai shii kaado | IC कार्ड | IC card | ▶ |
| チャージ | chaaji | रिचार्ज | charge, top-up | ▶ |
| かいさつ | kaisatsu | टिकट गेट | ticket gate | ▶ |
| タッチ | tacchi | छुवाउने | tap | ▶ |
| のこり / ざんだか | nokori / zandaka | बाँकी रकम | remaining balance | ▶ |
| ざんだかふそく | zandaka fusoku | रकम पुगेन | insufficient balance | ▶ |
| のりこしせいさんき | norikoshi seisanki | थप भाडा तिर्ने मेसिन | fare adjustment machine | ▶ |
| ていきけん | teikiken | मासिक पास | commuter pass | ▶ |
| かたみち | katamichi | एकतर्फी | one way | ▶ |
| おうふく | oufuku | जाने-आउने | round trip | ▶ |
| きっぷ | kippu | टिकट | ticket | ▶ |
| うんちん | unchin | भाडा | fare | ▶ |
| Japanese | Romaji | नेपाली | English | Listen |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| チャージを おねがいします。 | chaaji o onegai shimasu. | चार्ज गरिदिनुहोस्। | Please charge it. | ▶ |
| ざんだかが たりません。 | zandaka ga tarimasen. | रकम पुगेन। | The balance is not enough. | ▶ |
| ていきけんを かいたいです。 | teikiken o kaitai desu. | म मासिक पास किन्न चाहन्छु। | I want to buy a commuter pass. | ▶ |
| かいさつを とおって ください。 | kaisatsu o tootte kudasai. | गेटबाट जानुहोस्। | Please go through the gate. | ▶ |
Kinds of train
| Japanese | Romaji | नेपाली | English | Listen |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| かくえきていしゃ / ふつう | kakueki teisha / futsuu | सबै स्टेसनमा रोकिने | local (stops at every station) | ▶ |
| かいそく / きゅうこう | kaisoku / kyuukou | द्रुत / एक्सप्रेस | rapid / express | ▶ |
| とっきゅう | tokkyuu | विशेष एक्सप्रेस | limited express | ▶ |
| しんかんせん | shinkansen | बुलेट ट्रेन | bullet train | ▶ |
| さいしゅうでんしゃ / しゅうでん | saishuu densha / shuuden | अन्तिम रेल | last train | ▶ |
| はつ / ちゃく | hatsu / chaku | प्रस्थान / आगमन | departure / arrival | ▶ |
| 〜ゆき | ~yuki | ...तर्फ जाने | bound for ~ | ▶ |
| じこくひょう | jikokuhyou | समयतालिका | timetable | ▶ |
| ばんせん | bansen | प्लेटफर्म नम्बर | platform number | ▶ |
| おくれ | okure | ढिलाइ | delay | ▶ |
What the announcements say
| Japanese | Romaji | नेपाली | English | Listen |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| まもなく ２ばんせんに でんしゃが まいります。 | mamonaku nibansen ni densha ga mairimasu. | केही समयमै २ नम्बर प्लेटफर्ममा रेल आउँछ। | A train will soon arrive at platform 2. | ▶ |
| あぶないですから、きいろい せんの うちがわに おさがりください。 | abunai desu kara, kiiroi sen no uchigawa ni osagari kudasai. | खतरा भएकाले पहेँलो रेखाभित्र पछि हट्नुहोस्। | It is dangerous, so please step back behind the yellow line. | ▶ |
| ドアが しまります。 ごちゅういください。 | doa ga shimarimasu. gochuui kudasai. | ढोका बन्द हुँदैछ। सावधान। | The doors are closing. Please be careful. | ▶ |
| つぎは しんじゅく、しんじゅくです。 | tsugi wa shinjuku, shinjuku desu. | अर्को शिन्जुकु, शिन्जुकु। | The next station is Shinjuku. | ▶ |
| かけこみじょうしゃは おやめください。 | kakekomi jousha wa oyame kudasai. | दौडेर नचढ्नुहोस्। | Please do not rush onto the train. | ▶ |
| でんしゃが おくれて おります。 もうしわけございません。 | densha ga okurete orimasu. moushiwake gozaimasen. | रेल ढिलो भएको छ। माफ गर्नुहोस्। | The train is delayed. We apologise. | ▶ |
| うんてんを みあわせて います。 | unten o miawasete imasu. | सेवा रोकिएको छ। | Service is suspended. | ▶ |
| じんしんじこの ため | jinshin jiko no tame | दुर्घटनाका कारण (रेल रोकिएको) | due to an accident (a common cause of delays) | ▶ |
When your train is delayed or stopped, the station gives a delay certificate (ちえんしょうめいしょ) at the gate or online. Show it to your employer or school if you are late. Always contact your leader as soon as you know (Lesson 4).
Buses
| Japanese | Romaji | नेपाली | English | Listen |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| バスてい | basutei | बस स्टप | bus stop | ▶ |
| のりば | noriba | चढ्ने ठाउँ | boarding place | ▶ |
| おりる ボタン | oriru botan | ओर्लने बटन | stop button | ▶ |
| つぎ とまります | tsugi tomarimasu | अर्को रोकिन्छ | next stop (a sign lights up) | ▶ |
| まえから おります | mae kara orimasu | अगाडिबाट ओर्लिन्छ | get off at the front (in many cities) | ▶ |
| うしろから のります | ushiro kara norimasu | पछाडिबाट चढ्छ | board at the back (in many cities) | ▶ |
| せいりけん | seiriken | नम्बर टिकट | numbered ticket (for fare by distance) | ▶ |
| りょうがえ | ryougae | सिक्का फेर्ने | change money (coins, on the bus) | ▶ |
Rules differ by city: in some places you board at the front and pay when you get on. Look at the signs on the door, and watch what others do on your first ride.
Train manners
- Keep phone calls off. Set the phone to manner mode (マナーモード). Talk quietly.
- Give seats to people who need them. Seats marked ゆうせんせき (priority seats) are for the elderly, pregnant people, people with injuries and those with small children.
- Line up at the marks on the platform and let people get off first. Take large bags off your back (リュックは まえに).
- If you lose something, tell the station staff: わすれものを しました (I forgot something) or おとしものを しました (I dropped something).
Dialogue: a delayed train
| Japanese | Romaji | नेपाली / English | Listen | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| B | すみません、でんしゃが とまって いますか。 | sumimasen, densha ga tomatte imasu ka. | माफ गर्नुहोस्, रेल रोकिएको छ? Excuse me, are the trains stopped? | ▶ |
| A | はい、じこの ため、うんてんを みあわせて います。 | hai, jiko no tame, unten o miawasete imasu. | हो, दुर्घटनाका कारण सेवा रोकिएको छ। Yes, service is suspended because of an accident. | ▶ |
| B | どのくらい かかりますか。 | dono kurai kakarimasu ka. | कति समय लाग्छ? How long will it take? | ▶ |
| A | いちじかんぐらいです。 ちえんしょうめいしょを どうぞ。 | ichijikan gurai desu. chien shoumeisho o douzo. | करिब एक घण्टा। ढिलाइ प्रमाणपत्र यहाँ छ। About an hour. Here is a delay certificate. | ▶ |
Every ▶ button plays a clear computer voice, which is good for learning sounds and rhythm but is not a native speaker. Pitch (the rise and fall of the voice) can sound a little flat. Also listen to real Japanese as often as you can: videos, news for learners (NHK Easy), and Japanese people around you.
Check yourself
Try to answer every question before you look at the answers.
- What is チャージ?
- What does ざんだかが たりません mean?
- What is a ていきけん?
- Which train stops at every station?
- What does 〜ゆき mean on a sign?
- What does うんてんを みあわせて います mean?
- What is a ちえんしょうめいしょ for?
- Whom are the ゆうせんせき for?
- What do you say to station staff when you lose something?
- What should you set your phone to on a train?
Answers
Count your correct answers. If you got fewer than 7 out of 10, read the lesson again and listen to the audio once more.
- Topping up an IC card.
- The balance is not enough.
- A commuter pass.
- かくえきていしゃ (ふつう).
- Bound for ~ (the destination).
- Service is suspended.
- To show your employer or school that the train was delayed.
- The elderly, pregnant people, injured people and people with small children.
- おとしものを しました。 / わすれものを しました。
- マナーモード.
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