Phrases we hear in Japanese train stations and trains

Traveling by train in Japan is something wonderful, everything is organized and practical, elevators in almost every station, not to mention the little tunes that play when getting off and on a train. However, have you ever stopped to think what the phrases and dialogues that are announced inside the train mean? In this Japanese article we will try to translate and help you understand what is spoken at train stations.

Of course, you don't need to be a language expert to know that most of the time the next station is announced, but let's see all the details of the phrases and announcements made in the train stations. It is worth remembering that we will only address the phrases and announcements made by the loudspeaker at train stations, if you want to know vocabulary and phrases to take trains read this another article by clicking here. 

The video below shows some announcements that are carried out at the stations and inside the trains.

Phrases heard on trains

When we are inside a train, we usually hear the following phrases:

この電車はXXX行きです。
This train goes to XXX. Next is Tokyo, Tokyo. Please be careful of your step. Thank you for using JR today. JR customers, please transfer. The door is closing, please be careful. Please wait for the next train to Hakusan/Yellow Line. Please stay away from the edge as it is dangerous. (lit. "Please descend to the inside of the yellow line, as it is dangerous.") The first train bound for Odawara is expected to arrive at platform one shortly.
This train goes to XXX...

(XXX) Station names, for example: Ueno, Tokyo, and Shinagawa...

次は,東京、東京です。
tsugi wa Tokyo, Tokyo desu.
Next (stop) Tokyo, is Tokyo.

間も無く、東京、東京です。
Coming soon / Soon / Soon Tokyo.

中央線、地下鉄銀座線、新幹線は、お乗り換えです。
Chūōsen, chikatetsu Ginzasen, shinkansen or norikaedesu.
(If you wish) The central line, the Ginza metro or shinkansen, this is your transfer.

お出口は右側です。
the deguchi wa migi/hidari gawa desu.
The exit is on the right/left side.

足元に、ご注意ください!
Please be careful of your step.
Watch your feet. Be careful where you step.

今日もJRをご利用くださいまして,ありがとうございます。
Kyou mo JR wo goriyō kudasaimashite, arigatō gozaimasu.
Thank you for always (today) using JR.

You may sometimes hear this phrase from companies other than JR, or in slightly different words.

JR線ご利用お客様はお乗り換えです. (ください)
JRSen go riyō okyakusama wa o norikaedesu. (kudasai)
Dear customers using the JR line, please download it here.

ドアが閉まります,ご注意ください!
Prayer will begin, please pay attention.
The doors are closing, please be careful!

白線/黄色い線まで下がってお待ち下さい。
Please wait until the yellow line.
Please wait behind the white/yellow line.

危ないですから、黄色い線の内側までお下がりください。
Abunaidesukara, kiiroi sen no uchigawa made osagari kudasai.
Because it's dangerous, please stay before the yellow line.

まもなく1番線に10:30発小田原行きの列車が到着致します。
Mamonaku ichiban sen ni juuji sanjuppun hatsu Odawara iki no ressha ga touchaku itashimasu.
The 10:30 train to Odawara will arrive on line 1 soon.

These were some of the phrases we learned in this article. If you want to complement the article with other sentences, just leave your comment.

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