UNIT 6
Trains, Stations & Directions
Trains, Stations & Directions
Lesson 3: Asking Which Train to Take
どのでんしゃにのればいいですか — Getting on the Right Train
⏱️ About 25 minutes ／ 📊 Level: Beginner (N5) ／ 🗣️ Speaking + Reading
Before You Start
You have found the station and bought your ticket. Now comes the part that confuses many beginners: which train do you board? Japan has multiple lines, local and express services, and trains running in different directions. In this lesson you will learn how to ask station staff confidently and understand the answers you get.
What you will learn:
- Ask which train to take — どの電輯に乗ればいいですか
- State your destination — へ行きたいです
- Check if a train goes your way — この電輯は に行きますか
- Read destination signs — 行きですか
- Ask which line — 何線ですか
- Understand local vs express — 普通 / 快速 / 快行
- Confirm the right train — この電輯で大並园ですか
1. Key Phrases ／ きほんのフレーズ
どの電車に乗ればいいですか。
Dono densha ni noreba ii desu ka.
Which train should I take?
〇〇へ行きたいです。
〇〇 e ikitai desu.
I want to go to 〇〇.
この電車は〇〇に行きますか。
Kono densha wa 〇〇 ni ikimasu ka.
Does this train go to 〇〇?
〇〇行きですか。
〇〇 yuki desu ka.
Is this bound for 〇〇?
何線ですか。
Nansen desu ka.
Which line is it?
〇〇線に乗ってください。
〇〇 sen ni notte kudasai.
Please take the 〇〇 Line.
普通ですか、急行ですか。
Futsuu desu ka, kyuukoo desu ka.
Is it local or express?
この電車で大丈夫ですか。
Kono densha de daijoobu desu ka.
Is this train okay?
次の電車です。
Tsugi no densha desu.
It is the next train.
2. Phrase Notes ／ ポイント
① State your destination first
The most natural and effective approach is to say your destination, then ask your question. This gives staff all the information at once.
名古屋へ行きたいです。I want to go to Nagoya.
どの電車に乗ればいいですか。Which train should I take?
② 〇〇行きですか — reading platform signs
〇〇行き means “bound for 〇〇.” It appears on platform displays and train boards. When unsure, look at the sign and ask: 名古屋行きですか.
③ Train types — 普通・快速・急行
Faster services skip stations — your stop may be missed. For beginners, the 普通 (local) is always the safe choice unless told otherwise.
普通 / 各駅停車 — local, stops at every station
快速 — rapid, skips some stations
急行 — express, skips more stations
特急 — limited express, major stops only
⚠️ Common Mistake
Don’t confuse 〇〇へ行きたいです (I want to go) with この電車は〇〇に行きますか (does this train go?). The first is about your destination; the second asks about the train’s route. Use both together for the clearest communication.
Don’t confuse 〇〇へ行きたいです (I want to go) with この電車は〇〇に行きますか (does this train go?). The first is about your destination; the second asks about the train’s route. Use both together for the clearest communication.
3. Train Types & Answers ／ でんしゃのしゅるい
Train Types
| Japanese | Romaji | English |
|---|---|---|
| 普通 / 各駅停車 | futsuu / kakueki teesha | local (every station) |
| 快速 | kaisoku | rapid |
| 急行 | kyuukoo | express |
| 特急 | tokkyuu | limited express |
| 新幹線 | shinkansen | bullet train |
Answers You May Hear
| Japanese | English |
|---|---|
| この電車です。 | This train. |
| 次の電車です。 | The next train. |
| この電車で大丈夫です。 | This train is fine. |
| この電車ではありません。 | Not this train. |
| 乗り換えが必要です。 | You need to transfer. |
4. Conversation Practice ／ かいわ
💬 Conversation 1 — Which Train?
💬 Conversation 2 — Does This Train Go to Nagoya?
💬 Conversation 3 — Not This Train
💬 Conversation 4 — Which Line?
💬 Conversation 5 — Is This Train Okay?
💬 Conversation 6 — Local or Express?
5. Vocabulary ／ たんご
| Japanese | Romaji | English |
|---|---|---|
| 電車 | densha | train |
| 線 | sen | line |
| 乗ります | norimasu | ride / take a train |
| 行き | yuki | bound for |
| 普通 | futsuu | local train |
| 快速 | kaisoku | rapid train |
| 急行 | kyuukoo | express train |
| 次 | tsugi | next |
| 大丈夫 | daijoobu | okay |
| 乗り換え | norikae | transfer |
6. Check Your Understanding ／ クイズ
Think about each question first. Answers and explanations are shown below each one.
Q1. How do you ask “Which train should I take?”
A. これはいくらですか。 B. 改札はどこですか。 C. どの電車に乗ればいいですか。 D. お会計をお願いします。
Answer: C
どの電車に乗ればいいですか = “Which train should I take?” Always pair with your destination for best results: 〇〇へ行きたいです。どの電車に乗ればいいですか。
どの電車に乗ればいいですか = “Which train should I take?” Always pair with your destination for best results: 〇〇へ行きたいです。どの電車に乗ればいいですか。
Q2. How do you check if the train goes to Nagoya?
A. 名古屋行きをください。 B. この電車は名古屋に行きますか。 C. 名古屋はどこですか。 D. 名古屋までいくらですか。
Answer: B
この電車は〇〇に行きますか = “Does this train go to 〇〇?” Answer: はい、行きます or いいえ、行きません.
この電車は〇〇に行きますか = “Does this train go to 〇〇?” Answer: はい、行きます or いいえ、行きません.
Q3. What does 「名古屋行きですか。」 mean?
A. How much to Nagoya? B. Where is Nagoya? C. I want to go to Nagoya. D. Is this bound for Nagoya?
Answer: D
〇〇行き = “bound for 〇〇.” Appears on platform boards and train signs — a quick way to confirm direction before boarding.
〇〇行き = “bound for 〇〇.” Appears on platform boards and train signs — a quick way to confirm direction before boarding.
Q4. What does 「何線ですか。」 mean?
A. How many stations? B. What time? C. Which line? D. How much?
Answer: C
何線 = “which line.” The answer will be a line name, e.g. 山手線です.
何線 = “which line.” The answer will be a line name, e.g. 山手線です.
Q5. What does 「この電車で大丈夫ですか。」 mean?
A. Is this ticket okay? B. Is this station okay? C. Is this train okay? D. Is this receipt okay?
Answer: C
この電車で大丈夫ですか = “Is this train okay?” — the go-to confirmation before boarding. Answer: はい、大丈夫です or この電車ではありません.
この電車で大丈夫ですか = “Is this train okay?” — the go-to confirmation before boarding. Answer: はい、大丈夫です or この電車ではありません.
Q6. Which train stops at every station?
A. 急行 B. 快速 C. 特急 D. 普通
Answer: D
普通 = local train, stops everywhere. As a beginner, always take the 普通 unless confirmed otherwise — your stop will not be skipped.
普通 = local train, stops everywhere. As a beginner, always take the 普通 unless confirmed otherwise — your stop will not be skipped.
7. Match the Meaning ／ れんしゅう
Match each phrase with its English meaning. Check your answers below.
どの電車に乗ればいいですか。 → ______
この電車は名古屋に行きますか。 → ______
名古屋行きですか。 → ______
何線ですか。 → ______
山手線に乗ってください。 → ______
この電車で大丈夫ですか。 → ______
次の電車です。 → ______
Choices: A. Please take the Yamanote Line. B. Does this train go to Nagoya? C. Which train should I take? D. Is this bound for Nagoya? E. Is this train okay? F. It is the next train. G. Which line is it?
Answers: どの電車に乗ればいいですか = C ／ この電車は名古屋に行きますか = B ／ 名古屋行きですか = D ／ 何線ですか = G ／ 山手線に乗ってください = A ／ この電車で大丈夫ですか = E ／ 次の電車です = F
🚀 Mini Mission
Today’s mission: Practice asking which train to take in Japanese.
Try this sequence with your teacher or practice aloud:
〇〇へ行きたいです。／ どの電車に乗ればいいですか。／ この電車で大丈夫ですか。／ ありがとうございます。
📘 Review ／ まとめ
In this lesson you learned how to find and board the right train in Japan. The most important phrases are:
〇〇へ行きたいです。(I want to go to 〇〇.)
どの電車に乗ればいいですか。(Which train?)
この電車で大丈夫ですか。(Is this train okay?)
どの電車に乗ればいいですか。(Which train?)
この電車で大丈夫ですか。(Is this train okay?)
💡 Always state your destination first. For train types: 普通 is safe for all destinations. 急行 is faster but skips stations — confirm before boarding.
FAQ
Q. What does 乗り換えが必要です mean, and what should I do?
乗り換えが必要です = “You need to transfer.” Get off at the intermediate station and change to another line. Ask: どこで乗り換えますか to find out where.
Q. If I get on the wrong train, what should I do?
Stay calm and get off at the next station. Ask staff: 〇〇へ行きたいです。どうすればいいですか. Japanese station staff deal with this regularly and are always patient.
Q. Are announcements in English on Japanese trains?
Most major city lines have English announcements and signage. Regional lines may be Japanese only — that is when この電車で大丈夫ですか and 〇〇行きですか become essential tools.
🚃 Practice with a real teacher
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