About This Lesson
Use Hurrying to the Train Platform to practice Japanese conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.
Dialogue
A
今日は道路がとても混んでいます。
KYOH wa DOH-roh ga toh-TEH-moh KOHN-deh ee-MAHSS. The road is really busy today.
B
ラッシュアワーが始まりました。
RAHSH-shoo AH-wah ga hah-jee-mah-REE-mahsh-tah. Rush hour has started.
A
次の電車にまだ間に合いますか。
tsoo-GEE noh DEN-shah nee mah-DAH mah-nee-AH-ee-mahss kah. Can we still catch the next train?
B
はい、間に合うはずです。駅はすぐ先です。
HAI, mah-nee-AH-ow hah-zoo dess. EH-kee wa soo-GOO SAH-kee dess. We should. The station is just ahead.
A
もう入口が見えます。
MOH ee-ree-GOO-chee ga mee-EH-mahss. I can see the entrance now.
B
ホームへまっすぐ行きましょう。
HOH-moo eh maht-soo-GOO ee-kee-mah-SHOH. Let's head straight to the platform.
A
電車がもう入ってきています。
DEN-shah ga MOH hah-EE-tteh kee-TEH-mahss. The train is pulling in already.
B
近くにいてください。一緒に乗りましょう。
CHEE-kah-koo nee EE-teh koo-DAH-sai. ee-SHOH-nee noh-ree-mah-SHOH. Stay close, and we'll board together.Word by Word
今日
今日 means “today” in 今日は道路がとても混んでいます。It identifies the day being discussed and can be used to say when a current situation applies.
は
は marks 今日 as the topic in 今日は道路がとても混んでいます。It sets “today” as the frame for the statement, while the rest explains the road’s condition.
道路
道路 means “road” in 道路がとても混んでいます。Here it is the road whose condition is being described, and it is relevant to the busy rush-hour situation.
が
が marks 道路 as the thing described as crowded or busy in 道路がとても混んでいます。This pattern identifies what has the stated condition.
とても
とても means “very” in とても混んでいます。It intensifies the description of how busy the road is and is placed before that description.
混んで
混んで describes the road as crowded or busy in 道路がとても混んでいます。It connects with います to describe the road’s current state, and a useful pattern is a place or thing followed by 混んでいます.
います
います helps present 混んで as an ongoing current state in 混んでいます。Together, 混んでいます says that the road is busy now, and this polite ending is useful for reporting a present condition.
ラッシュアワー
ラッシュアワー means “rush hour” in ラッシュアワーが始まりました。It names the busy period that has begun and can be used as the subject of a statement about its start.
始まりました
始まりました reports that something has started in ラッシュアワーが始まりました。Here it tells the other person that rush hour is now underway, using a polite sentence form.
次
次 means “next” in 次の電車。It identifies 電車 as the next train in sequence, which is the train they are trying to catch.
の
の links 次 and 電車 in 次の電車, making the phrase mean “the next train.” It commonly connects one noun-like element to another to describe or identify it.
電車
電車 means “train” in 次の電車にまだ間に合いますか。Here it is the train they may still catch, and it is followed by に as the target of being in time for.
に
に marks the target in 次の電車にまだ間に合いますか。It shows that being in time is being judged in relation to the next train.
まだ
まだ means “still” in 次の電車にまだ間に合いますか。It asks whether there is still enough time to catch the train at this point.
間に合います
間に合います asks whether someone will be in time in 次の電車にまだ間に合いますか。With 次の電車に, it refers specifically to catching the next train before it is too late.
か
か marks the preceding statement as a question in 次の電車にまだ間に合いますか。It lets the speaker ask whether they can still be in time for the train.
はい
はい means “yes” in はい、間に合うはずです。It confirms the answer before the speaker explains the expectation that they should make it in time.
間に合う
間に合う means “to be in time” in 間に合うはずです。Here it is presented as the expected result, and it is used with はず to express that expectation.
はず
はず expresses an expectation in 間に合うはずです。The whole phrase says that they are expected to make it in time, based on the station being close ahead.
です
です gives the expectation a polite sentence ending in 間に合うはずです。It completes the polite statement that they should be in time.
駅
駅 means “station” in 駅はすぐ先です。Here it identifies the station as the place just ahead, giving a reason they are likely to catch the train.
すぐ
すぐ means “right away” or “just” in すぐ先。Because it modifies 先 here, it indicates that the station is very close ahead.
先
先 means “ahead” in 駅はすぐ先です。It locates the station in front along their route, and すぐ先 describes it as just ahead.
もう
もう means “already” or “now” in もう入口が見えます and 電車がもう入ってきています。It marks that the entrance is visible now and that the train has already begun coming in.
入口
入口 means “entrance” in もう入口が見えます。It is the station entrance that the speaker can see, and it identifies a point they are approaching.
見えます
見えます means “is visible” or “can be seen” in 入口が見えます。The entrance is the visible thing, and this form is useful when reporting that something has come into view.
ホーム
ホーム means “platform” in ホームへまっすぐ行きましょう。Here it is the destination inside the station where they need to go to catch the train.
へ
へ marks the direction toward the destination in ホームへ。It shows that their movement is directed toward the platform.
まっすぐ
まっすぐ means “straight” in ホームへまっすぐ行きましょう。It gives the route instruction to go directly toward the platform.
行きましょう
行きましょう proposes “let’s go” in ホームへまっすぐ行きましょう。ホームへまっすぐ supplies the destination and route, while 行きましょう invites the two people to move there together.
入ってきて
入ってきて describes the train coming in in 電車がもう入ってきています。It connects with います so the movement into the station or platform area is presented as currently in progress.
近く
近く means “near” or “close” in 近くにいてください。Together with に, it tells the listener to remain in a nearby position rather than move away.
いて
いて asks the listener to stay or be present in 近くにいてください。It is followed by ください, which makes the request polite, and 近くに specifies where to stay.
ください
ください makes いて a polite request in 近くにいてください。The phrase asks the listener to please stay nearby, and this request ending follows the preceding form.
一緒
一緒 means “together” in 一緒に乗りましょう。With に, it indicates that the speakers will take the same action together.
乗りましょう
乗りましょう proposes boarding or riding in 一緒に乗りましょう。乗りましょう supplies the suggestion to board the train, while 一緒に adds that they should do it together.
Grammar Points
～はずです
まだ間に合うはずです。
mah-DAH mah-nee-AH-oo hah-zoo dess.We should still be in time.
はずです expresses an expectation or conclusion based on what is known.
～てくる
電車が入ってきています。
DEN-shah ga hah-EE-tteh kee-TEH-mahss.The train is pulling in.
てくる shows movement or an action coming toward the speaker or the current place.
Japanese Vocabulary
すぐ
adv
soo-GOO
right away; just
駅はすぐ先です。
はず
phrase
HAH-zoo
should; be expected to
間に合うはずです。
まだ
adv
mah-DAH
still; yet
次の電車にまだ間に合いますか。
ラッシュアワー
noun
RAHSH-shoo AH-wah
rush hour
ラッシュアワーが始まりました。
駅
noun
EH-kee
station
駅はすぐ先です。
間に合う
verb
mah-nee-AH-oo
to be in time; to make it
間に合います
次の電車にまだ間に合いますか。
今日
noun
KYOH
today
今日は
今日は道路がとても混んでいます。
混む
verb
KOHM-oo
to be crowded; to be busy
混んでいます
今日は道路がとても混んでいます。
始まる
verb
hah-jee-MAH-roo
to start; to begin
始まりました
ラッシュアワーが始まりました。
次
det
tsoo-GEE
next
次の
次の電車にまだ間に合いますか。
電車
noun
DEN-shah
train
次の電車にまだ間に合いますか。
道路
noun
DOH-roh
road
今日は道路がとても混んでいます。
Quiz
Spelling
Tap the letters to spell the word.
to be crowded; to be busy
Show Answer
混んでいますrush hour
Show Answer
ラッシュアワーto be in time; to make it
Show Answer
間に合いますto start; to begin