Checking the Platform Before Boarding | Learn Japanese in English

Japanese lesson set in a contemporary Tokyo everyday setting: At a train station, two adults check the platform sign, manage bags, and watch for changes before boarding..

EN → JA / Level: A1

About This Lesson

Use Checking the Platform Before Boarding to practice Japanese conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

A

どのホームに行けばいいですか？

doh-noh HOH-moo-nee ee-KEH-bah EE dess-kah Which platform should we go to?
B

案内板は2番ホームを指しています。

ahn-NAI-bahn wah nee-bahn HOH-moo oh sah-SHEE-teh ee-MAHS The sign points to platform two.
A

ここからは小さい字が読めません。

KOH-koh kah-RAH wah chee-SAI jee gah yoh-MEH-mah-SEN I can't read the small letters from here.
B

電車は10分後に出ると書いてあります。

DEN-shah wah jyu-POON-goh nee DEH-roo toh KAH-ee-teh ah-ree-MAHS It says the train leaves in ten minutes.
A

乗る前にトイレに行きます。

NOH-roo MAH-eh nee toh-ee-REH nee ee-kee-MAHS I'm going to use the restroom before we board.
B

私が荷物を持っていきます。

wah-TASH-ee gah NEE-moht-soo oh MOHT-teh ee-kee-MAHS I'll keep the bags with me.
A

この案内板の近くにいてください。

KOH-noh ahn-NAI-bahn noh CHEE-kah-koo nee EE-teh koo-DAH-sai Please stay near this sign.
B

ホームが変わるかもしれないので、案内板を見ておきます。

HOH-moo gah kah-WAH-roo kah-moh-sheh-RAI-nai noh-deh, ahn-NAI-bahn oh MEE-teh OH-kee-MAHS I'll watch the board in case the platform changes.

Word by Word

どの どの means “which” in どのホーム, asking the listener to identify one platform. It is placed directly before the noun it specifies, as in どのホーム. A learner can use it when asking someone to choose or identify one item.
ホーム ホーム means “platform” in this train-station dialogue. In どのホーム, it names the place the speakers need to go to. It is useful for discussing a train platform at a station.
に に marks the destination in どのホームに行けばいいですか, meaning “to which platform.” With a movement verb such as 行く, it identifies where someone is going. The reusable pattern here is a destination followed by に and 行く.
行け 行け is the form of 行く used before ば in 行けばいいですか. In this question, it helps ask which platform the speakers should go to. The form 行けば is used with いい to ask what action is appropriate.
ば ば connects 行け to the following evaluation in 行けばいいですか. Together, 行けばいいですか asks which action would be good or appropriate. This conditional pattern is useful when asking what one should do.
いい いい means “good” or “okay” in 行けばいいですか. With 行けば, it expresses that the speaker is asking which destination is the right one. This form is commonly used to ask what action is appropriate.
です です gives the question a polite ending in いいですか. It makes the request for guidance suitable for a polite conversation with another adult. The expression いいですか is a polite way to ask whether something is acceptable or appropriate.
か か marks the sentence as a question in どのホームに行けばいいですか. It turns the preceding polite statement into a request for information. It is used at the end of this polite question.
案内板 案内板 means “information board” or “sign” in the station. In 案内板は2番ホームを指しています, it is the board that indicates the platform. This word is useful for signs that provide directions or station information.
は は marks 案内板 as the topic in 案内板は2番ホームを指しています. The sentence then gives information about what the board indicates. It is used after the item being discussed.
番 番 helps identify a numbered platform in 2番ホーム. Here, 2番ホーム means “platform two,” with 番 marking the number before ホーム. This pattern is useful for reading numbered places or signs.
を を marks 2番ホーム as what the sign points to in 2番ホームを指しています. It identifies the destination or thing affected by the action. It commonly follows the object of an action verb.
指し 指し contributes the meaning “point toward” or “indicate” in 指しています. It is the form of 指す used before て in this ongoing-state expression. The whole form 指しています describes what the sign is currently indicating.
て て links 指し with い in 指しています. Together with いる, it helps describe the continuing state of the sign pointing to a platform. The て-form is used here to connect the action with the following auxiliary.
い い is the part of いる in 指しています that helps express an ongoing state. With 指して, the whole form means that the sign is pointing or indicating something. This construction is useful for describing an action or state that is continuing.
ます ます gives 指しています a polite ending. It makes the statement about the station sign suitable for a polite conversation. It follows the preceding verb construction in this sentence.
ここ ここ means “here” in ここからは小さい字が読めません. It identifies the speaker’s present location or viewpoint. It is useful when referring to the place where the speaker currently is.
から から means “from” in ここから, meaning “from here.” It marks the starting point or viewpoint for reading the letters. A useful pattern is a place followed by から when describing where an action begins or is viewed from.
小さい 小さい means “small” and describes 字 in 小さい字. It tells the listener that the letters are too small to read from the speaker’s position. It is placed before the noun it describes.
字 字 means “letter” or “written character” in 小さい字. It refers to the small written information on the sign. This word is useful when talking about characters or writing that someone needs to read.
が が marks 小さい字 as the thing that cannot be read in 小さい字が読めません. It identifies what is involved in the ability expressed by 読めません. It follows the subject or thing being perceived in this sentence.
読め 読め is the form of 読む used in 読めません to express being able to read. With the negative polite ending, the whole form means “cannot read.” This form is useful when describing whether written information can be read.
ませ ませ is part of the polite negative form 読めません. It helps connect the ability form 読め with the ending that makes the statement negative and polite. The complete expression 読めません means that the speaker cannot read the small letters.
ん ん completes the negative ending in 読めません. Together with ませ, it makes the statement a polite negative: the speaker cannot read the letters. This ending is used here to report a difficulty politely.
電車 電車 means “train” in 電車は10分後に出ると書いてあります. It is the vehicle whose departure time is written on the board. This word is useful for talking about an electric train or train service.
分 分 is the counter for minutes in 10分後. It helps express a period of ten minutes before the train departs. The pattern number + 分 is used for stating a number of minutes.
後 後 means “after” or “later” in 10分後, meaning “in ten minutes” or “ten minutes later.” It places the departure after the stated amount of time. The reusable pattern is a time amount followed by 後.
出る 出る means “leave” or “depart” in 電車は10分後に出る. Here it describes the train leaving the station. This verb is useful for stating when a train or other vehicle departs.
と と marks the content being reported in 電車は10分後に出ると書いてあります. It connects the quoted information about the train’s departure to 書いてあります. This use is helpful when identifying what a sign or written message says.
書い 書い is the form of 書く used before て in 書いてあります. In the complete expression, it contributes the idea that the information is written on the sign. The whole form 書いてあります means that it is written there.
あり あり is the part of あります that follows 書いて in 書いてあります. Together, 書いてあります describes information that has been written and remains available to read. This construction is useful for reporting what is written on a sign.
乗る 乗る means “board” or “ride” in 乗る前にトイレに行きます. Here it refers to boarding the train later. The pattern 乗る前に is useful for describing an action that happens before boarding.
前 前 means “before” in 乗る前に. It places going to the restroom earlier than boarding the train. It follows a verb in this expression to describe what happens before that action.
トイレ トイレ means “restroom” or “toilet” in トイレに行きます. It is the destination the speaker plans to go to before boarding. This word is useful for asking about or referring to a restroom.
行き 行き is the part of 行きます that carries the meaning “go” before the polite ending. In トイレに行きます, it describes going to the restroom. This form appears before ます in the polite form of 行く.
私 私 means “I” or “me” in 私が荷物を持っていきます. It identifies the speaker as the person who will take the bags. It is useful when explicitly stating who will perform an action.
荷物 荷物 means “luggage” or “bags” in 荷物を持っていきます. It names the items that the speaker will carry along. This word is useful for talking about bags or belongings while travelling.
持っ 持っ is the form of 持つ used before て in 持っていきます. It contributes the meaning of holding or carrying the bags. The whole form 持っていきます means that the speaker will take the bags along.
いき いき is the part of 行く used after 持って in 持っていきます. With 持って, it gives the meaning “take or carry along,” rather than simply holding something. This pattern is useful when someone takes an item with them to another place.
この この means “this” in この案内板. It identifies the information board that is near the speakers. It is placed directly before the noun it specifies.
の の links この案内板 with 近く in この案内板の近くにいてください. It shows that the nearby area is associated with this information board. The pattern noun + の近く refers to the vicinity of a particular thing.
近く 近く means “near” or “nearby” in この案内板の近くにいてください. It identifies the area where the listener should stay. It is followed by に when describing the place where someone remains.
ください ください makes いてください a polite request. In this sentence, the whole expression asks the listener to stay near the sign. It is used after the relevant verb form to request an action politely.
変わる 変わる means “change” in ホームが変わるかもしれない. It refers to the possibility that the platform assignment may change. This verb is useful for describing a platform, schedule, or other arrangement becoming different.
かもしれない かもしれない expresses the possibility “may” or “might” in ホームが変わるかもしれない. In this fixed expression, かも adds the possibility nuance, しれ is the middle part of the expression, and ない completes its form; the parts work together rather than giving separate meanings here. It is useful when the speaker considers a change possible but is not certain.
ので ので means “because” or “since” in ホームが変わるかもしれないので. It gives the possible platform change as the reason for watching the board. A useful pattern is a reason clause followed by ので and the action taken because of it.
見 見 is the form of 見る used before て in 見ておきます. Here it means watching or checking the information board. The whole form 見ておきます says that the speaker will check it in advance.
おき おき is the part of おく used in 見ておきます. Together with 見て, it expresses checking or watching in advance so the speaker is prepared for a possible platform change. The reusable pattern is a verb in the て-form followed by おく.

Grammar Points

〜てあります

案内板に2番ホームと書いてあります。

ahn-NAI-bahn nee nee-bahn HOH-moo toh KAH-ee-teh ah-ree-MAHS

It says "Platform 2" on the information board.

「〜てあります」は、誰かがした行為の結果が、そのまま残っている状態を表します。

〜ておく

案内板を見ておきます。

ahn-NAI-bahn oh MEE-teh OH-kee-MAHS

I will check the information board in advance.

「〜ておく」は、将来のために前もって何かをすることを表します。

Japanese Vocabulary

10分後 phrase
jyu-POON-goh in ten minutes
2番ホーム phrase
nee-bahn HOH-moo platform two
ここ adv
KOH-koh here
どの det
doh-noh which
ホーム noun
HOH-moo platform
案内板 noun
ahn-NAI-bahn sign; information board
行く verb
EE-koo to go 行けば
指す verb
sah-soo to point to 指しています
字 noun
jee letter; character
小さい adj
chee-SAI small
電車 noun
DEN-shah train
読む verb
YOH-moo to read 読めません

Quiz

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

to point to

Show Answer指しています

to read

Show Answer読めません

which

Show Answerどの

platform

Show Answerホーム