Finding the Correct Platform After a Change | Learn Japanese in English

Japanese lesson set in a contemporary Tokyo everyday setting: At a train station, two adults respond to a platform change and keep their tickets ready before boarding..

EN → JA / Level: A2

About This Lesson

Use Finding the Correct Platform After a Change to practice Japanese conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

A

さっき放送を聞きましたか。

SAHK-kee hoh-SOH oh kee-kee-mah-SHTAH kah Did you hear the announcement just now?
B

列車は別のホームから出発します。

REHSH-shah wah beh-TSOO-noh HOH-moo kah-RAH doo-PAHT-soo-shee-mahss The train is leaving from a different platform.
A

電光掲示板には、代わりに別のホームを使うように書いてあります。

DEN-koh KAY-jee-bahn nee-wah, kah-wah-REE nee beh-TSOO-noh HOH-moo oh tsuh-KAH-yoo YOO-nee KAH-ee-teh ah-ree-MAHSS The board says we should use the other platform instead.
B

では、今すぐ案内表示に従いましょう。

deh-WAH, ee-MAH soo-GOO ah-NAH-ee hyoh-JEE nee shee-tah-GAH-ee-mah-SHOH Then we should follow the signs now.
A

そこへ行くのに十分な時間がありますか。

SOH-koh eh EE-koo noh-nee JOO-boon-ah JEE-kahn ah-ree-mahss kah Do we have enough time to get there?
B

今出れば、間に合います。

ee-MAH DEH-reh-bah, mah-nee ah-ee-MAHSS We do if we leave now.
A

チケットをすぐ出せるようにしておきます。

CHEE-keht-toh oh soo-GOO deh-SEH-roo YOO-nee shee-TEH oh-kee-MAHSS I'll keep my ticket ready.
B

チケットをすぐ出せるようにしておいてください。乗る前に係員が確認するかもしれません。

CHEE-keht-toh oh soo-GOO deh-SEH-roo YOO-nee shee-TEH oh-EE-teh koo-DAH-sah-ee; NOH-roo MAH-eh nee kah-kah-ree-EEN gah kah-KOO-nin soo-ROO kah-moh shee-REH-mahss Keep it handy; staff may check it before we board.

Word by Word

さっき さっき means “just now” in this dialogue, referring to the announcement heard a short time ago. It commonly appears before an action, as in the new example さっき電話しました。 Use it when asking about or describing something that happened very recently.
放送 放送 means “announcement” or “broadcast” here, specifically the station announcement in さっき放送を聞きましたか。 It can be used with を and 聞く when someone hears a broadcast. Use it at a station or another place where information is announced publicly.
を を marks 放送 as the thing heard in 放送を聞きましたか。 The pattern is [thing]を聞く, meaning “hear [thing].” Use it when identifying the direct object of an action.
聞きました 聞きました means “heard” in this question, referring to hearing the station announcement. This is the polite completed form used in さっき放送を聞きましたか。 A common reuse pattern is [sound or information]を聞きました, for example in the new example 音楽を聞きました。
か か turns さっき放送を聞きました into a polite yes-or-no question. It is placed at the end of the sentence in さっき放送を聞きましたか。 Use it when asking whether someone did or knows something.
列車 列車 means “train” in 列車は別のホームから出発します。 It is the train being discussed at the station. Use it as the topic with は when explaining where a train departs from.
は は marks 列車 as the topic in 列車は別のホームから出発します。 The sentence gives information about this train. Use the pattern [topic]は[information] when introducing or continuing a topic.
別 別 means “different” or “another” in 別のホーム, identifying a platform different from the one expected. It is followed by の before the noun it describes. Use the pattern 別の＋noun when referring to another option or place.
の の links 別 to ホーム in 別のホーム, meaning “a different platform.” The pattern is [description]の＋noun. Use it to connect a noun-like description to the following noun.
ホーム ホーム means “train platform” in 別のホーム. It refers to the place from which the train departs, not a house. Use it with の to identify a platform, as in the new example 三番ホーム.
から から means “from” in 別のホームから出発します, showing the departure point. The pattern is [place]から出発する, meaning “depart from [place].” Use it when stating where a train or person starts.
出発します 出発します means “departs” or “leaves” in 列車は別のホームから出発します. The polite form is used for the train’s planned departure. Use it after a place marked with から, as in the new example バスは駅から出発します。
電光掲示板 電光掲示板 means “electronic information board” in 電光掲示板には、代わりに別のホームを使うように書いてあります。 It is the station board displaying the platform instruction. Use it when referring to written travel information shown electronically.
に に marks 電光掲示板 as the place where the information is written in 電光掲示板には、代わりに別のホームを使うように書いてあります。 Here it appears with は as には to focus on what is written on the board. Use [place or surface]に書いてあります for information that is written there.
代わり 代わり means “instead” or “in place of” in 代わりに別のホームを使うように書いてあります。 With に, it introduces the replacement choice. Use the pattern 代わりに＋action or noun when one option replaces another.
使う 使う means “use” in 別のホームを使うように書いてあります, referring to using the other platform. It is followed by ように as part of the written instruction. Use it with the object marked by を, as in the new example この入口を使う。
よう よう is part of 使うように書いてあります and helps express what the board instructs people to do: use the other platform. In this construction, the action before ように is the content of the written instruction. Use [verb]ように書いてあります when something is written to tell people what to do.
書いて 書いて means “written” as part of 書いてあります, describing information that appears on the board. Together with あります, it describes the current state of something that has been written. Use [content]が書いてあります when written information is present.
あります あります completes 書いてあります, meaning that the instruction is written and remains displayed on the board. Here it describes the existing state of the written information. Use it after 書いて to say that something is written somewhere.
では では means “then” or “well then” in では、今すぐ案内表示に従いましょう。 It connects the new decision to the information just given. Use it at the start of a response when moving to the next action.
今 今 means “now” in 今すぐ案内表示に従いましょう, emphasizing the present moment. It commonly appears before an action that should happen at this time. Use it with すぐ when an action should begin immediately.
すぐ すぐ means “right away” in 今すぐ案内表示に従いましょう。 It makes the timing of following the signs immediate. Use 今すぐ＋verb when telling someone to do something without delay.
案内表示 案内表示 means “directional signs” in 案内表示に従いましょう。 It refers to the signs that guide passengers through the station. Use it with に従う when someone follows directions shown by signs.
従いましょう 従いましょう means “let’s follow” in 案内表示に従いましょう。 It proposes that the speakers follow the station signs together. Use the pattern [instructions or signs]に従いましょう when suggesting that people follow guidance.
そこ そこ means “there” in そこへ行くのに十分な時間がありますか, referring to the other platform or destination already understood from the conversation. It points to a place near the listener or a previously mentioned place. Use it with へ行く to say “go there.”
へ へ marks the direction toward the destination in そこへ行く. It means “to” or “toward” and is placed after the destination. Use the pattern [place]へ行く when describing movement toward a place.
行く 行く means “go” in そこへ行くのに十分な時間がありますか。 It describes moving to the other platform. Use it after a destination marked with へ, as in the new example 駅へ行く。
十分 十分 means “enough” or “sufficient” in 十分な時間, describing the amount of time needed to reach the platform. Before the noun 時間, it takes the linking form な. Use the pattern 十分な＋noun when saying that there is enough of something.
な な links 十分 to 時間 in 十分な時間, making the description “enough time.” It appears between this type of description and the noun it modifies. Use the pattern [description]な＋noun when that linking form is required.
時間 時間 means “time” in 十分な時間がありますか, referring to the time available before boarding. It is the thing whose sufficiency is being asked about. Use 十分な時間がある when asking or saying that there is enough time.
が が marks 十分な時間 as the subject of ありますか in 十分な時間がありますか。 The question asks whether enough time exists. Use [amount or thing]がある when stating that something is available or exists.
出れば 出れば means “if we leave” in 今出れば、間に合います, giving the condition for arriving in time. The form connects leaving now with the result of making it. Use the pattern 今出れば、[result] when stating what will happen if someone leaves now.
間に合います 間に合います means “will make it in time” in 今出れば、間に合います。 It says that leaving now will allow them to arrive before the relevant time. Use it with a time or event when saying that someone will be on time.
チケット チケット means “ticket” in チケットをすぐ出せるようにしておきます。 It is the ticket that the travelers want to present quickly. Use it with を and 出す or 出せる when talking about taking out or presenting a ticket.
出せる 出せる means “can take out” or “can present” in チケットをすぐ出せるようにしておきます。 It describes being able to produce the ticket quickly when staff asks for it. Use the pattern [object]を出せる when someone can take out or show an object.
して して means “make or keep” as part of チケットをすぐ出せるようにしておきます。 The whole expression means to keep the ticket in a state where it can be taken out immediately. Use [状態]ようにしておく when preparing or keeping something ready for a later need.
おきます おきます means “do in advance” or “keep ready” in チケットをすぐ出せるようにしておきます。 Together with して, it shows preparation before boarding or a possible ticket check. Use [verb]ておく when doing something beforehand for a later situation.
おいて おいて means “keep it that way” in チケットをすぐ出せるようにしておいてください。 Together with ください, it asks the listener to prepare the ticket in advance so it can be presented quickly. Use [verb]ておいてください when requesting advance preparation.
ください ください makes チケットをすぐ出せるようにしておいてください a polite request: please keep the ticket ready. It follows the て-form of the action being requested. Use [verb]てください for a polite request to do something.
乗る 乗る means “board” in 乗る前に係員が確認するかもしれません, referring to getting on the train. It is followed by 前に to mark the time before boarding. Use the pattern [vehicle]に乗る when saying that someone boards or rides a vehicle.
前 前 means “before” in 乗る前に, referring to the time before boarding the train. With に, it places the staff check before that action. Use the pattern [verb]る前に＋action for something done before an action.
係員 係員 means “staff member” in 乗る前に係員が確認するかもしれません。 It refers to the station staff who may check the ticket. Use it as the person marked by が when describing what a staff member may do.
確認する 確認する means “check” or “confirm” in 係員が確認するかもしれません, referring to checking the ticket before boarding. It takes the item being checked with を, as in the new example チケットを確認する。 Use it when verifying information or an item.
かもしれません かもしれません means “may” or “might” in 係員が確認するかもしれません, expressing that a staff member possibly will check the ticket. The component かも signals possibility, and しれません completes the polite expression meaning “may or might.” Use [verb]かもしれません when making a cautious possibility statement.

Grammar Points

～てあります

電光掲示板に案内表示が書いてあります。

DEN-koh KAY-jee-bahn nee ah-NAH-ee hyoh-JEE gah KAH-ee-teh ah-ree-MAHSS

A directional sign is written on the electronic display board.

～てあります describes a state resulting from someone’s intentional action; the result remains visible.

～ようにしておく

チケットをすぐ出せるようにしておきます。

CHEE-keht-toh oh soo-GOO deh-SEH-roo YOO-nee shee-TEH oh-kee-MAHSS

I will keep the ticket ready so I can take it out immediately.

～ようにしておく means making preparations in advance so that a desired situation will be possible.

Japanese Vocabulary

さっき adv
SAHK-kee just now; a little while ago
ホーム noun
HOH-moo platform
案内表示 noun
ah-NAH-ee hyoh-JEE directional sign; guidance display
使う verb
tsuh-KAH-oo to use
出発する verb
doo-PAHT-soo-roo to depart; to leave 出発します
書く verb
KAH-koo to write 書いてあります
代わりに adv
kah-wah-REE nee instead; alternatively
電光掲示板 noun
DEN-koh KAY-jee-bahn electronic display board
聞く verb
kee-koo to hear; to listen 聞きました
別の det
beh-TSOO-noh different; another
放送 noun
hoh-SOH announcement; broadcast
列車 noun
REHSH-shah train

Quiz

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

to hear; to listen

Show Answer聞きました

instead; alternatively

Show Answer代わりに

to depart; to leave

Show Answer出発します

electronic display board

Show Answer電光掲示板