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

Sentence explanations

1. さっき放送を聞きましたか。

   Did you hear the announcement just now?

   さっき

   just now

   放送

   announcement

   聞きましたか

   did you hear?

   More detail

   さっき means “just now” or “a little while ago.” It refers to a recent time before the current moment. Example: さっき電話しました。— “I called a little while ago.” 放送 means a broadcast or announcement delivered through a public system. In this sentence, it is the announcement the listener may have heard. Example: 放送を聞きます。— “I listen to the announcement.” 聞きましたか comes from the verb 聞く, “to hear” or “to listen.” The form 聞きました is the polite past form, so it presents the hearing as completed; final か turns the statement into a yes-or-no question. The subject is not stated in Japanese and is understood from context rather than from the verb form itself. Example: 音楽を聞きましたか。— “Did you listen to the music?” Together, さっき identifies the recent time, 放送を marks the announcement as what was heard, and 聞きましたか asks politely whether that hearing happened. The whole utterance means: “Did you hear the announcement just now?”

2. 列車は別のホームから出発します。

   The train is leaving from a different platform.

   列車

   train

   別の

   different; another

   ホーム

   platform

   から

   from

   出発します

   leaves; departs

   More detail

   列車 means “train.” It is a noun; in this sentence, 列車は makes “the train” the topic. は marks what the sentence is about, while the specific identity of the train comes from the fixed context and translation. 別の means “different” or “another” before a noun. The pattern 別の + noun identifies a noun as different from one already relevant: 別の駅 means “another station.” Here, 別の modifies ホーム, not 列車. ホーム means “platform” in the railway sense. This is a Japanese loanword and does not mean a residence in this context. Example: ホームで待ちます。 — “I will wait on the platform.” から marks the starting point or source of an action. With a departure verb, 場所から出発する means “depart from a place.” It can also mark a starting point in other contexts, such as 東京から来ました。 — “I came from Tokyo.” 出発します means “leaves” or “departs” here. Its base form is 出発する; 出発します is the polite nonpast form. Japanese nonpast forms can describe a present or scheduled event, and the fixed translation establishes the intended reading here: the train is leaving. The verb is 出発する, not ホーム. Together, 列車は sets the train as the topic, 別のホーム identifies a different platform, から marks that platform as the departure point, and 出発します states the departure. The whole utterance means: “The train is leaving from a different platform.”

3. 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。

   The board says we should use the other platform instead.

   電光掲示板

   electronic display board

   代わりに

   instead

   別の

   another; different

   ホーム

   platform

   使う

   use

   ように

   as instructed to

   書いてあります

   is written; says

   More detail

   電光掲示板 means “electronic display board.” It is a compound noun: 電光 relates to electric light, and 掲示板 is a board for displaying notices. In this sentence, には presents the board as the place or source where the written information appears. The は adds a topic contrast or focus; it is not part of the noun itself. 代わりに means “instead” or “in place of something else.” It marks a replacement choice. In this sentence, the notice directs the reader or listener to use another platform instead of an option that is not stated explicitly. A reusable pattern is A の代わりに B (“B instead of A”); here, the replaced option is not stated explicitly in the sentence. 別の modifies the noun that follows it and means “another” or “different.” It is a noun-modifying form, not an inflected adjective in this use. Compare 別の方法 (“another method”) and 同じ方法 (“the same method”). The sentence identifies the platform as different from the relevant platform, without specifying any further difference. ホーム is the borrowed noun used here for a railway platform. Its meaning in this sentence is not the English internet-related sense of “home.” A reusable example is このホームで待ちます。 — “I will wait on this platform.” 使う is the dictionary form meaning “to use.” It is a regular Japanese verb whose basic form ends in う; its polite form is 使います, and its negative form is 使わない. In 使うように, the verb remains in the plain form before the construction; the following ように gives the instruction or desired manner. ように here forms Vように書いてあります: the writing is arranged to instruct or indicate that someone should do V. Thus 別のホームを使うように means “to use the other platform” as the action specified by the notice. This is different from simply treating ように as a standalone word meaning “like”; its function here is part of a grammar pattern expressing an instruction, aim, or desired result. 書いてあります is the polite form of 書いてある. The verb 書く (“to write”) appears in the て form 書いて, followed by ある, which presents the resulting written state as existing. In a notice context, this naturally means “it is written” or “the notice says.” The grammatical subject of 書いてあります is not stated; the sentence leaves the written content as the relevant information on the display board. Putting the parts together: 電光掲示板には identifies the electronic display board as the information source; 代わりに marks a replacement; 別のホームを means “the other platform” as the object of 使う; and 使うように書いてあります says that this instruction is written there. The complete meaning is: “The board says we should use the other platform instead.”

4. では、今すぐ案内表示に従いましょう。

   Then we should follow the signs now.

   では

   then

   今すぐ

   right now

   案内表示

   signs

   従いましょう

   let’s follow

   More detail

   では means “then” here and links this proposal to what has just been established. It can also introduce a topic in other contexts, but this sentence uses it as a transition to the next action. 今すぐ means “right now” or “immediately.” 今 is “now,” and すぐ means “soon” or “without delay”; together they make the stronger time expression “right now.” Example: 今すぐ来てください。— “Please come right now.” 案内表示 is a noun meaning “directional sign” or “guidance display.” 案内 means guidance or directions, while 表示 means a display or indication. The compound refers to a sign that gives directions, rather than to the act of following it. 従いましょう is the polite volitional form of 従う, “to follow” or “to comply with.” The form 従いましょう proposes the action politely: “let’s follow.” The ending ましょう can express a joint proposal when the speaker includes the listener. Example: 指示に従いましょう。— “Let’s follow the instructions.” Together, では、今すぐ案内表示に従いましょう。 means “Then we should follow the signs right now.” The structure is: “then” + “right now” + “directional signs” + “let’s follow.”

5. そこへ行くのに十分な時間がありますか。

   Do we have enough time to get there?

   そこへ

   there; to there

   行く

   go

   のに

   in order to

   十分な

   enough; sufficient

   時間

   time

   ありますか

   do we have...? / is there...?

   More detail

   そこへ means “to there” in this sentence. そこ is a demonstrative for a place, and へ marks the direction or destination of movement. The destination is understood as the place referred to by “there”; the sentence itself does not specify its name. 行く is the dictionary form meaning “to go.” It is also the form used before の here, so it can be turned into a noun-like clause: 行くの = “going” or “to go.” のに has two parts in this use. の nominalizes the preceding action, and に marks purpose. Thus 行くのに means “for going” or, more naturally, “in order to go.” Do not confuse this purpose pattern with another use of のに meaning “although”; the surrounding meaning here is required time for reaching a destination. 十分な means “sufficient” or “enough.” 十分 is the base word, and な is used when this type of descriptive word directly modifies a noun: 十分な時間 = “enough time.” Example: 十分な水があります。 — “There is enough water.” 時間 means “time.” In this sentence it refers to the available amount of time for the trip, not to a particular clock time. Example: 時間がありません。 — “There is no time.” ありますか is the polite question form of ある, “to exist” or “to be available.” The polite non-past form is あります, and か turns it into a question. Japanese commonly uses Xがあります for “there is X” and, in context, “we have X” when X is available. Here 時間がありますか asks whether enough time is available. The subject “we” is supplied by the fixed translation and context rather than expressed as a separate Japanese pronoun. Putting the parts together: そこへ行くのに = “in order to go there,” 十分な時間 = “enough time,” and ありますか = “is there / do we have?” The complete utterance means: “Do we have enough time to get there?”

6. 今出れば、間に合います。

   We do if we leave now.

   今

   now

   出れば

   if [someone] leaves

   間に合います

   be in time

   More detail

   今 means “now,” referring to the present moment. It can also modify a time expression, as in 今朝 (“this morning”), but here it directly sets the time for 出れば. 出れば is the conditional form of 出る, “to leave” or “to go out.” The form chain is 出る (base form) → 出れば (if [someone] leaves). The -ば ending presents the condition; it does not itself specify the subject. Here, the fixed translation identifies the omitted subject as “we.” Example: 早く出れば、間に合います。— “If we leave early, we will be in time.” 間に合います is the polite nonpast form of 間に合う, “to be in time” or “to make it in time.” The polite form is 間に合います; the plain nonpast form is 間に合う. This verb is used when an action or arrival happens before a required time or deadline. Example: 八時に間に合います。— “I’ll be in time for eight o’clock.” Together, 今出れば forms the condition “if we leave now,” and 間に合います gives the result “we will be in time.” Japanese leaves the subject unstated here, while the fixed translation supplies “we”: “If we leave now, we will make it in time.”

7. チケットをすぐ出せるようにしておきます。

   I'll keep my ticket ready.

   チケット

   ticket

   すぐ

   right away

   出せる

   can take out

   ようにしておきます

   will make sure to keep it that way

   More detail

   チケット is a noun meaning “ticket.” In this sentence it is marked as the object with を: チケットを means “the ticket” as the thing the speaker will prepare. The Japanese does not separately state “my,” but the fixed translation identifies it as the speaker’s ticket. Example: チケットを見せます。— “I show the ticket.” すぐ means “right away” or “soon,” depending on the situation. Here it modifies 出せる, so it indicates that the ticket can be taken out promptly when needed. 出せる is the potential form of 出す, “to take out,” “to produce,” or “to hand out,” with the relevant meaning here being “can take out.” The potential form expresses ability or possibility: 出す → 出せる. This is different from 出す, which simply states the act of taking something out. Example: すぐ出せます。— “I can take it out right away.” ようにしておきます combines ようにする with the auxiliary おく. ようにする means “make sure that something becomes possible” or “arrange things so that a condition is met.” おく adds the idea of doing this in advance and leaving the preparation in place. The polite ending ます makes the statement courteous. Thus, 出せるようにしておきます means “I will make sure it is possible to take it out” or, naturally here, “I will keep it ready.” Example: いつでも使えるようにしておきます。— “I’ll keep it ready for use at any time.” The pattern verb-potential + ようにしておく is reusable for advance preparation: V-られるようにしておく means “make sure one can V” or “prepare things so that V is possible.” Putting the parts together, チケットを identifies the ticket being prepared, すぐ出せる describes the desired condition—that it can be taken out promptly—and ようにしておきます says the speaker will arrange and maintain that condition in advance. The whole utterance therefore means: “I’ll keep my ticket ready.”

8. 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。

   Keep it handy; staff may check it before we board.

   チケット

   ticket

   すぐ

   right away

   出せる

   can take out

   ようにしておいてください

   please arrange it so

   乗る

   board

   前に

   before

   係員

   staff member

   確認する

   check

   かもしれません

   may; might

   More detail

   チケット means “ticket.” It is a loanword used here for the item that should be ready. Example: チケットを見せます。 — “I’ll show my ticket.” すぐ means “immediately” or “without delay.” Here it modifies the act of taking the ticket out, so the intended idea is that it can be produced quickly. Example: すぐ行きます。 — “I’ll go right away.” 出せる is the potential form of 出す (“take out,” “produce,” or “present”), so here it means “be able to take out or present.” The potential form expresses ability or feasibility; it does not itself mean that the action is actually performed. Example: 身分証を出せます。 — “I can present my ID.” ようにしておいてください combines ようにする with ておく and the polite request ください. ようにする means to arrange or make things so that a desired state or action is possible; ておく adds the idea of doing this in advance and leaving the preparation in place. Thus, with the preceding 出せる, it asks the listener to prepare the ticket so it will be readily presentable. Example: すぐ連絡できるようにしておいてください。 — “Please make sure you can get in touch right away.” 乗る means “get on” or “board” a vehicle. Its dictionary form is 乗る; 乗る前に uses that form before 前に to mean “before boarding.” Example: 電車に乗る前に、切符を確認します。 — “I check my ticket before getting on the train.” 前に means “before” when it follows an action or event. In 乗る前に, the event used as the reference point is boarding. The pattern verb-dictionary form + 前に is reusable: 寝る前に歯を磨きます。 — “I brush my teeth before going to bed.” 係員 means “staff member” or “attendant.” The particle が marks this staff member as the subject of the following action, so the staff member is the one who may check the ticket. Example: 係員が案内します。 — “A staff member will give directions.” 確認する means “check” or “verify.” It is a noun-plus-する verb: 確認 means confirmation or checking, and 確認する means to carry out that check. Example: 名前を確認します。 — “I’ll check the name.” かもしれません expresses possibility: “may” or “might.” In this sentence it makes the staff member’s checking uncertain, not the ticket’s readiness. It is a polite form; the plain form is かもしれない. Example: 明日は雨かもしれません。 — “It might rain tomorrow.” Together, チケットをすぐ出せるようにしておいてください asks the listener to prepare the ticket in advance so it can be taken out or presented immediately. 乗る前に sets boarding as the time before which this should be ready. 係員が確認するかもしれません says that a staff member may check it. The whole utterance therefore means: “Keep it handy; staff may check it before we board.”