Finding an accessible route to the platform | Learn Japanese in English

Sentence explanations

1. 恐れ入りますが、目的のホームへ行くためのバリアフリーな経路はありますか。

   Excuse me, is there an accessible way to reach the correct platform?

   恐れ入りますが

   Excuse me, but

   目的

   intended purpose or target

   ホーム

   platform

   行く

   go

   ための

   for the purpose of

   バリアフリーな

   accessible

   経路

   route

   ありますか

   is there?

   More detail

   恐れ入りますが is a polite fixed preface meaning “Excuse me, but…” or “I’m sorry to trouble you, but…”. It softens the request that follows. Example: 恐れ入りますが、お名前を教えてください。 — “Excuse me, but could you tell me your name?” 目的 means an aim, purpose, or intended target. Here, with の, it identifies the platform as the one intended for the speaker’s destination: 目的のホーム — “the correct/intended platform.” The noun 目的 is not an inflected form; の links it to the following noun. Example: 旅行の目的 — “the purpose of the trip.” ホーム is the railway-station word for “platform.” It is a Japanese loanword and does not mean a private home in this context. Example: 二番ホーム — “platform 2.” 行く is the dictionary form meaning “go.” In 行くための, it is used before ため to express purpose: “for going” or, naturally here, “in order to reach.” The related verb 来る means “come,” so the choice depends on the direction of movement. Example: 駅へ行く。 — “I go to the station.” ための is the pattern verb-dictionary form + ための + noun, meaning “for the purpose of …” or “intended for ….” Thus 行くための経路 is “a route for going/reaching [there].” The の after ため makes the purpose phrase modify the following noun. バリアフリーな means “barrier-free” or “accessible.” バリアフリー is a noun-like loanword, and な is the form used when it directly modifies a noun: バリアフリーな経路 — “an accessible route.” Example: バリアフリーな入口 — “an accessible entrance.” 経路 means “route,” “path,” or “way.” It is a noun and is somewhat more formal and route-focused than the broad everyday word 道, “road/way.” Example: 別の経路を使います。 — “I will use another route.” ありますか asks whether something exists or is available. It is the question form of ある, used for inanimate things such as routes, facilities, and options. Here it asks whether an accessible route exists; it does not itself assert that one exists. Example: 近くにトイレがありますか。 — “Is there a restroom nearby?” Putting the pieces together, 目的のホーム identifies the intended platform, 行くための says that the route is for reaching it, and バリアフリーな経路 specifies an accessible route. The whole utterance is therefore: “Excuse me, is there an accessible way to reach the correct platform?”

2. 一番近いエレベーターは、現在メンテナンスのため閉鎖されています。

   The closest elevator is closed for maintenance at the moment.

   一番近い

   closest

   エレベーター

   elevator

   現在

   at present

   メンテナンス

   maintenance

   のため

   for; because of

   閉鎖されています

   is closed

   More detail

   一番近い means “the closest.” 近い is the adjective “near/close”; 一番 places it at the highest degree in the relevant set. A useful pattern is 一番 + adjective: 一番新しい駅 means “the newest station.” The noun being described comes after the adjective here. エレベーター is the noun “elevator,” written in Japanese using a loanword form. In this sentence, 一番近いエレベーター is the noun phrase “the closest elevator.” 現在 means “at present” or “currently.” It sets the time of the closure. It is a more formal-sounding choice than everyday 今 (“now”) in many notices and explanations. メンテナンス means “maintenance.” It is a noun. Here it names the reason for the closure rather than an action performed by a person in the sentence. のため connects the preceding noun phrase to a reason or purpose. With メンテナンス, メンテナンスのため means “because of maintenance” or, naturally in this notice, “for maintenance.” For example, 工事のため入口を閉めています。 means “The entrance is closed because of construction.” 閉鎖されています means “is closed.” The underlying verb is 閉鎖する, “to close” or “shut,” and 閉鎖される is its passive form. The ています ending presents the resulting or ongoing state in a polite form; it is not the noun メンテナンス that carries this form. For example, 道路は閉鎖されています。 means “The road is closed.” The topic marker は follows エレベーター, making the elevator the topic: 一番近いエレベーターは. The full structure is 一番近いエレベーターは、現在メンテナンスのため閉鎖されています。: “As for the closest elevator, it is currently closed for maintenance.” The natural complete translation is “The closest elevator is closed for maintenance at the moment.”

3. 私の重いスーツケースがあるので、それは難しいかもしれません。

   That might be difficult with my heavy suitcase.

   私の

   my

   重い

   heavy

   スーツケース

   suitcase

   あるので

   because there is; because it exists

   それは

   that; as for that

   難しい

   difficult

   かもしれません

   might; may

   More detail

   私の means “my.” 私 is the first-person pronoun “I/me,” and の links it to the following noun to show possession or association: 私のスーツケース = “my suitcase.” 私 itself does not change for gender or grammatical case. 重い means “heavy” here. It is an い-adjective in its plain form and directly describes the following noun: 重いスーツケース = “a heavy suitcase.” Its negative form is 重くない (“not heavy”), and its past form is 重かった (“was heavy”). スーツケース is “suitcase,” a noun. Here it is described as heavy and is associated with the speaker through 私の. Japanese nouns do not change form for singular and plural in this expression. あるので combines ある and ので. ある is used for the existence or presence of a nonliving thing; its dictionary form is also ある. ので follows a plain-form clause and gives a reason, similar to “because” or “since.” Thus スーツケースがあるので presents the suitcase as present and gives that circumstance as the reason. Example: 時間があるので、歩きます。 — “Since I have time, I’ll walk.” それは means “that” or “as for that.” それ is a demonstrative pronoun, and は marks it as the topic. The translation supports the intended reading “that,” but the supplied texts do not specify a more precise referent. それ contrasts with これ (“this”) and あれ (“that over there”); the choice depends on the demonstrative system and context. 難しい means “difficult” here. It is an い-adjective in its plain form and predicates that the topical matter is difficult. Its negative form is 難しくない (“not difficult”), and its past form is 難しかった (“was difficult”). Example: この問題は難しいです。 — “This problem is difficult.” かもしれません expresses possibility: “might” or “may.” The pattern plain form + かもしれません presents a proposition as uncertain in a polite style. Here the plain adjective 難しい comes before it: 難しいかもしれません = “might be difficult.” A less formal version is かもしれない. Putting the parts together, 私の重いスーツケースがあるので gives the reason or circumstance, “because/with my heavy suitcase,” while それは難しいかもしれません says that the contextually understood matter may be difficult. The complete intended meaning is: “That might be difficult with my heavy suitcase.”

4. 北口のそばにあるエレベーターをお使いください。少し歩くことになります。

   Use the elevator by the north entrance. It adds a short walk.

   北口

   north entrance

   そばにある

   be beside

   エレベーター

   elevator

   お使いください

   please use

   少し

   a little

   歩く

   walk

   ことになります

   will mean that

   More detail

   北口 means “north entrance.” 北 is “north,” and 口 is “entrance” or “exit” depending on the setting; here, the fixed translation identifies it as the north entrance. The pattern XのY links a noun to another noun, as in 北口の案内 (“information for the north entrance”). そばにある means “is beside” or “is near.” そばに marks a nearby location, while ある is the existence verb used for nonliving things. Here, ある is in its plain form because the whole phrase modifies the following noun: 北口のそばにあるエレベーター means “the elevator that is by the north entrance.” エレベーター means “elevator.” It is the noun being identified by the preceding relative clause. Japanese places that clause directly before the noun it describes, without a relative pronoun such as “that.” お使いください is a polite request meaning “please use.” The lexical verb is 使う (“use”); in this form, its stem 使い combines with ください, and the initial お adds a respectful politeness pattern. Vてください is another common way to request an action, but this utterance uses the more formal おVください pattern. The request applies to the elevator named in the preceding phrase. 少し means “a little” or “a short amount.” Here it limits the amount of walking, not the identity of a person or object. For example, 少し待ってください。 means “Please wait a little.” 歩く means “walk.” This is the plain, dictionary form of the verb. In this sentence it appears before ことになります, which turns the action into a situation or outcome that will result. For example, 駅から少し歩くことになります。 means “It will mean walking a little from the station.” ことになります expresses that a situation will result or that circumstances will mean something happens. なる is the base verb “become”; ことになる is a construction in which an action or situation is presented as the resulting arrangement or consequence. Here, 歩くことになります means “it will mean that you walk” or, more naturally in the fixed translation, “it adds a short walk.” The polite ending is なります; this is not simply the ordinary future form of 歩く. Together, 北口のそばにあるエレベーター identifies the elevator as the one near the north entrance. お使いください politely recommends using it, and 少し歩くことになります adds that doing so entails a short amount of walking. The complete meaning is: “Use the elevator by the north entrance. It adds a short walk.”

5. そちらへの行き方を教えていただけますか。それとも、案内表示に従えば簡単に行けますか。

   Could you point me toward it, or are the signs easy to follow?

   そちらへ

   toward it

   行き方

   way of getting there

   教えていただけますか

   could you tell me?

   それとも

   or

   案内表示

   directional signs

   従えば

   if [one] follows

   簡単に

   easily

   行けますか

   can [one] go?

   More detail

   そちらへ points toward the destination referred to here as “it.” そちら is a polite demonstrative for a direction or place; the exact destination is not identified in this sentence. へ marks direction, so the reusable pattern is [destination]へ “toward/to [destination].” 行き方 means “way of going” or “how to get somewhere.” It is built from 行く “go” and 方 “way/manner,” with 行き serving as the form used in this compound. For example, 駅への行き方 means “how to get to the station.” 教えていただけますか is a polite request meaning “could you tell me?” 教える means “tell” or “teach.” ていただく expresses receiving someone’s help as a favor; here its potential polite form, いただけますか, asks whether the listener can do that favor. The pattern [information]を教えていただけますか is a respectful way to ask for information. For example, 住所を教えていただけますか。 means “Could you tell me the address?” それとも introduces the alternative in a choice between questions: “or.” It is especially common when the speaker asks one possibility and then asks about another. 案内表示 means “directional sign” or “guidance sign.” 案内 conveys guidance or information, while 表示 refers to a displayed indication; together they form a noun for a sign that provides directions. For example, 案内表示を確認してください。 means “Please check the directional signs.” 従えば means “if [someone] follows.” The base form is 従う, “follow” or “obey,” and -ば forms a conditional: 従えば = “if [someone] follows.” In this sentence, the thing followed is 案内表示, so the pattern is 案内表示に従えば “if one follows the directional signs.” 簡単に means “easily” here. It is the adverbial form of the na-adjective 簡単な, “easy” or “simple”; 簡単に describes how the going can be done. For example, この道なら簡単に行けます。 means “You can get there easily by this route.” 行けますか asks “can [someone] go?” The base verb is 行く “go”; its potential form is 行ける “be able to go,” and the polite form is 行けます. The final か marks the question. Thus 行けますか asks about feasibility or possibility, not simply whether someone is currently going. Taken together, そちらへの行き方を教えていただけますか asks politely for instructions on how to get to the destination. それとも then presents the alternative: 案内表示に従えば簡単に行けますか asks whether following the directional signs makes it easy to get there. The whole utterance is therefore: “Could you point me toward it, or are the signs easy to follow?”

6. 券売機を通り過ぎてから、青い案内表示に従ってください。

   Go past the ticket machines, then follow the blue signs.

   券売機

   ticket machine

   通り過ぎてから

   after passing

   青い

   blue

   案内表示

   directional sign

   従ってください

   please follow

   More detail

   券売機 means “ticket machine” or “ticket-vending machine.” In this sentence, 券売機を marks the ticket machines as what the person goes past. Japanese nouns do not generally show an obligatory singular/plural distinction, so the translation’s plural comes from the intended situation rather than a plural ending on 券売機. 通り過ぎてから uses the verb 通り過ぎる, “to pass by” or “to go past.” The observed form 通り過ぎて is its て-form, followed by から in the time pattern Vてから, “after doing V.” The action in Vてから happens first. Example: 駅に着いてから電話します。 — “I’ll call after I arrive at the station.” 青い is the i-adjective meaning “blue.” Its base form is 青い; useful related forms are 青くない (“not blue”) and 青かった (“was blue”). Here it describes 案内表示, so the signs are identified by their blue color. 案内表示 means “directional sign” or “guidance sign/display.” It is the noun marked by に in 案内表示に, the item that is followed. The same noun also appeared in the preceding context, where the signs were described as something one can follow. 従ってください is a polite request built from 従う, “to follow” or “to obey.” 従って is the verb’s て-form, and ください after a て-form makes a polite request: Vてください, “please do V.” Example: この道を進んでください。 — “Please continue along this road.” In the fixed sentence, 従ってください means “please follow,” with 案内表示に supplying what should be followed. Together, 券売機を通り過ぎてから gives the first step, “after going past the ticket machines,” and 青い案内表示に従ってください gives the requested next step, “please follow the blue signs.” The whole utterance therefore means: “Go past the ticket machines, then follow the blue signs.”

7. 今からでも、発車前にその電車に間に合いますか。

   Will I still reach the train before it leaves?

   今からでも

   even now; still

   発車前に

   before departure

   その

   that

   電車

   train

   間に合いますか

   will it be in time?

   More detail

   今からでも means “even starting now” or “even now.” 今から sets now as the starting point, and でも adds a concessive sense: despite starting at this point, the result may still be possible. For example, 今からでも間に合います。 means “It is still possible to make it even starting now.” 発車前に means “before departure.” 発車 is the noun “departure,” especially the departure of a vehicle such as a train, and 前に places an event before that time. 発車する is the related verb “to depart.” In this sentence, the departure is the time limit, not an action performed by the omitted speaker. その is an attributive demonstrative placed before a noun. Here it identifies the train intended by the fixed translation as “the train”; its exact discourse reference is not otherwise specified. It does not by itself state whether the train is physically near or far. 電車 means “train,” commonly an electric passenger train. The combination その電車 is “that/the train.” 間に合いますか contains the verb 間に合う, “to be in time” or “to make it in time,” in its polite nonpast form 間に合います, followed by か to form a yes-or-no question. The nonpast form can refer to a future possibility here; the time expressions establish the future deadline. For example, 開始時間に間に合いますか。 means “Will you make it in time for the start time?” The nearby particle に after 電車 marks what the speaker must catch or be in time for: その電車に間に合いますか means “Will I make that train in time?” Taken together, 今からでも sets the starting point as now while leaving open the possibility of success, 発車前に sets the deadline as before departure, and その電車に間に合いますか asks whether the speaker will make that train in time. Thus the whole utterance means, “Will I still reach the train before it leaves?” The subject is omitted in Japanese; the fixed translation supplies “I” for this question.

8. 今出発すれば、余裕を持ってそこに着けるはずです。

   If you leave now, you should get there with time to spare.

   今

   now

   出発すれば

   if someone departs

   余裕

   extra time; room to spare

   持って

   having; with

   そこ

   there

   着ける

   can arrive

   はずです

   should; is expected to

   More detail

   今 means “now” here. It is a time word and can be placed before an action to set its timing. In the fixed sentence, it modifies 出発すれば: leaving now, rather than at some unspecified time. 出発すれば is the conditional form of 出発する (“to depart; to leave”). The ending -ば gives a condition: V-ば means “if/when someone does V.” Thus 出発すれば means “if you leave/depart,” with the actor understood from the situation rather than encoded in this form. Example: 早く出発すれば、間に合います。 — “If you leave early, you will make it in time.” 余裕 means spare room or a comfortable margin. In this sentence it refers to having enough time, not to a specific measured amount. The related expression 時間に余裕がある means “to have plenty of time.” 持って is the -te form of 持つ (“to have; to hold; to possess”). In 余裕を持って, it forms the useful expression “with a margin” or “allowing extra time.” The object marker を shows that 余裕 is what is possessed or maintained. Example: 余裕を持って出かけます。 — “I’ll set out with plenty of time to spare.” そこ means “there,” referring to a place identified by the conversation or situation. Japanese demonstratives distinguish location: ここ means “here,” そこ means “there” in relation to the addressee or an already identified place, and あそこ means “over there.” The supplied translation confirms that the intended meaning here is reaching that place. 着ける is the potential form of the verb 着く (“to arrive; to reach a destination”). 着く is a godan verb, so its potential form is 着ける, meaning “can arrive” or “can reach.” This is different from 着る (“to put on/wear”), whose pronunciation is also represented as きる but whose form and meaning are unrelated. Example: 駅に着けます。 — “I can reach the station.” はずです expresses an expectation or conclusion based on the available circumstances: “should,” “is expected to,” or “ought to.” はず is a noun meaning an expected result or a reasoned expectation, and です gives the expression a polite form. It does not itself guarantee that the result will occur. Here, the expectation is that the person will be able to reach そこ with spare time if they leave now. Together, 今出発すれば sets the condition “if you leave now.” 余裕を持って describes the comfortable time margin, and そこに着ける says that reaching that place is possible. The polite conclusion はずです presents this as a well-founded expectation: “If you leave now, you should be able to get there with time to spare.”

9. では、今からそちらへ向かいます。

   I'll head that way now.

   では

   then / well then

   今から

   from now

   そちら

   that way / there

   向かいます

   will head toward

   More detail

   では is a transition marker meaning “then” or “well then” here. It connects this speaker’s next action with what has just been established. It is not part of the verb 向かいます. 今から means “from now” or “starting now.” 今 is “now,” and から marks the starting point of a time span. The same pattern is reusable with other time expressions: 明日から means “starting tomorrow.” そちら is a polite demonstrative referring to a place or direction associated with the listener or with the conversationally established destination. In this sentence, the translation supports the directional reading “that way.” Demonstratives such as こちら (“this way/here”), そちら (“that way/there”), and あちら (“over that way/there”) can refer to locations or directions; the exact referent must come from context. 向かいます is the polite nonpast form of 向かう, “to head toward” or “to make one’s way toward.” The nonpast form can describe a future action when the sentence contains a future-time expression or an intention, as 今から does here. The form chain is 向かう → 向かいます; ます makes the statement polite. 向かう focuses on movement toward a destination, while 行く is the more general “go.” Together, では、今からそちらへ向かいます means “Well then, I’ll head that way now.” へ marks そちら as the direction of movement, and 向かいます expresses the speaker’s polite intention or forthcoming action.】【。

10. 途中で助けが必要になったら、改札の係員に尋ねてください。

    Ask the gate staff if you need help on the way.

    途中で

    on the way

    助け

    help

    必要になったら

    if you need it

    改札

    ticket gate

    係員

    staff member

    尋ねてください

    please ask

    More detail

    途中で uses 途中 for the middle or course of something, with で marking the setting or point where an event occurs. Here it means “on the way,” referring to the journey rather than a specific person or object. A reusable pattern is 場所・場面で + event: an event happens at/in that place or situation. 助け is the noun “help” or “assistance.” In this sentence it is the help that may become necessary; it is not itself the request to ask. For example, 助けが必要です。 means “I need help.” 必要になったら expresses a condition: literally, “if it becomes necessary,” understood here as “if you need [help].” 必要 means “necessary,” and なる means “become”; 必要になる is therefore “become necessary.” The form なったら is the past form なった of なる followed by ら, forming a たら conditional. たら can introduce an “if” or “when” condition, depending on context. 改札 means “ticket gate” or “ticket-gate area.” It commonly refers to the place where tickets or transit cards are checked, rather than to the staff member working there. 係員 means “staff member” or “person in charge.” It is a useful general word for an employee assigned to handle a particular area or role. Here it identifies the person to ask at the ticket gate. 尋ねてください is a polite request meaning “please ask” or “please inquire.” 尋ねる is the base verb “to ask/inquire,” and 尋ねて is its te-form. Adding ください to a te-form makes a polite request: V-てください means “please do V.” For example, 係員に尋ねてください。 means “Please ask a staff member.” Together, 途中で助けが必要になったら sets the condition “if you need help on the way,” 改札の係員に identifies the destination of the asking as “the ticket-gate staff member,” and 尋ねてください gives the polite instruction “please ask.” The whole utterance is: “Ask the gate staff if you need help on the way.”