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Home Japanese N5 Complete Mastery — Beginner Track Module 2: Kaiwa & Daily Conversation (会話・スピーチ) 会話 Conversation Lesson 05 — 甲子園へ行きますか (Station Navigation & Taking the Train)
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Lesson 29 · Module 2: Kaiwa & Daily Conversation (会話・スピーチ) · 会話 Conversation · N5 – Beginner

Lesson 05 — 甲子園へ行きますか (Station Navigation & Taking the Train)

Introduction In Minna no Nihongo Lesson 5 Conversation, we navigate the world's most intricate and punctual public transit system: Japan's railways! You will learn how to ask which train goes…

25 min Reading + Practice Conversation (Kaiwa) N5 – Beginner

Introduction

In Minna no Nihongo Lesson 5 Conversation, we navigate the world’s most intricate and punctual public transit system: Japan’s railways! You will learn how to ask which train goes to your destination (甲子園へ行きますか – Does this go to Koshien?), find out ticket fares (〜までいくらですか – How much to ~?), identify train platforms (何番線 – Nan-bansen), and distinguish between Local (普通 – Futsuu) and Rapid (快速 – Kaisoku) trains.

Learning Objectives

  • Buy train tickets at station ticket machines or ticket counters.
  • Ask station attendants which platform train departs from: 何番線ですか.
  • Inquire whether a specific train stops at your destination.
  • Distinguish between train categories: 普通 (Local), 急行 (Express), 快速 (Rapid).
  • Conclude station interactions smoothly and catch the correct train.
  • Solve 20 JLPT-format MCQs on transportation, destinations, and railway announcements.

Lesson Contents

Concept / Meaning

Situational Concept: At Japanese train stations, navigating platforms and train speeds is vital. When in doubt, ask station staff: 「甲子園へ行きますか」 (Does this go to Koshien?) or 「甲子園へは何番線ですか」 (Which platform for Koshien?).

नेपाली व्याख्या:

जापानको रेल प्रणाली संसारकै उत्कृष्ट र व्यस्त छ। स्टेशनमा पुग्दा टिकट काट्न ‘〜までいくらですか’ (कति भाडा लाग्छ?), कुन प्लेटफर्मबाट रेल छुट्छ ‘何番線ですか’ (कति नम्बर प्लेटफर्म?), र त्यो रेल आफ्नो गन्तव्यमा रोकिन्छ कि रोकिँदैन भनेर सोध्न ‘〜へ行きますか’ (त्यहाँ जान्छ?) भनिन्छ।

Japanese Form

客: すみません。甲子園まで いくらですか。

駅員: 350円です。

客: 350円ですね。ありがとうございました。

客: すみません。甲子園へは 何番線ですか。

駅員: 5番線です。

客: あの電車は 甲子園へ 行きますか。

駅員: いいえ。次の「快速」ですよ。

客: そうですか。どうも。

English Meaning

Passenger: Excuse me. How much is the fare to Koshien?

Station Attendant: It is 350 yen.

Passenger: 350 yen, right. Thank you.

Passenger: Excuse me. Which platform goes to Koshien?

Station Attendant: Platform 5.

Passenger: Does that train over there go to Koshien?

Station Attendant: No, it doesn’t. The next ‘Rapid’ train does.

Passenger: I see. Thank you.

Nepali Meaning

यात्रु: माफ गर्नुहोस्, कोशीएनसम्मको भाडा कति हो?

स्टेशन कर्मचारी: ३५० येन हो।

यात्रु: ३५० येन, हवस्। धन्यवाद।

यात्रु: माफ गर्नुहोस्, कोशीएन जान कति नम्बर प्लेटफर्म हो?

स्टेशन कर्मचारी: ५ नम्बर प्लेटफर्म हो।

यात्रु: त्यो रेल कोशीएन जान्छ?

स्टेशन कर्मचारी: अहँ जाँदैन। अब आउने अर्को ‘र्यापिड (छिटो जाने)’ रेल जान्छ।

यात्रु: ए त्यसो पो हो। धन्यवाद।

Detailed Explanation

Basic Rule

  1. Ask fare: [Destination] まで いくらですか.
  2. Ask platform: [Destination] へは 何番線（なんばんせん）ですか.
  3. Ask if train goes to destination: この電車は [Destination] へ 行きますか.
  4. Understand train types: 普通 (all stops), 快速/急行 (skips minor stops), 特急 (limited express).

Formation

Transit Phrase Romaji Meaning (Nepali)
甲子園まで いくらですか Koushien made ikura desu ka कोशीएनसम्म कति भाडा पर्छ?
何番線ですか Nan-bansen desu ka कति नम्बर प्लेटफर्म हो?
5番線 Go-bansen ५ नम्बर प्लेटफर्म
次の快速 Tsugi no kaisoku अब आउने अर्को र्यापिड रेल
あの電車 Ano densha उ त्यो रेल

Usage

Essential for everyday travel across Japan on JR lines, Tokyo Metro, Osaka Subway, and private railways.

Important Notes

  • Rapid (快速 – Kaisoku) trains do not require extra express tickets on regular JR lines, but Limited Express (特急 – Tokkyuu) usually requires an additional surcharge ticket (特急券).
  • Pay attention to destination board displays at platforms: 行先 (Destination), 種別 (Train type).
  • Japanese trains leave precisely on the designated second; arriving 1 minute late means missing the train!

Exceptions

If a train does not stop at your station, it is called 通過 (Tsuuka – Passing through).

Common Mistakes

Boarding a Rapid or Express train without checking if your small local station is a stop; you might be carried far past your destination.

Examples

Example 1

  • Japanese: すみません。新宿までいくらですか。200円です。
  • Reading: Sumimasen. Shinjuku made ikura desu ka. Ni-hyaku-en desu.
  • English: Excuse me. How much to Shinjuku? It is 200 yen.
  • Nepali: माफ गर्नुहोस्। शिन्जुकुसम्म कति पर्छ? २०० येन हो।

Example 2

  • Japanese: 東京行きは何番線ですか。3番線です。
  • Reading: Toukyou-yuki wa nan-bansen desu ka. San-bansen desu.
  • English: Which platform is the train bound for Tokyo? Platform 3.
  • Nepali: टोकियो जाने रेल कति नम्बर प्लेटफर्मबाट छुट्छ? ३ नम्बर प्लेटफर्मबाट।

Example 3

  • Japanese: この電車は京都へ行きますか。いいえ、行きません。
  • Reading: Kono densha wa Kyouto e ikimasu ka. Iie, ikimasen.
  • English: Does this train go to Kyoto? No, it doesn’t.
  • Nepali: यो रेल क्योटो जान्छ? अहँ, जाँदैन।

Vocabulary

Japanese Hiragana Meaning Example
駅員 えきいん Station attendant (स्टेशन कर्मचारी) 駅員に聞きました。
何番線 なんばんせん Which platform line (कति नम्बर प्लेटफर्म) 何番線ですか。
電車 でんしゃ Electric train (रेल / ट्रेन) 電車で行きます。
普通 ふつう Local train (stops at every station) (लोकल रेल (सबै स्टेशन रोकिने)) 普通電車に乗ります。
快速 かいそく Rapid train (र्यापिड रेल (छिटो पुग्ने)) 次の快速です。

Conversation Practice

Situation

Mr. Santos and Mr. Miller are at Osaka Station planning to attend a baseball match at Koshien Stadium.

Dialogue

サントス (Santos): すみません。甲子園まで いくらですか。 (Sumimasen. Koushien made ikura desu ka.)

駅員 (Attendant): 350円です。 (Sanbyaku gojuu-en desu.)

サントス (Santos): 350円ですね。ありがとうございました。 (Sanbyaku gojuu-en desu ne. Arigatou gozaimashita.)

駅員 (Attendant): どういたしまして。 (Douitashimashite.)

サントス (Santos): すみません。甲子園へは 何番線ですか。 (Sumimasen. Koushien e wa nan-bansen desu ka.)

駅員 (Attendant): 5番線です。 (Go-bansen desu.)

サントス (Santos): あの 電車は 甲子園へ 行きますか。 (Ano densha wa Koushien e ikimasu ka.)

駅員 (Attendant): いいえ。次の「快速」ですよ。 (Iie. Tsugi no ‘kaisoku’ desu yo.)

サントス (Santos): そうですか。どうも。 (Sou desu ka. Doumo.)

Translation

  • English:

Santos: Excuse me. How much is it to Koshien?

Attendant: It is 350 yen.

Santos: 350 yen, got it. Thank you very much.

Attendant: You are welcome.

Santos: Excuse me. Which platform is for Koshien?

Attendant: Platform 5.

Santos: Does that train over there go to Koshien?

Attendant: No. The next ‘Rapid’ train does.

Santos: I see. Thanks.

  • Nepali:

सान्तोस: माफ गर्नुहोस्, कोशीएनसम्म कति पर्छ होला?

स्टेशन कर्मचारी: ३५० येन हो।

सान्तोस: ३५० येन है। धेरै धेरै धन्यवाद।

स्टेशन कर्मचारी: स्वागत छ।

सान्तोस: माफ गर्नुहोस्, कोशीएन जान कति नम्बर प्लेटफर्म हो?

स्टेशन कर्मचारी: ५ नम्बर प्लेटफर्म हो।

सान्तोस: त्यो रेल कोशीएन जान्छ?

स्टेशन कर्मचारी: अहँ, जाँदैन। अब आउने अर्को ‘र्यापिड’ रेल जान्छ नि।

सान्तोस: ए त्यसो पो। धन्यवाद।

Speaking Practice

Practice saying: ‘Sumimasen. [Destination] e wa nan-bansen desu ka’ and ‘Kono densha wa [Destination] e ikimasu ka’.

Reading Practice

Short Reading

サントスさんは 友達と 甲子園へ 行きます。大阪駅から 電車に 乗ります。切符は 350円でした。5番線から 次の 快速電車に 乗りました。甲子園まで 15分でした。

Vocabulary Help

乗ります (のります – Board/Ride), 切符 (きっぷ – Ticket), 快速電車 (かいそくでんしゃ – Rapid train)

Reading Questions

  1. サントスさんは どこへ 行きましたか。
  2. 切符は いくらでしたか。
  3. 何番線から 乗りましたか。

Practice

Fill in the Blank

  1. 甲子園 [ _____ ] いくらですか。(まで / から)
  2. 甲子園へは 何 [ _____ ] ですか。(番線 / 階)
  3. 次の 快速 [ _____ ] よ。(です / でした)

Choose the Correct Answer

  1. Q: 駅で 乗り場（ホーム）を 聞く 表現は？

A: (a) 何番線ですか (b) 何時ですか (c) いくらですか

  1. Q: すべての 駅に 止まる 電車は？

A: (a) 普通 (b) 快速 (c) 特急

Sentence Formation

  1. (東京駅 / 200円 / まで / です)
  2. (4番線 / 電車 / 来ます / に)

Word Arrangement

  1. [ 行きますか / 甲子園へ / あの電車は ]
  2. [ 5番線 / 甲子園へは / です ]

Translation Practice

  1. Does this train go to Shibuya? (यो रेल शिबुया जान्छ?)
  2. Which platform goes to Kyoto? (क्योटो जान कति नम्बर प्लेटफर्म हो?)

Speaking Practice

Say out loud: ‘Sumimasen, Toukyou made ikura desu ka. Nan-bansen desu ka.’

Writing Practice

Write railway Kanji: 駅 (えき), 電 (でん), 車 (しゃ), 線 (せん).

Questions

Basic Questions

What counter is used for train platforms in Japanese?

Understanding Questions

Explain the difference between 普通 (Futsuu) and 快速 (Kaisoku).

Application Questions

Imagine you are lost at Shinjuku Station. How do you ask the attendant for the Yamanote line?

JLPT-style Questions

Platform announcement: ‘Mamonaku 2-bansen ni Toukyou-yuki ga mairimasu’. Which platform and train?

Meaning

Japanese Meaning

駅構内で乗車券の運賃、発車番線、列車の種別（普通・快速）を駅員に確認する実践的な移動会話である。

English Meaning

Essential situational conversation for navigating Japanese railway stations: asking fares, identifying platform numbers, and verifying train stopping patterns.

Nepali Meaning

जापानी रेल स्टेशनमा टिकटको मूल्य, प्लेटफर्म नम्बर र रेलको प्रकार (लोकल वा र्यापिड) कर्मचारीसँग सोधपुछ गर्ने अत्यन्तै उपयोगी यात्रा संवाद हो।

Important Vocabulary

駅員, 番線, 切符, 普通, 快速, 電車, 次

How to Learn

Step 1: Understand

Learn platform counter suffix: 〜番線 (Bansen).

Step 2: Memorize

Learn directional particle へ (pronounced ‘e’) and destination particle まで (made).

Step 3: Practice

Memorize train categories: Futsuu, Kaisoku, Kyuukou, Tokkyuu.

Step 4: Speak

Listen to recorded Japanese station chime and platform announcements.

Step 5: Read

Practice verifying trains with ‘Kono densha wa [Destination] e ikimasu ka’.

Step 6: Review

Understand train fare tables posted above ticket vending machines.

Memory Tips

Ban-sen = Number track (Track 1, Track 2).

Common Mistakes

Mistake 1

  • Incorrect: Saying ‘なんばんプラットフォーム’ (Nan-ban purattofoomu).
  • Correct Form: Use ‘何番線’ (Nan-bansen).
  • Why: While platform is understood, native railway Japanese uses ‘〜番線’ (Track/Platform number).

Mistake 2

  • Incorrect: Assuming all trains stopping at the platform go to your station.
  • Correct Form: Always verify if it is Local (普通) or Rapid (快速).
  • Why: Rapid trains skip smaller stations without stopping.

Lesson Exam

Test your knowledge before moving on. You can retry as many times as you like.

Question 1 of 20

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