Travel & Places

映画館えいがかんの出口でぐちは建物たてものの反対側はんたいがわにあります。

The cinema exit is on the other side of the building.

Usage 出口 pairs with 入口. 非常口 (ひじょうぐち) = emergency exit — note 口 voices to ぐち after another word.

Remember it 出 (to go out) + 口 (opening). The opening you go out through.

美術館びじゅつかんの入口いりぐちで荷物にもつを預あずけました。

I left my bag at the entrance to the art museum.

Usage 入口 and 出口 appear as a pair on every sign in Japan. The same 口 gives 改札口 (ticket gate) and 窓口 (service counter).

Remember it 入 (to enter) + 口 (opening). The opening you come in through.

駅えきの近くちかくにある安いやすいホテルを予約よやくしました。

I booked a cheap hotel near the station.

Usage ビジネスホテル means a compact budget hotel, not one for business travellers only. Nights are counted with 泊 (はく): 一泊二日 = one night, two days.

Remember it From English 'hotel', three mora: ほ-て-る. Its Japanese counterpart is 旅館.

温泉おんせんのある旅館りょかんに泊まってとまって、浴衣ゆかたを着ましたきました。

I stayed at a ryokan with a hot spring and wore a yukata.

Usage A 旅館 is a traditional inn: tatami floors, futon bedding, and dinner and breakfast included in the price. 泊まる (とまる) = to stay overnight, and takes に.

Remember it 旅 (a journey) + 館 (a hall). The same 館 as 美術館 and 映画館.

成田なりた空港くうこうまで電車でんしゃで一時間いちじかんかかります。

It takes an hour to Narita Airport by train.

Usage 国際空港 = international airport. Tokyo has two: 成田 for most international flights and 羽田 (はねだ) closer to the city.

Remember it 空 (sky) + 港 (harbour). A harbour for the sky.

横浜よこはまの港みなとから大きなおおきな船ふねが出てでていきます。

Large ships depart from the port of Yokohama.

Usage 港 reads みなと alone but こう in compounds: 空港, 漁港 (fishing port). 港町 (みなとまち) = a port town, and Yokohama and Kobe are the famous ones.

Remember it 港 = 氵 (water) + 巷 (a lane). A lane of water for ships to enter.

駅員えきいんさんが乗り換えのりかえを案内あんないしてくれました。

A station attendant showed me how to change trains.

Usage 案内する = to guide or show the way. 案内所 = information desk, 道案内 = directions, ご案内します = allow me to show you through.

Remember it 案 (a plan) + 内 (inside). Showing someone the inside of something unfamiliar.

国立こくりつ博物館はくぶつかんで古いふるい土器どきを見ましたみました。

I saw ancient pottery at the national museum.

Usage 博物館 holds history, science and natural history; 美術館 holds art. English lumps both under 'museum', so pick by content.

Remember it 博 (broad, erudite) + 物 (things) + 館 (hall). A hall of many things.

美術館びじゅつかんで有名なゆうめいな画家がかの絵えを見ましたみました。

I saw paintings by a famous artist at the art museum.

Usage 美術館 is specifically for art. 展覧会 (てんらんかい) = an exhibition, 入館料 (にゅうかんりょう) = admission, 画家 (がか) = a painter.

Remember it 美術 (fine art) + 館 (hall). The hall of fine art.

子供こどもたちを動物園どうぶつえんに連れてつれて行きましたいきました。

I took the children to the zoo.

Usage 連れて行く = to take a person somewhere; 持って行く = to take an object. Japanese distinguishes the two, where English uses 'take' for both.

Remember it 動物 (animals) + 園 (a garden). The same 園 as 幼稚園 and 遊園地.

水族館すいぞくかんでイルカのショーを見ましたみました。

I watched a dolphin show at the aquarium.

Usage 族 here means a species or family group rather than a human family. イルカ = dolphin, ペンギン = penguin, クラゲ = jellyfish.

Remember it 水 (water) + 族 (kind, tribe) + 館 (hall). A hall of the water tribes.

週末しゅうまつ、家族かぞくで遊園地ゆうえんちに遊びにあそびに行きますいきます。

At the weekend, the family is going to the amusement park.

Usage Verb stem + に行く = to go in order to do: 遊びに行く. 観覧車 (かんらんしゃ) = ferris wheel, ジェットコースター = roller coaster.

Remember it 遊 (to play) + 園 (garden) + 地 (ground). Grounds laid out for play.

冬ふゆは雪ゆきを見ながらみながら温泉おんせんに入るはいるのが最高さいこうです。

In winter, soaking in a hot spring while watching the snow is the best.

Usage 温泉に入る, never 泳ぐ. Etiquette matters: wash thoroughly before entering, no swimwear, and tattoos are still refused at many places.

Remember it 温 (warm) + 泉 (a spring). A warm spring — and 泉 shows water welling from a rock.

沖縄おきなわのビーチは海うみが透明とうめいで美しいうつくしいです。

The beaches in Okinawa have beautifully clear water.

Usage ビーチ suits resort beaches; the native words are 海岸 (かいがん, coast) and 浜 (はま, sandy shore). 透明 (とうめい) = transparent, clear.

Remember it From English 'beach'. Okinawa is Japan's tropical south, closer to Taiwan than to Tokyo.

宿泊しゅくはくの予約よやくは一週間いっしゅうかん前まえに済すませました。

I made the accommodation booking a week in advance.

Usage 宿泊 is the formal word used on forms and signs; in speech people say 泊まる. 宿泊料 = room rate, 宿泊客 = a guest staying over.

Remember it 宿 (lodging) + 泊 (to stay the night). Both halves mean staying over.

富士山ふじさんが湖みずうみの水みずに映ってうつって見えますみえます。

Mt. Fuji is reflected in the water of the lake.

Usage 湖 reads みずうみ alone but こ in names: 琵琶湖 (びわこ), Japan's largest. Smaller waters are 池 (いけ, pond) and 沼 (ぬま, marsh).

Remember it The native reading gives it away: みず (water) + うみ (sea). An inland sea of water.

この土地とちの名物めいぶつは何なんですかと店員てんいんに聞ききました。

I asked the shop assistant what the local speciality was.

Usage 名物 is a famous local food or product; 名所 (めいしょ) is a famous place. Travellers meet both words constantly.

Remember it 名 (fame) + 物 (thing). The thing a place is famous for.

日本にほんには小さなちいさな島しまがたくさんあります。

Japan has many small islands.

Usage Japan has over fourteen thousand islands. 島 reads とう in compounds: 半島 (peninsula), 列島 (れっとう, archipelago), 無人島 (uninhabited island).

Remember it 島 is 鳥 (bird) with its lower strokes replaced by 山 (mountain). A mountain in the sea where birds rest.

この橋はしを渡るとわたると駅えきに着きますつきます。

If you cross this bridge, you'll reach the station.

Usage 渡る (わたる) takes を for what you cross: 橋を渡る. Watch the homophones — 橋 (bridge), 箸 (chopsticks) and 端 (edge) are all はし, separated by pitch.

Remember it 橋 = 木 (wood) + 喬 (tall). Timber raised high across a gap.

この通りとおりには古いふるい店みせが並んでならんでいます。

This street is lined with old shops.

Usage 通り is a street with a name and shops; 道 is any road or way. Don't confuse the verbs: 通る (とおる, to pass through) and 通う (かよう, to commute).

Remember it 通 (to pass through) + り. The way things pass along.

駅前えきまえの広場ひろばで祭りまつりが開かれますひらかれます。

A festival is held in the square in front of the station.

Usage 開かれる is the passive of 開く — events 'are held'. 駅前広場 is the open plaza outside almost every Japanese station, and a standard meeting point.

Remember it 広い (wide) + 場 (place). A wide open place.

京都きょうとには有名なゆうめいなお寺てらがたくさんあります。

Kyoto has many famous temples.

Usage 寺 is Buddhist; 神社 is Shinto. Look for a graveyard and incense at a 寺, and a red 鳥居 gate at a 神社. In names it reads じ: 金閣寺.

Remember it 寺 originally meant a government office in Chinese; Buddhism borrowed it for its own institutions.

正月しょうがつに神社じんじゃへお参りまいりに行きますいきます。

I go to pray at a shrine at New Year.

Usage 初詣 (はつもうで) is the first shrine visit of the year, made by millions. The ritual is 二礼二拍手一礼: bow twice, clap twice, bow once.

Remember it 神 (god) + 社 (a shrine, a company). The same 社 as in 会社 — originally a place a community gathered.

姫路城ひめじじょうは白くてしろくて美しいうつくしい城しろです。

Himeji Castle is a beautiful white castle.

Usage 城 reads しろ alone but じょう in names: 大阪城, 姫路城. 天守閣 (てんしゅかく) is the central keep — the tower in every castle photograph.

Remember it 城 = 土 (earth) + 成 (to form). Earth piled into ramparts. Handy that しろ (castle) sounds like 白 (white).

劇場げきじょうで有名なゆうめいな俳優はいゆうの舞台ぶたいを見ましたみました。

I saw a famous actor's performance at the theatre.

Usage 劇場 is for live performance; 映画館 is for films. 舞台 (ぶたい) = the stage or a stage production, 俳優 (はいゆう) = an actor.

Remember it 劇 (drama) + 場 (place). The place drama happens.

新しいあたらしい映画えいがを見にみに映画館えいがかんへ行きましたいきました。

I went to the cinema to see a new film.

Usage 字幕 (じまく) = subtitles, 吹き替え (ふきかえ) = dubbing — Japanese cinemas often show both versions of a foreign film, so check which you are booking.

Remember it 映画 (a film) + 館 (hall). 映 means to project or reflect.

スタジアムで野球やきゅうの試合しあいを見ましたみました。

I watched a baseball game at the stadium.

Usage The native words are 競技場 (きょうぎじょう) for athletics and 球場 (きゅうじょう) for baseball. 試合 (しあい) = a match or game.

Remember it From English 'stadium', five mora — long enough that the native 球場 often wins in speech.

旅行りょこうのお土産みやげに地元じもとのお菓子かしを買いましたかいました。

I bought local sweets as a souvenir from my trip.

Usage お土産 is closer to an obligation than a keepsake: you bring boxed sweets back for colleagues after any trip. Note the irregular reading みやげ for the whole word.

Remember it 土 (local soil) + 産 (produce). The produce of that place — read as one unit, not character by character.

空港くうこうでパスポートを見せてみせてください。

Please show your passport at the airport.

Usage The official Japanese term is 旅券 (りょけん), which you will see on forms, but everyone says パスポート. 見せる = to show, distinct from 見る.

Remember it From English 'passport', five mora: ぱ-す-ぽ-お-と.

留学りゅうがくのビザを取るとるのに時間じかんがかかりました。

It took a long time to get my student visa.

Usage ビザを取る = to obtain a visa, with 取る. The formal term is 査証 (さしょう). 在留カード is the residence card you carry once you arrive.

Remember it From English 'visa', just two mora: び-ざ.

重いおもい荷物にもつをホテルに預けましたあずけました。

I left my heavy luggage at the hotel.

Usage 預ける (あずける) = to leave something in someone's care; 預かる (あずかる) = to look after it for them. 手荷物 (てにもつ) = hand luggage.

Remember it 荷 (a load to carry) + 物 (things). The things you are carrying.

来年らいねんこそ海外かいがいで働はたらいてみたいです。

Next year I really do want to try working abroad.

Usage 海外 means overseas generally; 外国 points at a particular foreign country. An island nation naturally says 'beyond the sea' for abroad.

Remember it 海 (sea) + 外 (outside). Outside the sea — which for Japan means abroad.

ガイドブックを見ながらみながら町まちを歩きましたあるきました。

I walked around the town while looking at a guidebook.

Usage Two English words fused into one Japanese noun, a very common pattern: ガイドブック, ノートパソコン, ソフトクリーム. ガイド alone means a tour guide.

Remember it From 'guide' + 'book'. The native 案内書 (あんないしょ) exists but is rarely used.

展望台てんぼうだいから街まちの夜景やけいを眺ながめました。

I looked out over the city's night view from the observation deck.

Usage 展望台 are found on towers, mountains and tall buildings. 展望 also means prospects figuratively: 将来の展望 = future prospects.

Remember it 展 (to spread out) + 望 (to gaze) + 台 (platform). A platform for letting your gaze spread.

旅行りょこうの記念きねんに写真しゃしんを撮りましたとりました。

I took a photo as a memento of the trip.

Usage の記念に = as a memento of. 記念日 = an anniversary, 記念品 = a commemorative gift, 記念撮影 = a group photo taken to mark an occasion.

Remember it 記 (to record) + 念 (thought). Recording a thought so it lasts.

旅行りょこうに行くいくたびに、たくさん写真しゃしんを撮りとります。

Every time I travel, I take lots of photos.

Usage 写真を撮る uses 撮る, not 取る — same reading, different kanji, and a very common writing mistake. たびに = every time that.

Remember it 写 (to copy) + 真 (truth). A copy of the truth — a rather lovely word for a photograph.

山やまの上うえから見るみる景色けしきは最高さいこうでした。

The view from the top of the mountain was superb.

Usage 景色 is the scenery in front of you, an irregular reading; 風景 (ふうけい) is more literary. 景色がいい = to have a good view.

Remember it 景 (a scene) + 色 (colour). The colours of the scene, read as one word.

異なることなる文化ぶんかを尊重そんちょうすることが大切たいせつです。

It's important to respect different cultures.

Usage 文化 appears everywhere: 文化祭 (culture festival), 文化財 (cultural property), 文化の日 (Culture Day, 3 November). 異なる = to differ, formal.

Remember it 文 (writing, refinement) + 化 (to transform). What transforms a people.

この町まちには長いながい歴史れきしがあります。

This town has a long history.

Usage 歴史がある = to have a history behind it, said approvingly of shops and towns. 歴史的 (れきしてき) = historic, 日本史 = Japanese history as a subject.

Remember it 歴 (to pass through, a record) + 史 (chronicle). The same 歴 as in 学歴 and 履歴書.

地元じもとの伝統でんとう工芸こうげいを次つぎの世代せだいに伝えたいつたえたいです。

I want to pass local traditional crafts on to the next generation.

Usage 伝統的な = traditional. Note 伝 appears twice over in this sentence — in 伝統 and in 伝える (to pass on), which is exactly what tradition is.

Remember it 伝 (to convey) + 統 (a lineage). What is conveyed down a line.

夏なつの祭りまつりで花火はなびを見ましたみました。

I watched fireworks at the summer festival.

Usage Usually お祭り in speech. Summer festivals mean yukata, food stalls and 花火大会 (fireworks displays). The verb 祭る (まつる) = to enshrine or worship.

Remember it 祭 shows a hand offering meat on an altar (示). Festivals began as offerings to the gods.

京都きょうとの名所めいしょを一日いちにちで回りましたまわりました。

I went round Kyoto's famous sights in a day.

Usage 名所 is a famous place worth seeing; 名物 (めいぶつ) is a local speciality, usually food. 回る (まわる) = to go around a set of places.

Remember it 名 (name, fame) + 所 (place). A place with a name to it.