Finding your way
Conversation phrases, Stage 4chunk 6 of 23Errands and service
Ask for the toilet or directions, say you're lost, and tell a driver or crowd where you're getting off.
- toire wa doko desu kawhere's the toilet?
- dou ikeba ii desu kahow do I get there?
- michi ni mayottaI'm lost; I got lost
- koko doko?where am I?; where is this?
- koko de ii desuhere is fine
- orimasuI'm getting off (on a crowded train or bus)
Mix-ups Koko doko (where am I?) sounds close to koko de ii desu (here is fine), and orimasu is also the humble word for 'to be' at work.
toire wa doko desu ka
where's the toilet?
Ask staff in shops, restaurants and stations; casual is toire doko?
Otearai is a politer word for toilet. At someone's home: toire karite mo ii desu ka?
sumimasen, toire wa doko desu ka?
Excuse me, where's the toilet?
すみません、トイレはどこですか？
Written トイレはどこですかWho you say itHeard 19× in 3.17 million lines of film and TV subtitles
dou ikeba ii desu ka
how do I get there?
Ask a stranger or staff for directions after naming the place: X made dou ikeba ii desu ka?
With friends: dou ikeba ii? Simpler still: eki wa doko desu ka? (where's the station?).
sumimasen, eki made dou ikeba ii desu ka?
Excuse me, how do I get to the station?
すみません、駅までどう行けばいいですか？
Written どう行けばいいですか · どういけばいいですかWho you say itHeard 14× in 3.17 million lines of film and TV subtitles
michi ni mayotta
polite michi ni mayoimashita
I'm lost; I got lost
Tell a passer-by or a friend on the phone that you don't know where you are.
mayou alone also means 'can't decide': dotchi ni suru ka mayotteru.
gomen, michi ni mayotta. chotto okureru.
Sorry, I got lost. I'll be a bit late.
ごめん、道に迷った。ちょっと遅れる。
sumimasen, michi ni mayotte shimatte, sukoshi okuremasu.
Sorry, I got lost, so I'll be a little late.
すみません、道に迷ってしまって、少し遅れます。
Written 道に迷った · みちにまよった · 道に迷いましたWho you say itHeard 113× in 3.17 million lines of film and TV subtitles
koko doko?
polite koko wa doko desu ka
where am I?; where is this?
Muttered on waking up somewhere strange or getting lost; ask strangers with the polite form.
are, koko doko? machigaeta kamo.
Huh, where am I? I might've gone the wrong way.
あれ、ここどこ？間違えたかも。
sumimasen, koko wa doko desu ka? chizu de oshiete kudasai.
Excuse me, where is this? Could you show me on the map?
すみません、ここはどこですか？地図で教えてください。
Written ここどこ？ · ここどこ · ここはどこですかWho you say itHeard 301× in 3.17 million lines of film and TV subtitles
koko de ii desu
here is fine
Tells a taxi driver to stop, or tells someone walking or driving you that they needn't go further.
Clearer to a taxi driver: koko de tomete kudasai (please stop here).
a, koko de ii desu. arigatou gozaimasu.
Oh, here's fine. Thank you.
あ、ここでいいです。ありがとうございます。
Written ここでいいですWho you say itHeard 4× in 3.17 million lines of film and TV subtitles
orimasu
I'm getting off (on a crowded train or bus)
Said aloud to the people in your way as your stop comes, so they make room.
From oriru (get off). In a crowd, sumimasen alone also works.
sumimasen, orimasu! chotto tooshite kudasai.
Excuse me, getting off! Let me through, please.
すみません、降ります！ちょっと通してください。
Written 降ります · おりますWho you say itHeard 18× in 3.17 million lines of film and TV subtitles