Lesson 6: Asking & Giving Directions (道)
Learn how to ask for and give directions in Japanese.
This lesson focuses on asking for and giving directions in various situations: on foot, by phone, and while receiving a ride. You will learn vocabulary for locations, direction expressions, and useful sentence patterns for navigation.
Key topics:
- ・Asking for directions to specific locations
- ・Giving step-by-step directions using verbs in te-form
- ・Understanding and using location-based vocabulary
- ・Correcting misunderstandings in directions
- ・Asking for directions over the phone
- ・Giving directions while in a car
- ・Understanding cultural notes about traffic lights, temples, and shrines
Vocabulary
1
ある
aru
有る
to be present in
Example
ほんが有ります.
Hon ga arimasu.
There is a book.
2
まがる
magaru
曲がる
to turn
Example
つぎを曲がります.
Tsugi o magarimasu.
I turn at the next.
3
わたる
wataru
渡る
to cross
Example
みちを渡ります.
Michi o watarimasu.
I cross the road.
4
おくる
okuru
送る
to take someone
Example
ともだちを送ります.
Tomodachi o okurimasu.
I take my friend.
5
はいる
hairu
入る
to turn
Example
みぎに入ります.
Migi ni hairimasu.
I turn right.
6
みえる
mieru
見える
to see
Example
うみが見えます.
Umi ga miemasu.
I can see the ocean.
7
ずっと
zutto
-
the whole time
Example
ずっとまちます.
Zutto machimasu.
I wait the whole time.
8
もの
mono
物
thing / something (e.g., something tasty)
Example
おいしい物をたべます.
Oishii mono o tabemasu.
I eat something delicious.
9
かがく
kagaku
科学
science
Example
科学がすきです.
Kagaku ga suki desu.
I like science.
10
しんごう
shingō
信号
traffic lights
Example
信号をわたりましょう.
Shingō o watarimashō.
Let's cross at the traffic light.
11
おうだんほどう
ōdanhodō
横断歩道
crossing
Example
横断歩道をわたります.
Ōdanhodō o watarimasu.
I cross at the crosswalk.
12
かど
kado
角
corner
Example
つぎの角をまがります.
Tsugi no kado o magarimasu.
I turn at the next corner.
13
こうさてん
kōsaten
交差点
intersection
Example
交差点でまちましょう.
Kōsaten de machimashō.
Let's wait at the intersection.
14
みち
michi
道
road
Example
この道をいきます.
Kono michi o ikimasu.
I go along this road.
15
はし
hashi
橋
bridge
Example
橋をわたりましょう.
Hashi o watarimashō.
Let's cross the bridge.
16
みちあんない
michiannai
道案内
directions
Example
道案内をおねがいします.
Michiannai o onegai shimasu.
Please give me directions.
17
ひだり
hidari
左
left
Example
左へまがります.
Hidari e magarimasu.
I turn left.
18
みぎ
migi
右
right
Example
右へまがります.
Migi e magarimasu.
I turn right.
19
あいだ
aida
間
between __ and __
Example
えきとぎんこうの間にあります.
Eki to ginkō no aida ni arimasu.
It's between the station and the bank.
20
バスてい
basutei
バス停
bus stop
Example
つぎのバス停でおります.
Tsugi no basutei de orimasu.
I get off at the next bus stop.
21
はくぶつかん
hakubutsukan
博物館
museum
Example
博物館にいきます.
Hakubutsukan ni ikimasu.
I go to the museum.
22
しりつ
shiritsu
市立
municipal
Example
これは市立のとしょかんです.
Kore wa shiritsu no toshokan desu.
This is a municipal library.
23
ぎんこう
ginkō
銀行
bank
Example
銀行でおかねをおろします.
Ginkō de okane o oroshimasu.
I withdraw money at the bank.
24
じんじゃ
jinja
神社
shrine
Example
神社におまいりします.
Jinja ni omairi shimasu.
I visit a shrine.
25
ちゅうしゃじょう
chūshajō
駐車場
parking lot
Example
駐車場にくるまをとめます.
Chūshajō ni kuruma o tomemasu.
I park the car in the parking lot.
26
こうばん
kōban
交番
police substation
Example
交番でみちをききます.
Kōban de michi o kikimasu.
I ask for directions at the police box.
27
びょういん
byōin
病院
hospital
Example
病院にいきます.
Byōin ni ikimasu.
I go to the hospital.
28
ビル
biru
-
building
Example
あのビルのうらにあります.
Ano biru no ura ni arimasu.
It's behind that building.
29
きたぐち
kitaguchi
北口
north exit / entrance
Example
えきの北口でまちます.
Eki no kitaguchi de machimasu.
I wait at the station's north exit.
30
__ ちょう
chō
町
__ Town (geographical division)
Example
さくら町にすんでいます.
Sakurachō ni sunde imasu.
I live in Sakura Town.
31
こうこう
kōkō
高校
high school
Example
高校にいきます.
Kōkō ni ikimasu.
I go to high school.
32
このあたり
kono atari
この辺り
around here / this area
Example
この辺りは しずかです.
Kono atari wa shizuka desu.
This area is quiet.
33
アジアしょくざい
Ajia shokuzai
アジア食材
Asian ingredients
Example
アジア食材をかいます.
Ajia shokuzai o kaimasu.
I buy Asian ingredients.
34
くろい
kuroi
黒い
black
Example
黒いねこがいます.
Kuroi neko ga imasu.
There is a black cat.
35
しろい
shiroi
白い
white
Example
白いくつをかいます.
Shiroi kutsu o kaimasu.
I buy white shoes.
36
あおい
aoi
青い
blue
Example
青いそらがきれいです.
Aoi sora ga kirei desu.
The blue sky is beautiful.
37
おおき(な)
ōoki(na)
大きな
large
Example
大きないえにすんでいます.
Ōkina ie ni sunde imasu.
I live in a big house.
38
__ つめ
tsume
目
the __ th (number)
Example
さんばん目のでぐちです.
Sanban me no deguchi desu.
It's the third exit.
39
ひとつめ
hitotsume
一つ目
the first
Example
一つ目のかどをまがります.
Hitotsume no kado o magarimasu.
I turn at the first corner.
40
ふたつめ
futatsume
二つ目
the second
Example
二つ目のこうさてんです.
Futatsume no kōsaten desu.
It's the second intersection.
41
みっつめ
mittsume
三つ目
the third
Example
つぎの三つ目の角をまがります.
Tsugi no mittsume no kado o magarimasu.
Turn at the third corner.
42
まっすぐ
massugu
真っ直ぐ
straight
Example
真っ直ぐいってください.
Massugu itte kudasai.
Please go straight.
43
すぐ
sugu
-
just / immediately
Example
すぐそこです.
Sugu soko desu.
It's just there.
44
だけど
dakedo
-
but / however
Example
もうすぐ小島高校だけど、…
Mousugu Kojima koukou dakedo, __
It's almost Kojima High School, but __
45
そうすると
sō suru to
-
after that
Example
そうすると、みえます.
Sō suru to, miemasu.
After that, you can see it.
46
このさき
kono saki
この先
ahead / beyond this point
Example
この先に、白くて大きな家があります.
Kono saki ni, shirokute ookina ie ga arimasu.
Ahead, there is a white, large house.
Conversation
1
__ はどこですか？
wa doko desu ka?
Where is __?
Example Usage
すみません.バスていはどこですか？
Sumimasen. Basutei wa doko desu ka?
Excuse me. Where is the bus stop?
2
__ はどういったらいいですか？
wa dou ittara ii desu ka?
How do I get to __?
Example Usage
ゆうびんきょくはどういったらいいですか？
Yuubinkyoku wa dou ittara ii desu ka?
How do I get to the post office?
3
__ はどこですか？ (specific place)
wa doko desu ka?
Where is __?
Example Usage
かがくはくぶつかんはどこですか？
Kagaku hakubutsukan wa doko desu ka?
Where is the science museum?
4
どのへん
dono hen
Where is it?
Example Usage
トイレはどのへんですか.
Toire wa dono hen desu ka.
Where is the toilet?
5
ここでいいです
koko de ii desu
Here is fine.
Example Usage
わたしはここでいいです.
Watashi wa koko de ii desu.
Here is fine for me.
Kanji
1
送る
to take someone
送🎬
send
Example
ともだちを送ります.
Tomodachi o okurimasu.
I take my friend.
2
曲がる
to turn
曲
turn, bend
Example
つぎを曲がります.
Tsugi o magarimasu.
I turn at the next.
3
渡る
to cross / to go across
渡
cross
Example
みちを渡ります.
Michi o watarimasu.
I cross the road.
4
右
right (direction)
右🎬
right
Example
右へまがります.
Migi e magarimasu.
I turn right.
5
左
left (direction)
左🎬
left
Example
左へまがります.
Hidari e magarimasu.
I turn left.
6
神社
shrine (Shinto)
神🎬
god, deity
社🎬
shrine, company
Example
神社におまいりします.
Jinja ni omairi shimasu.
I visit a shrine.
7
銀行
bank
銀🎬
silver, money
行🎬
go, line
Example
銀行でおかねをおろします.
Ginkō de okane o oroshimasu.
I withdraw money at the bank.
8
道
road, way
道🎬
road, way
Example
この道をいきます.
Kono michi o ikimasu.
I go along this road.
9
青い
blue
青
blue
Example
青いそらがきれいです.
Aoi sora ga kirei desu.
The blue sky is beautiful.
10
白い
white
白
white
Example
白いくつをかいます.
Shiroi kutsu o kaimasu.
I buy white shoes.
Grammar Rules
Rule 1: Asking for directions politely
Structure: N + に + 行きたいんですが…
This expression is often used to ask for directions. It states that you want to go to a place and trails off, inviting help. The end is spoken weakly with falling intonation.
How to use: Use [Place] + に + 行きたいんですが… . に marks the destination. The full form is 行きたいんですが, where んですが softens the request. Other ways to ask directions: [Place] + はどこですか？ and [Place] + は、どう行ったらいいですか？. The negative desire is 行きたくないんですが…, though less common for directions.
💡 Pro Tip: Trailing off with んですが… is polite and indirect; raising intonation would sound like a question, but it is usually falling. に marks destination; へ can also be used. Do not use を with 行きます. In casual speech, 行きたいんだけど… is used.
Examples
駅に行きたいんですが….
Eki ni ikitai n desu ga __
→ I would like to go to the station __
空港に行きたいんですが、どう行ったらいいですか？
Kūkō ni ikitai n desu ga, dō ittara ii desu ka?
→ I want to go to the airport; how should I go?
Rule 2: Giving directions in sequence
Structure: V-て、～
This expression is for explaining the order of two or more actions. It is used to provide route information in sequence. The テ-form connects actions, and the final verb determines the sentence ending.
How to use: Use V1-て、V2. Conjugation: 行く→行って, きょくがる→きょくがって, わたりる→わたりって. The final verb can be 下さい for a request, or です/ます for a statement. Examples: この道をまっすぐ行って、２つ目のしん号を左にきょくがって下さい. Negative sequence: V1-ないで、V2.
💡 Pro Tip: The テ-form does not show tense; the last verb does. Do not use て for contrast; use けど or が. In directions, the テ-form is very common. きょくがって下さい is polite; きょくがって alone is casual.
Examples
この道をまっすぐ行って、２つ目のしん号を左にきょくがって下さい.
Kono michi o massugu itte, futatsume no shingō o hidari ni magatte kudasai.
→ Go straight on this road. When you get to the second light, turn left.
駅を出て、まっすぐ行って、はしをわたりって下さい.
Eki o dete, massugu itte, hashi o watatte kudasai.
→ Leave the station, go straight, and cross the bridge.
Rule 3: Correcting someone with 'not N1, but N2'
Structure: N1 + じゃなくて、N2
This expression is for correcting what the other person said. N1 is contradicted and corrected with N2. ～じゃなくて is the connecting form of ～じゃない（です）.
How to use: Use N1 + じゃなくて、N2. It can stand alone or be followed by です: N1じゃなくて、N2です. The formal version is ではなくて. The negative is inherent. Related correction: ～じゃないです、～です.
💡 Pro Tip: じゃなくて is casual and spoken; ではなくて is more formal or written. Do not use じゃなくて for contrast without correction; it specifically negates N1 and replaces it with N2. Pronunciation: じゃなくて, not じゃないくて.
Examples
１つ目じゃなくて、２つ目です.
Hitotsume ja nakute, futatsume desu.
→ It is the second one, not the first one.
しりつ博物館じゃなくて、か学博物館です.
Shiritsu hakubutsukan ja nakute, kagaku hakubutsukan desu.
→ It is not the municipal museum; it is the Science Museum.
Exercises
Question 1: 'I would like to go to the station __ '
えき ______ 行きたいんですが….
Question 2: Which is the polite way to start asking for directions to Maruichi Department Store?
Question 3: How do you ask 'How do I get to the post office?'
Question 4: 'Go straight on this road and turn left at the second traffic light.'
このみちを まっすぐ ______、ふたつめの しんごうを ひだりに ______ 下さい.
Question 5: 'Leave the station, go straight, and cross the bridge.'
えきを ______、まっすぐ ______、はしを ______ 下さい.
Question 6: How do you correct someone: 'It is not the first one, it is the second one.'?
Question 7: 'It is not a bank, it is a post office.'
それは ぎんこう ______、ゆうびんきょくです.