New here? This is lesson 104 of a free 240-lesson Japanese course.
Taking the bus in Japanese
Leo needs the ward office, two stops from Yanaka. He steps out of Kissa Hotaru and looks for a bus, not a train.
Goro follows with toast in a napkin and points a hoof at the wrong corner.
You will ask which bus goes where, when the next one comes, and where the stop and last stop are.
Keep it polite. Staff can wait through one careful question.
By the end of this lesson
Ask which bus goes where and when it leaves.
- ___へ行くバスはどれですか。Which bus goes to ___?
- このバスは日暮里へ行きますか。Does this bus go to Nippori?
- 次のバスはいつですか。When is the next bus?
- 何分おきに来ますか。How often does it come?
- バス停はどこですか。Where is the bus stop?
- 終点はどこですか。Where is the last stop?
Scene — the wrong stop
The lane by Kissa Hotaru is quiet. Leo stands on the pavement with his clear umbrella folded and a paper from the ward office in his bag.
Goro fills the sidewalk with toast in a napkin. A Toei bus stop pole stands a few meters off, signs blank in the usual way.
Learn — ask for a bus
These six lines help you catch a bus. You ask which one goes where, when it comes, and where the stop is.
Two of them pin down the stop and the last stop.
___へ行くバスはどれですか。
Which bus goes to ___?
When to use it: Ask which bus goes to a place.
へ marks where the bus is headed.
このバスは日暮里へ行きますか。
Does this bus go to Nippori?
When to use it: Check if this bus goes to Nippori.
へ again marks the place you want.
Say it: The u in ます is almost silent.
次のバスはいつですか。
When is the next bus?
When to use it: Ask when the next bus will come.
次の points to the next bus in line.
何分おきに来ますか。
How often does it come?
When to use it: Ask how many minutes apart buses come.
おきに means at that interval, not a clock time.
バス停はどこですか。
Where is the bus stop?
When to use it: Ask where you should wait for the bus.
は marks the bus stop as the topic.
終点はどこですか。
Where is the last stop?
When to use it: Ask where this bus route ends.
終点 is the last stop, not a transfer.
Story — toast at the pole
Leo needs a bus to the ward office this morning. Goro points a hoof at the wrong stop and then offers toast.
Highlighted phrases are the new lines. Turn on Show English if you want a gloss.
- Leo folds his umbrella. The ward office paper sticks out of his bag.
Leoすみません。Excuse me.
Goroちょっと通りかかっただけです。I was just passing by.- Leoバス停はどこですか。Where is the bus stop?
- Goroええと、あっちですよ。Um, it's over that way.
- Goro's hoof aims at an empty corner. Toast crumbs land on the pavement.
- Staffこちらへどうぞ。This way, please.
- Leo区役所へ行くバスはどれですか。Which bus goes to the ward office?
- Staff二十二番です。It's number twenty-two.
- Leo次のバスはいつですか。When is the next bus?
- Staffあと十分です。In ten minutes.
- Leo何分おきに来ますか。How often does it come?
- Staff十五分おきです。Every fifteen minutes.
- A bus pulls in. The destination board is blank.
- Leoこのバスは日暮里へ行きますか。Does this bus go to Nippori?
- Staffいいえ、行きません。No, it doesn't.
- Leo終点はどこですか。Where is the last stop?
- Staff上野です。Ueno.
- Goroトーストはいかがですか。Would you like some toast?
Practice — pick the right bus line
Eleven short tasks wait in this round. You will listen, fill a gap, build a line, and choose what to say.
Each one is small, so you move on quickly.
0 of 11 done
What did you hear?
What did you hear?
What do you say?
What do you say?
You stand at the stop. You need a bus to the ward office.
Fill the gap
Fill the gap
Does this bus go to Nippori?
このバスは日暮里____行きますか。
What does it mean?
What does it mean?
バス停はどこですか。
What do you say?
What do you say?
You need the line that asks where this bus route ends.
Build the line
Build the line
How often does it come?
。
Tap the words in order.
What do you say?
What do you say?
You want the staff person to look at you before you ask.
True or false?
True or false?
This asks where the train station is.
Which one doesn’t belong?
Which one doesn’t belong?
Swap the word
Swap the word
You cannot see the pole. Ask where the stop is.
バス停は____ですか。
Find the mistake
Find the mistake
Say it — your turn to speak
You are Leo at the stop by the kissa. When the cue is yours, tap the microphone and say the line.
Tap play first if you want to hear it. The recording stays on this device.
- Staffはい。Yes.
- Leo (you)Ask where the bus stop is.
Ask where the bus stop is.
バス停はどこですか。
Where is the bus stop?
0 of 6 said
Recap — what you can say now
| Japanese | English | Play |
|---|---|---|
| ___へ行くバスはどれですか。 | Which bus goes to ___? | |
| このバスは日暮里へ行きますか。 | Does this bus go to Nippori? | |
| 次のバスはいつですか。 | When is the next bus? | |
| 何分おきに来ますか。 | How often does it come? | |
| バス停はどこですか。 | Where is the bus stop? | |
| 終点はどこですか。 | Where is the last stop? |
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Keep practicing with Yak Cards
Keep these bus lines in your pocket. Open the Yak Cards for this lesson and run them at the stop.
A short Yak Cards round before you leave the kissa keeps the bus questions ready.
Open Yak Cards