Japanese - Lesson 150 of 168: Directions

1. Reading + Listening Practice

Hear core phrases, repeat aloud.

こちらへどうぞ。

Kochira e dōzo.

This way, please.

Meaning: This way, please.

When to use: Use こちらへどうぞ (Kochira e dōzo) when you are politely guiding someone to a seat, room, counter, or the front of a line.

いらっしゃいませ。こちらへどうぞ。お席は窓側です。

Irasshaimase. Kochira e dōzo. Oseki wa madogawa desu.

Welcome. This way, please. Your seat is by the window.

受付の人が「こちらへどうぞ」と言いました。

Uketsuke no hito ga 'Kochira e dōzo' to iimashita.

The receptionist said 'This way, please.'

駅までどう行けばいいですか。

Eki made dō ikeba ii desu ka.

How should I get to the station?

Meaning: How should I get to the station?

When to use: Ask 駅までどう行けばいいですか (Eki made dō ikeba ii desu ka) when you want instructions to a destination. Replace 駅 with another place: 〇〇までどう行けばいいですか。

Tip: Beginner learners sometimes say 行きますか (ikimasu ka) instead of the conditional 行けばいいですか (ikeba ii desu ka). The conditional asks for the best way.

すみません、駅までどう行けばいいですか。

Sumimasen, Eki made dō ikeba ii desu ka.

Excuse me, how should I get to the station?

ホテルのフロントで『バスで駅までどう行けばいいですか』と聞きました。

Hoteru no furonto de 'Basu de eki made dō ikeba ii desu ka' to kikimashita.

I asked the hotel front desk, 'How do I get to the station by bus?'

ここから歩けますか。

Koko kara arukemasu ka.

Can I walk from here?

Meaning: Can I walk from here?

When to use: Use ここから歩けますか (Koko kara arukemasu ka) to check whether walking is practical from your current location.

Tip: Some learners mix the potential form (歩けます) with plain verbs; remember the polite potential is 歩けますか (arukemasu ka) for 'can walk'.

駅は近いですか。ここから歩けますか。

Eki wa chikai desu ka. Koko kara arukemasu ka.

Is the station close? Can I walk from here?

先生に『お店まで歩けますか』と聞きました。

Sensei ni 'Omise made arukemasu ka' to kikimashita.

I asked the teacher, 'Can we walk to the shop?'

Japanese - Directions

1. Reading + Listening Practice

2. Conversational Listening Practice

3. Guided Practice

Which Japanese phrase asks for directions to the station?

Which phrase would a restaurant host say when guiding you to your table?

You want to know if a place is close enough to walk. Which do you ask?

Which phrase can be easily adapted by swapping the place name (e.g., 駅 → 空港)?

The restaurant staff said, 'This way, please.' Your seat is by the window.

Lost, I asked a passerby, 'Excuse me, how should I get to the station?'

Looking at the map from the hotel window, I asked the front desk, 'Is the station close? Can I walk from here?'

Match the core phrases

Match the extra phrases

4. Speaking Practice