New here? This is lesson 178 of a free 240-lesson Japanese course.
The wrong train in Japanese
Leo and Haruka meant to take a Nozomi to Kyoto. They board a Kodama by mistake, the slow train that stops everywhere.
Haruka is already turning it into a bigger story. Leo steps back onto the platform and asks staff, before the doors close, what they should do.
You will tell staff you boarded the wrong train, ask how long this one takes, and check whether to get off or keep the ticket.
By the end of this lesson
Deal with a wrong train and ask station staff what to do.
- 電車を乗り間違えました。We got on the wrong train.
- のぞみではなく、こだまでした。It wasn’t the Nozomi; it was the Kodama.
- 京都まで、どのくらいかかりますか。How long does it take to Kyoto on this one?
- 次の駅で降りたほうがいいですか。Should we get off at the next station?
- 次のひかりは何時ですか。What time is the next Hikari?
- この切符のままでいいですか。Is this ticket still all right?
Scene — a quieter car
Tokyo Station is busy. Leo and Haruka stand by a shinkansen door with Kyoto tickets in hand. The train they boarded is quieter than they expected.
The doors are still open. Haruka already has her sketchbook out. A staff member waits at a window on the platform, ready for the next question.
Learn — tell staff you boarded wrong
These six lines help you tell station staff you boarded the wrong train.
You will name the Kodama, ask about time, and check the ticket.
電車を乗り間違えました。
We got on the wrong train.
When to use it: Tell staff you boarded a different train than planned.
を marks the train you boarded by mistake.
のぞみではなく、こだまでした。
It wasn’t the Nozomi; it was the Kodama.
When to use it: Name the slower train after you boarded the wrong one.
ではなく contrasts the train you wanted with the one you got.
京都まで、どのくらいかかりますか。
How long does it take to Kyoto on this one?
When to use it: Ask staff how long this train takes to your stop.
まで marks the destination when you ask how long a trip takes.
Say it: The u in ます is almost silent.
次の駅で降りたほうがいいですか。
Should we get off at the next station?
When to use it: Ask staff if getting off next would be the wiser move.
たほうがいいですか asks whether that choice is better.
Say it: Hold the long お in ほう; a short ほ is a different word.
次のひかりは何時ですか。
What time is the next Hikari?
When to use it: Ask when the next mid-speed shinkansen leaves.
ひかり is slower than のぞみ but faster than こだま.
この切符のままでいいですか。
Is this ticket still all right?
When to use it: Check if the tickets you already hold still work.
のままでいいですか asks if you can keep things as they are.
Say it: Give the small っ in 切符 its own beat.
Story — Kodama by mistake
Leo and Haruka boarded a Kodama by mistake. He steps back onto the platform and asks staff what to do, while she makes the story bigger.
Highlighted phrases are the new lines. Turn on Show English if you want a gloss.
- They step into a quieter car. The doors are still open.
Harukaレオ、なんか遅いね。Leo, this feels slow, doesn’t it?- Leo steps back onto the platform with Haruka. A staff member stands at the window.
Leoすみません。Excuse me.- Staffはい、どうされましたか。Yes, what happened?
- Leo電車を乗り間違えました。We got on the wrong train.
- Leoのぞみではなく、こだまでした。It wasn’t the Nozomi; it was the Kodama.
- Haruka is already smiling. This will grow in the retelling.
- Staffなるほど。I see.
- Leoどうしたらいいですか。What should I do?
- Staffこのままでも京都まで行けます。You can still get to Kyoto on this train.
- Leo京都まで、どのくらいかかりますか。How long does it take to Kyoto on this one?
- Staff四時間ほどです。About four hours.
- Haruka四時間？それは話になるね。Four hours? That’ll make a story.
- Leo次の駅で降りたほうがいいですか。Should we get off at the next station?
- Staff降りなくても大丈夫です。You don’t need to get off.
- Leo次のひかりは何時ですか。What time is the next Hikari?
- Staff次は十四時です。The next one is at two.
- Leoこの切符のままでいいですか。Is this ticket still all right?
- Staffはい、そのままで結構です。Yes, those tickets are fine as they are.
- The Kodama doors are still open. They step back on before the train leaves.
- Harukaじゃあ、ゆっくり行こう。Well then, let’s take it slow.
Practice — pick what to ask
Ten short tasks wait in this round. You will listen, match meanings, fill a gap, and build a line.
Each one is small, so you move on quickly.
0 of 10 done
What did you hear?
What did you hear?
What does it mean?
What does it mean?
のぞみではなく、こだまでした。
What do you say?
What do you say?
Staff said you may stay on this train. Check if the tickets in your hand still work.
Fill the gap
Fill the gap
How long does it take to Kyoto on this one?
京都____、どのくらいかかりますか。
Pick the reply
Staff says:
Pick the reply
京都までは時間がかかります。
It takes a long time to Kyoto on this one.
And you reply with:
Build the line
Build the line
What time is the next Hikari?
。
Tap the words in order.
Swap the word
Swap the word
You meant to take the fastest shinkansen. Fix the name of the train you wanted.
____ではなく、こだまでした。
Match the pairs
Japanese
京都まで、どのくらいかかりますか。Drop the English here次の駅で降りたほうがいいですか。Drop the English here次のひかりは何時ですか。Drop the English hereEnglish
What do you say?
What do you say?
You need a staff member at the window to look up from the screen.
Pick the reply
Staff says:
Pick the reply
このままでも京都まで行けます。ひかりに乗り換えることもできます。
You can stay on this train. You can also change to a Hikari.
And you reply with:
Say it — your turn at the window
You are Leo on that Kodama. 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、どうされましたか。Yes, what happened?
- Leo (you)Tell them you boarded the wrong train.
Tell them you boarded the wrong train.
電車を乗り間違えました。
We got on the wrong train.
0 of 6 said
Recap — what you can say now
| Japanese | English | Play |
|---|---|---|
| 電車を乗り間違えました。 | We got on the wrong train. | |
| のぞみではなく、こだまでした。 | It wasn’t the Nozomi; it was the Kodama. | |
| 京都まで、どのくらいかかりますか。 | How long does it take to Kyoto on this one? | |
| 次の駅で降りたほうがいいですか。 | Should we get off at the next station? | |
| 次のひかりは何時ですか。 | What time is the next Hikari? | |
| この切符のままでいいですか。 | Is this ticket still all right? |
Save your progress — it’s free
Keep your place in the course and see which lines you’ve learned.
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Keep practicing with Yak Cards
Keep these station lines in your pocket. Open the Yak Cards for this lesson and run them on the train.
A short Yak Cards round before you travel keeps the wrong-train lines ready.
Open Yak Cards