自転車に乗る
jitensha ni noru
To ride a bike in Japanese is 自転車に乗る (jitensha ni noru).
The phrase is used to describe the action of sitting on and controlling a bicycle to travel from one place to another.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of jitensha (bicycle), the particle ni (on/to) and noru (to ride).
How does it change in a sentence?
To express the polite past tense, use 自転車に乗りました. If you want to say "please ride a bike", the verb noru changes to the te-form notte followed by kudasai, resulting in 自転車に乗ってください.
How do you pronounce it?
jitensha ni noru
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often mistakenly use the object particle o instead of the particle ni with the verb noru. Avoid saying 自転車を乗る.
Did you know?
- In Japan, the verb noru is used not only for bikes but also for 'riding' a wave or 'riding' a trend, similar to the English 'to be on a roll'.
- The word jitensha is a literal combination of 'self', 'spinning/rotating', and 'vehicle'. It describes the machine as a 'self-spinning vehicle'.
- The verb noru is also used for boarding trains or planes, making it a very versatile verb for any transport you sit upon.
Examples in context
- 毎日、自転車に乗る。Mainichi, jitensha ni noru.I ride a bike every day.
- 公園で自転車に乗るのが好きです。Kōen de jitensha ni noru no ga suki desu.I like riding a bike in the park.
- 一人で自転車に乗ることはできますか？Hitori de jitensha ni noru koto wa dekimasu ka?Can you ride a bike by yourself?
