駅
eki[e̞kʲi]
The English phrase 'station' is translated into Japanese as 駅 (eki). Wiktionary also lists 停留所 (teiryūjo) and 停車場 (teishajō).
Meaning: place where a vehicle may stop (noun)
Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 駅 | eki | [e̞kʲi] (narrow) [ikʲi] (narrow) |
| 停留所 | teiryūjo | [te̞ːɾʲɨːʑo̞] (narrow) |
| 停車場 | teishajō | [te̞ːɕa̠ʑo̞ː] (narrow) [te̞ːɕa̠ba̠] (narrow) |
| 宿場 | shukuba | [ɕɨkɯ̟ba̠] (narrow) |
The term 駅 is the standard word used in daily conversation to refer specifically to a train or railway station.
What does it mean word for word?
The term 停留所 is a compound meaning 'stopping place', composed of 停留 (stay/stop) and 所 (place).
Which one should you use?
While 駅 specifically refers to train or railway stations, 停留所 is used for bus stops or tram stops rather than major railway stations. 停車場 is a formal or technical term for a station, and 宿場 refers specifically to historical post stations along old travel routes where travelers stayed.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
停車場 is a formal or technical term that is rarely used in casual daily speech.
How do you pronounce it?
eki
When do people say it?
The term 宿場 refers specifically to historical post stations along old travel routes where travelers stayed.
Did you know?
- Many Japanese railway stations are built as 'Ekinaka', a term meaning 'inside the station' for shopping malls that exist within the ticket barriers.
- While 駅 is the common word for a station today, it was first recorded in Japanese as early as the year 718.
- Because 停車場 is so formal and technical, using it in a casual conversation with a friend might make you sound like an official government document or a textbook.
Examples in context
- 東京駅なう。I'm at Tokyo Station now.This sentence is useful for showing how to use 駅 when stating your current location.Tatoeba #881837 by arihato, translation #881854 by CN
- 駅に着いたよ。I arrived at the station.This sentence is useful for showing how to use 駅 to express arrival.Tatoeba #158266 by small_snow, translation #256264 by CK
- あれが駅なの？Is that the station?This sentence is useful for using 駅 in a question.Tatoeba #8720919 by bunbuku, translation #2975867 by KiwiCreme
- 駅はどこですか?Where is the station?
- 毎朝、駅まで歩きますI walk to the station every morning.
- 駅前で待ち合わせしましょうLet's meet in front of the station.
- 634 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Yui and Kenta are meeting at a train station.
- 結衣 Yui駅の近くで待っているね。Eki no chikaku de matte iru ne.I'll be waiting near the station.
- 健太 Kentaわかった、すぐ行くよ。Wakatta, sugu iku yo.Got it, I'll be there soon.
- 結衣 Yui健太、どこにいるの？Kenta, doko ni iru no?Kenta, where are you?
- 健太 Kenta駅の改札の前に着いたよ。Eki no kaisatsu no mae ni tsuita yo.I've arrived in front of the station ticket gate.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “station” translations and entries 駅, 停留所, 停車場, 宿場, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 停留所, 停車場, 駅, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
