How do you ask for directions in Japanese
Learn Essential Japanese Vocabulary for Beginners – A1 Level: How do you ask for directions in Japanese
To ask for directions in Japanese, polite phrases such as “すみません、[place] はどこですか？” (Sumimasen, [place] wa doko desu ka?) meaning “Excuse me, where is [place]?” are commonly used. Another way is “すみません、[place] に行きたいです。どうやって行けますか？” (Sumimasen, [place] ni ikitai desu. Douyatte ikemasu ka?) meaning “Excuse me, I want to go to [place]. How can I get there?” Other polite starters include “ちょっといいですか？” (Chotto ii desu ka?) to get someone’s attention gently. Key directional words include まっすぐ (massugu - straight), 右 (みぎ, migi - right), and 左 (ひだり, hidari - left) to understand or give directions clearly. For example, “あの信号を左へ曲がってください” means “Turn left at that traffic light”.