Asking for Directions — Senior colleague
Situation
場面- Where
- On the street / a station
- Who
- You and a senior colleague
- Goal
- To ask how to get somewhere politely.
Conversation
会話A
すみません、駅はどちらでしょうか。
すみません、えきはどちらでしょうか。
Excuse me, which way is the station?
B
この道をまっすぐ行って、二つ目の信号を右です。
このみちをまっすぐいって、ふたつめのしんごうをみぎです。
Go straight down this road and turn right at the second light.
A
ありがとうございます。歩いてどのくらいですか。
ありがとうございます。あるいてどのくらいですか。
Thank you. How long is it on foot?
B
五分ほどで着きますよ。
ごふんほどでつきますよ。
You'll get there in about five minutes.
A
助かりました。ありがとうございます。
たすかりました。ありがとうございます。
That helped a lot. Thank you.
Vocabulary (10)
単語どちらどちら
dochira
which way (polite)
Politer than どっち.
まっすぐまっすぐ
massugu
straight
まっすぐ行く = "to go straight."
信号しんごう
shingou
traffic light
二つ目の信号 = "the second light."
右みぎ
migi
right
Opposite: 左 (left).
歩いてあるいて
aruite
on foot
歩いてどのくらい = "how long on foot?"
着くつく
tsuku
to arrive
五分で着く = "arrive in five minutes."
お疲れ様ですおつかれさまです
otsukaresamadesu
thank you for your work
The all-purpose workplace greeting, used like hello and goodbye between coworkers.
よろしくお願いしますよろしくおねがいします
yoroshikuonegaishimasu
thank you in advance
Closes most requests and emails; sets a cooperative tone.
確認かくにん
kakunin
confirmation / check
Daily-use word: ご確認お願いします means "please check."
承知しましたしょうちしました
shouchishimashita
understood (polite)
Politer than 分かりました; use with managers and clients.
Grammar
文法〜目
Number + counter + 目
Ordinal: 二つ目 = "the second one."
〜て、〜
Verb te-form
Connects steps: まっすぐ行って、右です.
〜ほどで
Time + ほどで
In about: 五分ほどで = "in about five minutes."
Cultural Notes
文化メモWorkplace etiquette
People often walk you partway rather than just pointing. A sincere 助かりました acknowledges the kindness.
Formality level
Polite. どちらでしょうか is softer and more polite than どこですか.
Common mistake
Have your destination written or on a map to show — it removes ambiguity if your pronunciation is unclear.
Quiz
クイズ1. 「どちら」の意味は？
What does "どちら" mean?
2. 「まっすぐ」の意味は？
What does "まっすぐ" mean?
3. 「信号」の意味は？
What does "信号" mean?
4. 「右」の意味は？
What does "右" mean?
5. 「歩いて」の意味は？
What does "歩いて" mean?
6. 「着く」の意味は？
What does "着く" mean?
7. 文法「〜目」の使い方は？
How is the pattern "〜目" used?
8. 文法「〜て、〜」の使い方は？
How is the pattern "〜て、〜" used?
9. 文法「〜ほどで」の使い方は？
How is the pattern "〜ほどで" used?
10. この会話の目的は何ですか？
What is the goal of this conversation?
Flashcards
単語カードTurn this lesson into flashcards
Save all 10 vocabulary items to your deck and review them later with spaced repetition.