Getting around
地下鉄
次、止まります。
Next stop.
You hear this when the doors close or the next stop is called. It is written down too, so a missed word does not end the ride.
How the language is used
Japanese is the public language, in shops, at the port, and on the street.
In this city
- Language
- Japanese
- Also heard
- Mostly Japanese
- A local word
- 屋台 — A food stall.
- Writing
- Japanese script
What people say
Ordinary lines from this city: the ride, the counter, the food, and the greeting.
Food
屋台
ラーメン一つ。
One ramen.
The order is built in short pieces like this one.
The street
港
すみません。
Excuse me.
People keep this line short. It is enough for the moment.
The counter
店
これください。
This one, please.
This line is a whole order. You do not need a longer sentence.
The language through the day
Japanese is the language from the station to the corner shop. Staff use polite forms. A shorter answer is still understood.
Around Nakasu, Hakata, Tenjin, this is the ordinary sound of the day.
A first day in Fukuoka can run on four lines: “次、止まります。”, “ラーメン一つ。”, “すみません。”, and “これください。”. Each one is already a complete moment.
If you are new here
- Stops, prices, and shop signs are written in Japanese script.
- Staff use polite forms. A shorter answer from you is still understood.
- If a spoken line goes past you, read the screen or the board. In Fukuoka, the stop and the price are written down.
One local word: 屋台. It means A food stall..
Places you can see
- Ōhori Park — A park around a broad pond in the centre.
- Hakata — The historic commercial side of the city, beside the main station.
- Yatai — Open-air food stalls that are part of local food culture.
Food
You sit at a yatai for ramen and skewers. You order in Japanese.
Getting around
The subway and buses cover the centre. Stops are announced in Japanese, and you listen.
Daily life
You ask for a seat, name a dish, and thank the cook in Japanese.
A few everyday phrases
Japanese
| Phrase | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| こんにちは | Konnichiwa | Hello |
| ありがとう | Arigatō | Thank you |
| おはよう | Ohayō | Good morning |
| 私の名前は… | Watashi no namae wa… | My name is… |
