Well, the first word you remember and can guess its meaning on your own is “mamonaku”, isn’t it? The sentence starting with “mamonaku” is usually as follows:
1. Mamonaku san-ban-sen ni Shibuya-yuki ga mairimas.Because it is dangerous when a train is approaching, the next announcement will be like this.
mamonaku: soon
san-ban-sen ni: to platform number 3
Shibuya-yuki: (a train) going to Shibuya
mairimas: to come
2. Hakusen/ kiiroi sen no uchigawa ni sagatte, o-machi kudasai.Many warnings are starting from now.
hakusen: the white line
kiiroi sen: the yellow line
uchigawa ni: on the inside
sagarimas: to move back → sagatte: the imperative form
kudasai: please → o-machi kudasai: please wait. (“O” is an honorific prefix.)
3. Teniomtsu o door ni hasamarenai you go-chui kudasai.The warnings continue...
tenimotsu: handbag
door ni: by the door
hasamu: to put something between → hasamareru (a passive form): to be put between, to get caught in → hasamarenai (a negative passive form): not to get caught in
you: do something in a such way that…→ hasamarenai you go-chui kudasai.: Be careful so that you don’t get your handbags caught.
chui: care, attention → go-chui kudasai: Please be careful, Please watch out, Please take caution (“go” is an honorific prefix.)
4. Door ga shimarimas. Go-chui kudasai.When the doors close, you should not do the following.
shimarimas: to close
5. Kakekomi josha wa o-yame kudasai.The next warning is very common at the London Tube, too. It is imprinted in my mind because I always heard it.
kakekomi: a dash/dart/rush
josha: boarding
yamemasu: to stop/quit
6. Ashimoto ni go-chui kudasai.You have to mind your step because of the following reason.
ashimoto: at your feet
7. Densha to homu no aida ga hiroku aiteorimas.And, there is of course information about the station or train transfer.
densha: a train
homu: a platform
aida: between
hiroku: widely
aiteimas: to be open → aiteorimas: a humble form
8. Tsugi wa Shinjuku. Norikae no go-annai des.I hope this helps you. From tomorrow, please try listening to the announcements carefully at the station or in a train. I really think you will understand the meaning now.
tsugi: the next one/stop
norikae: a train transfer
annai: guidance, information (“go” is an honorific prefix.)
Trains during rush hour in Tokyo are so
packed that I can’t stand it, but Japanese trains are punctual and some have TV
screens on the wall. I think there are many impressive points.
Also,
there are funny trains in the countryside to attract customers. I took a
shamisen train in Aomori in which you can enjoy a shamisen live performance. A
kotatsu train makes you warm inside of the train during winter. An omocha (toy)
train looks like a little toy museum. Sleeping trains are now very popular
among girls because they have girls’ parties on them.*Watch the video, too!