In this workshop you will practice a short, polite exchange for finding a police box or a police station. You will ask the key question, check whether it is near the train station, and confirm a direction with right or left. The recordings give you the exact lines to listen to and repeat. You can play both roles with the audio, but there is no automatic assessment, so use the answer checks to judge your own speaking.
Asking the main question
Start with a polite attention word, then ask your question. The recording «交番はどこですか。» means "Where is the police box?" Use it for a small neighborhood police box. The recording «警察署はどこですか。» means "Where is the police station?" Use it for a larger main police station. Listen to the rhythm of each recorded question, then repeat each line slowly. Keep your voice clear and calm. If you are not sure which place you need, you can still practice both questions and decide later which one fits your situation.
Checking the location and direction
After you ask, you may want to check whether the place is near the train station. The recording «駅の近くにありますか。» means "Is it near the station?" This is a simple yes-or-no question. When someone gives you a direction, you can confirm it with the recording «右ですか、左ですか。», which means "Is it right or left?" This line offers two choices, so the other person can answer with one word. The exact meaning of right or left depends on the preceding directions or gesture. This question alone does not instruct someone to turn. Practise both lines by copying the recording’s rhythm.
A full short exchange
Now put the lines together in a short conversation. In the recording «すみません。交番はどこですか。», speaker A says "Excuse me. Where is the police box?" In the recording «駅の近くにあります。まっすぐ行って、右です。», speaker B answers "It is near the station. Go straight, then it is on the right." In the recording «右ですね。ありがとうございます。», speaker A checks "On the right, right? Thank you very much." In the recording «はい、そうです。気をつけて。», speaker B replies "Yes, that's right. Take care." Listen to the whole exchange once, then repeat it line by line. You can play speaker A first, then switch and play speaker B.
Listen once, then say the phrase yourself. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Checking available voices…
交番はどこですか。
Where is the police box?
KŌ-ban wa do-ko desu ka.
警察署はどこですか。
Where is the police station?
ke-i-SA-tsu-sho wa do-ko desu ka.
駅の近くにありますか。
Is it near the station?
E-ki no chi-ka-ku ni a-ri-ma-su ka.
右ですか、左ですか。
Is it right or left?
MI-gi desu ka, hi-da-ri desu ka.
Read one side aloud, then answer in your own words. The goal is to make the exchange yours.
すみません。交番はどこですか。
Excuse me. Where is the police box?駅の近くにあります。まっすぐ行って、右です。
It is near the station. Go straight, then it is on the right.右ですね。ありがとうございます。
On the right, right? Thank you very much.はい、そうです。気をつけて。
Yes, that's right. Take care.Your turn
Try each prompt out loud. Choose a guided start, the full sequence, or a challenge pass after your first attempt.
Guided exchange: ask and answer
You will play both roles in a short exchange. Use the audio for «すみません。交番はどこですか。», «駅の近くにあります。まっすぐ行って、右です。», «右ですね。ありがとうございます。», and «はい、そうです。気をつけて。». Imagine you are a visitor who is lost near a train station, and the other person is a local resident.
Your task: Play the audio for «すみません。交番はどこですか。» and repeat it as speaker A. Then play «駅の近くにあります。まっすぐ行って、右です。» and repeat it as speaker B. Next, play «右ですね。ありがとうございます。» and repeat it as speaker A. Finally, play «はい、そうです。気をつけて。» and repeat it as speaker B. Do the whole exchange twice: first with the audio, then without looking at the lines.
Reply comprehension: choose the correct meaning
You will hear a reply and choose what it means. Use the audio for «駅の近くにあります。まっすぐ行って、右です。» and «はい、そうです。気をつけて。». Imagine you asked for the police box, and the other person is answering you.
Your task: Listen to «駅の近くにあります。まっすぐ行って、右です。» once. Then choose the best meaning: (a) It is near the station, go straight, then it is on the right. (b) It is far from the station, go left. (c) It is near the station, go straight, then it is on the left. Next, listen to «はい、そうです。気をつけて。» and choose: (a) Yes, that's right. Take care. (b) No, that's wrong. (c) I don't know. Say your answers out loud, then replay the recordings to check.
Recall with correct roles
You will now recall the exchange without the audio. Use the lines from «すみません。交番はどこですか。», «駅の近くにあります。まっすぐ行って、右です。», «右ですね。ありがとうございます。», and «はい、そうです。気をつけて。». Imagine the same scene: a visitor asks a local resident for the police box.
Your task: First, say the visitor's opening line from memory. Then say the local resident's answer from memory. Next, say the visitor's check and thanks from memory. Finally, say the local resident's closing line from memory. After you finish, play the recordings in order and compare your version with the audio.
Common questions
What is the difference between the police box and the police station?
The recording «交番はどこですか。» is for a small neighborhood police box, and the recording «警察署はどこですか。» is for a larger main police station. Use the first when you need a local police box, and the second when you need the main station. If you are not sure, you can ask either question and then check the answer.
How do I confirm a direction without sounding rude?
Use «右ですか、左ですか。» to check right or left in context. The recorded visitor then confirms the right side and thanks the helper with «右ですね。ありがとうございます。». Keep a clear, friendly tone and listen to the answer.
Sources and further reading
- japanese: ask for a police stationChecked September 2026
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