How to Say ‘Subway’ in Japanese
地下鉄
chika tetsu
[chee-kah teh-tsu]
💬 Usage Tip: [地下] = underground + [鉄] (train/rail). You’ll also see [メトロ] in some cities/brands.
🇯🇵 In Japan: Tokyo uses both “Tokyo Metro” and “Toei Subway,” but people often just say [地下鉄] casually.
Phrase Breakdown
地下
chika
[chee-kah]
underground; basement (as in underground space)
First part of 地下鉄. 地下 means “underground,” used in words related to basements or subways.
地下に地下鉄の入口があります。
There is a subway entrance underground.
鉄
tetsu
[teh-tsu]
iron; railway (as in rail/steel)
Second part of 地下鉄. In compounds, 鉄 can relate to railways (like a “rail”).
この鉄の看板が地下鉄のマークです。
This iron/metal sign is the subway mark.
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