How to Say ‘Was the train crowded?’ in Japanese
電車、混んでいましたか。
densha kon de i mashi ta ka
[den-sha kohn deh ee mah-shee tah kah]
💬 Usage Tip: In casual speech, a particle like は is often simply dropped after the topic, leaving a pause: 電車、….
Phrase Breakdown
電車、
densha
the train
電車 (train), used as the topic. In casual speech the particle は is often dropped. Say it 'den-sha'.
電車、来ましたよ。
The train's here.
Words in this phrase
電車
densha
[den-sha]
train
A train used for daily transportation, especially for commuting.
面接には電車で行きます。
I will go to the interview by train.
混んでいましたか。
kon de i mashi ta ka
was it crowded?
Polite past question form of 混む (to be crowded).
道は混んでいましたか。
Was the road busy?
Words in this phrase
混ん
kon
[kohn]
crowded (stem part)
From 混む, meaning the road or area is crowded.
混んでいて時間がかかりました。
Because it was crowded, it took time.
で
de
[deh]
te-form connector
Part of the te-form of verbs ending in -mu/-bu/-nu; joined with いる it shows an ongoing state.
本を読んでいます。
I am reading a book.
い
i
[ee]
to be; ongoing state
Part of the pattern expressing a current included state.
税金もい入っています。
Tax is also included.
まし
mashi
[mah-shee]
polite past stem
Part of the polite past ending in a verb phrase.
昨日は多くのことを学びました。
I learned many things yesterday.
た
ta
[tah]
past tense ending
This ending completes the polite past tense form.
空席がございまし た。
There were vacant seats.
か
ka
[kah]
question marker
A particle placed at the end of a sentence to make it a question.
日本人ですか。
Are you Japanese?
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