Dispute with taxi driver (Advanced): Route choice
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Key Phrases
この道だと遠回りじゃないですか。
kono michi da to toomawari ja nai desu ka
Isn't this route a detour?
近い道でお願いします。
chikai michi de o negai shi masu
Please take the shorter route.
ちゃんと間に合うように行きますね。
chanto maniau you ni iki masu ne
I'll make sure we arrive on time.
Skills You'll Learn
Ask whether a route is indirect or too long.
道が遠回りかどうかをたずねる。
michi ga toomawari ka dou ka o tazuneru
Request a shorter or usual route politely.
近い道やいつもの道を丁寧にお願いする。
chikai michi ya itsu mo no michi o teinei ni o negai suru
Apologize and discuss arriving on time during travel.
移動中に謝ったり、間に合うかどうかを伝えたりする。
idou chuu ni ayamatsu tari maniau ka dou ka o tsutae tari suru
Lesson Roleplay
Imagine you are a passenger in a taxi in Japan, worried that the driver has taken a longer route. You politely question the route, explain that you are in a hurry, and the driver apologizes and agrees to switch back to the usual, shorter road.
すみません、この道だと遠回りじゃないですか。
sumi mase n kono michi da to toomawari ja nai desu ka
Excuse me, isn’t this route a detour?
え、そう見えましたか。渋滞を避けようと思って、この道にしました。
e sou mie mashi ta ka juutai o sakeyou to omotsu te kono michi ni shi mashi ta
Oh, did it seem that way? I chose this route to avoid traffic.
でも、いつもの道のほうが早い気がします。
de mo itsu mo no michi no hou ga hayai ki ga shi masu
But I feel like the usual route is faster.
なるほど。ご心配をかけて、すみません。
naruhodo go shinpai o kake te sumi mase n
I see. Sorry for worrying you.
急いでいるので、できれば近い道でお願いします。
isoi de iru no de dekire ba chikai michi de o negai shi masu
I’m in a hurry, so if possible, please take the shorter route.
Lesson Vocabulary & Phrases
すみません。
sumi mase n
Excuse me.
🇯🇵 [すみません] works for both getting someone's attention and apologizing. In a taxi dispute, it softens the moment and sounds more natural than jumping straight into a complaint.
See breakdown →この道
kono michi
This road / this route
この道だと遠回りじゃないですか。
kono michi da to toomawari ja nai desu ka
Isn't this route a detour?
💬 [〜じゃないですか] often raises a concern by saying "isn't it ...?" rather than making a blunt statement. You can reuse it to sound less direct: [高くないですか] "Isn't it expensive?"
See breakdown →遠回り
toomawari
Detour
そう
sou
So / like that
見えましたか
mie mashi ta ka
Did it look that way?
💬 [見える] is about how something looks or seems from the outside, so [そう見えましたか] means "Did it seem that way?" not "Did you see it?" For actually seeing something, use [見る], like [見ましたか] "Did you see it?"
See breakdown →そう見えましたか。
sou mie mashi ta ka
Did it seem that way?
💬 [見える] is about how something looks or seems from the outside, so [そう見えましたか] means "Did it seem that way?" not "Did you see it?" For actually seeing something, use [見る], like [見ましたか] "Did you see it?"
See breakdown →渋滞
juutai
Traffic jam
避ける
sakeru
To avoid
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