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How to Say ‘Aren't we heading away from the station on this road?’ in Japanese

この道、駅から遠ざかっていませんか？

kono michi eki kara toozakatsu te i mase n ka

[koh-noh mee-chee eh-kee kara toh-ZAH-kahk teh ee mah-seh n kah]

🇯🇵 In Japan: Raising a route concern as a question lets the driver explain without losing face. In Japan this works much better than saying outright that he's going the wrong way.

Phrase Breakdown

この道、

kono michi

this road

この means 'this,' and 道 (michi) means 'road.' It sets the topic, so pause after it.

Example

この道は狭いです。

This road is narrow.

Words in this phrase

この

kono

[koh-noh]

this (modifies a noun)

この points to something close to the speaker and must be followed by a noun (e.g., このクラブ = this club).

Example

このクラブの音楽、気持ちいいね。

The music at this club feels great, doesn’t it?

道

michi

[mee-chee]

road; route

Means road, path, or route. In a taxi, it refers to the way to go.

Example

一番早い道でお願いします。

Please take the fastest route.

駅から

eki kara

from the station

駅 (eki) plus から means 'from the station.' Say it smoothly: e-ki-ka-ra.

Example

駅から五分です。

It's five minutes from the station.

Words in this phrase

駅

eki

[eh-kee]

station (train/subway)

駅 (えき) means a train/subway station. Common collocations: 駅前 (in front of the station), 最寄り駅 (nearest station).

Example

駅まで歩きます。

I walk to the station.

から

kara

[kara]

from

Shows the starting point in a range, such as from row 1.

Example

一列目から五列目まで売り切れです。

From the first row to the fifth row is sold out.

遠ざかっていませんか？

toozakatsu te i mase n ka

aren't we getting farther away?

This is a polite, gentle question. Pause briefly on the small っ, and use rising intonation on か.

Example

目的地から遠ざかっていませんか？

Aren't we moving away from the destination?

Words in this phrase

遠ざかっ

toozakatsu

[toh-ZAH-kahk]

moving away

Stem form of 遠ざかる, to move farther away from something.

Example

車が家から遠ざかった。

The car moved away from the house.

て

[teh]

and; -te form

A linking form used to connect verbs to following grammar, such as progressive or polite forms.

Example

仕事を探している人と話しました。

I spoke with a person who is looking for work.

い

[ee]

to be; ongoing state

Part of ている, which shows an ongoing condition or action.

Example

最近疲れているようです。

It seems you have been tired lately.

ませ

mase

[mah-seh]

polite negative (part of ません)

「ませ」 is part of 「ません」, the polite negative form.

Example

はいていません。

I haven’t vomited.

ん

[n]

negative ending

The final sound completing the negative polite form.

Example

一人は魚が食べられません。

One person cannot eat fish.

か

[kah]

question marker

Placed at the end of a sentence to make it a question.

Example

A席はありますか。

Are there A seats available?

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