How to Say ‘Subway’ in Japanese
地下鉄
chika tetsu
[CHEE-kah teh-TSOO]
💬 Usage Tip: 地下鉄 (chikatetsu) is built from 地下 "underground" + 鉄 "iron", literally an "underground iron (road)".
Phrase Breakdown
地下
chika
[CHEE-kah]
underground
Means below ground level; combined with 'iron/rail' it forms the word for subway.
地下に駐車場があります。
There is a parking lot underground.
鉄
tetsu
[teh-TSOO]
iron; railway
Kanji meaning iron; combined with 地下 it forms 地下鉄, subway.
地下鉄で行きます。
I'll go by subway.
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