Diese Seite in deiner Sprache

English

فارسی

العربية

Español

Français

日本語

한국어

Português

中文

हिन्दी

A1 noun #3,362 am häufigsten 8 Min. Lesezeit

下車

gesha Top 3,362

Jetzt üben Beispiele Notizen & Tipps 下車 in 30 Sekunden

Erklärung 下車 in your Level:

At the A1 level, you are just starting your Japanese journey. You should know that '下車' (gesha) means 'getting off' a train or bus. It is a formal word. You will mostly see it on signs in the station or hear it in announcements. For example, if you see a sign that says '下車口' (gesha-guchi), it means 'Exit.' Even though you might not use this word when talking to your friends (you would say 'oriru' instead), it is very important to recognize it so you don't get lost. Think of it like the word 'Alight' in English. People don't usually say 'I will alight at the next stop' to their friends; they say 'I'm getting off.' But the train announcement says 'Alight here for the museum.' That is exactly how 'gesha' works in Japanese. It is a 'signboard' word that helps you navigate. Try to remember the two kanji: 'Down' and 'Car.' If you see 'Down' and 'Car' together, it's time to get off the train! This is one of the first formal words you will encounter because Japan is a country of trains, and you will be using them every day.

At the A2 level, you can begin to use '下車' (gesha) in slightly more structured ways, specifically when you are dealing with station staff or reading travel instructions. You should understand that '下車' can become a verb by adding 'suru' (下車する). If you need to ask a station attendant if you can get off at a certain station and then get back on later, you can use the phrase '途中下車' (tochū-gesha), which means 'stopover.' This is a very useful word for travelers. You might say, 'Tochū-gesha dekimasu ka?' (Can I make a stopover?). You should also notice that 'gesha' is used in polite announcements like 'Gesha no sai wa...' (When alighting...). At this level, you are learning the difference between 'casual' Japanese (like 'oriru') and 'formal' Japanese (like 'gesha'). Using 'gesha' in the right place shows you understand Japanese social rules and the importance of being polite in public spaces. You should also be able to recognize its opposite, '乗車' (jousha), which means 'getting on.' Knowing these two as a pair will make your travel much smoother.

Registriere dich kostenlos für die vollständige Erklärung

By the B1 level, you should be comfortable with '下車' (gesha) as a standard part of your formal vocabulary. You should understand its role in compound nouns and how it functions in administrative contexts. For instance, you might encounter terms like '下車駅' (gesha-eki - the station where one alights) or '下車客' (gesha-kyaku - passengers getting off). You are now expected to understand the nuance of why 'gesha' is used instead of 'oriru' in news reports or formal writing. For example, if a news report says 'Kyaku ga gesha shita ato...' (After the passengers alighted...), it sounds professional and objective. You should also be aware of the particle usage: 'de gesha suru' is the standard way to indicate the station. Furthermore, at B1, you should be able to read short paragraphs about transit rules that include this word. You might see it in a sentence like 'Kono kippu wa tochū-gesha muko desu' (This ticket does not allow stopovers). Understanding the 'legal' implications of 'gesha' on a ticket is a key skill at this level.

Registriere dich kostenlos für die vollständige Erklärung

At the B2 level, you should have a nuanced understanding of '下車' (gesha) and be able to use it in professional settings, such as writing a business email or giving directions to a client. You should understand that 'gesha' belongs to a category of words that provide precision. While 'oriru' is broad, 'gesha' is specific to vehicles. You should also be able to distinguish 'gesha' from 'kousha' (降車). While they are often interchangeable, 'kousha' is frequently used in the context of 'boarding and alighting' (jousha-kousha) as a statistical or technical term, whereas 'gesha' is more about the passenger's journey ending at a particular station. You should also be familiar with the humble and honorific versions of these actions. For example, a conductor might use the honorific 'go-gesha' when addressing passengers. You should be able to follow complex announcements on the Shinkansen that use 'gesha' in conjunction with other high-level vocabulary, such as 'wasuremono' (forgotten items) and 'teishi' (stopping). Your ability to switch between 'oriru' for peers and 'gesha' for formal writing should be seamless.

Registriere dich kostenlos für die vollständige Erklärung

At the C1 level, your mastery of '下車' (gesha) involves understanding its historical and socio-linguistic placement. You should be able to analyze why a writer chose 'gesha' over 'kousha' or 'oriru' to create a specific tone in a text. You might encounter 'gesha' in literature or high-level journalism where it is used to describe the flow of people in an urban environment. You should also be familiar with more obscure compound words or legal terminology involving 'gesha,' such as those found in the 'Passenger Construction Regulations' (Ryokaku Eigyo Kisoku) of railway companies. At this level, you should be able to discuss the evolution of Japanese transit language and how Sino-Japanese compounds like 'gesha' became the standard for the modernization of the country's infrastructure. You should also be able to handle complex situations, such as explaining the intricacies of 'tochū-gesha' privileges on long-distance tickets to someone else, using appropriate honorifics and technical terms. Your understanding of the word is no longer just about 'getting off' but about the entire system of movement and regulation it represents.

Registriere dich kostenlos für die vollständige Erklärung

At the C2 level, you possess a near-native grasp of '下車' (gesha) and all its subtle implications. You can use it with total precision in any context, from academic papers on urban planning to high-level legal discussions regarding transit liability. You understand the phonetic nuances and the rhythmic role the word plays in formal announcements (the '7-5-7' or '5-7-5' cadence often found in Japanese public speaking). You can appreciate the word's usage in historical documents from the Meiji era, when the railway system was first established and new vocabulary had to be created or adapted from Chinese to describe these new technologies. You are also aware of regional variations or specific company jargon that might use 'gesha' in unique ways. Your command of the language allows you to use the word ironically or metaphorically if needed, although its primary use remains technical. You are essentially an expert on the linguistic 'architecture' of Japanese public space, where 'gesha' is a fundamental brick.

Registriere dich kostenlos für die vollständige Erklärung

Jetzt üben Beispiele Notizen & Tipps

下車 in 30 Sekunden

Formal term for getting off a train or bus.
Commonly heard in station announcements and seen on signs.
Often used as a 'suru' verb (下車する).
Includes the important travel concept of 'stopover' (途中下車).

The Japanese word 下車 (gesha) is a formal linguistic construct categorized as a kango (Sino-Japanese word). It is composed of two kanji: 下 (ge/shita), meaning 'down' or 'below,' and 車 (sha/kuruma), meaning 'vehicle' or 'car.' Together, they literally translate to 'descending from a vehicle.' While the average person might use the verb oriru (降りる) in a casual chat with a friend when saying 'I’m getting off at the next stop,' gesha is the term you will encounter in official, administrative, and public service contexts. This includes automated train announcements, written signs on buses, and the fine print on your Japan Rail (JR) tickets. Understanding this word is essential for navigating the complex and highly efficient Japanese public transportation system, as it distinguishes the physical act of exiting from the procedural act of completing a journey segment.

Formal Register: Used primarily in announcements and written documents to maintain a professional tone.

次は、新宿、新宿です。お出口は左側です。お降りの際は、足元にご注意ください。なお、この駅で下車される方は、切符をお取り忘れなきようお願いいたします。

Translation: Next is Shinjuku. Exit on the left. Please watch your step. For those alighting at this station, please remember to take your ticket.

The nuance of gesha extends beyond just 'leaving.' It implies the termination of a specific leg of travel. For example, the term tochū-gesha (途中下車) refers to a 'stopover' or 'breaking the journey.' In the context of the vast Japanese rail network, if you have a long-distance ticket, you might be allowed to '下車' (get off) at an intermediate station, spend the night, and continue your journey the next day using the same ticket. This administrative nuance is why gesha is used rather than oriru, which focuses more on the physical motion of stepping down. In a society where precision in transit is paramount, gesha provides the necessary clarity for both the provider and the passenger.

Administrative Context: Refers to the legal or procedural end of a trip at a specific station or stop.

この乗車券は、東京駅での下車をもって無効となります。

Translation: This ticket becomes invalid upon alighting at Tokyo Station.

Grammatically, 下車 (gesha) functions as a noun, but it is most frequently used as a suru-verb (下車する). When used as a verb, it describes the action of getting off. Because it is a formal word, it is almost always paired with polite endings like shimasu or shite kudasai. It is important to note the particles used with it. Typically, the location where you get off is marked with the particle で (de), indicating the place of action, or sometimes にて (ni te) in very formal writing. For example, 'Shinjuku-eki de gesha shimasu' (I will get off at Shinjuku Station). Unlike the native verb oriru, which can take the particle を (o) to indicate the vehicle you are leaving (e.g., densha o oriru), gesha focuses on the destination or the station itself.

Noun + Suru: 下車 (Noun) + する (Verb) = To alight/get off.

バスを下車した際、傘を忘れてしまいました。

Translation: When I got off the bus, I accidentally left my umbrella behind.

In compound forms, gesha is incredibly versatile. You will see it in terms like gesha-guchi (下車口), meaning the exit for passengers getting off, often seen on buses where entry and exit doors are separate. Another common usage is in the phrase gesha-mae (下車前), referring to the time or state just before getting off. In technical manuals for train conductors, you might see gesha-kyaku (下車客), referring to 'alighting passengers.' Using gesha correctly signals to your listener that you are speaking about the journey in a structured, perhaps business-like or official capacity. If you are writing a formal email to a client explaining how to reach your office, you might write: 'A-eki de gesha go,徒歩5分です' (After getting off at Station A, it is a 5-minute walk).

途中下車は可能ですか？

Translation: Is it possible to make a stopover (get off midway)?

If you travel to Japan, you will hear 下車 (gesha) within minutes of boarding a train. It is the 'voice of the system.' The most common place is the pre-recorded announcements on the Shinkansen (Bullet Train) or major urban lines like the Yamanote Line in Tokyo. The announcement usually warns passengers not to forget their belongings upon gesha. It is also found on digital displays inside train cars. When the train approaches a terminal, the screen might flash 'ご下車はお早めに' (Please prepare to alight quickly). In the world of Japanese bus travel, especially highway buses (kousoku basu), the driver will announce the stops and use gesha to refer to the passengers' arrival at their destinations.

Public Service Announcements: Standard terminology for railway and bus staff to ensure clarity and politeness.

お降りの際は、下車印を駅員に提示してください。

Translation: When getting off, please show your stopover stamp to the station staff.

Beyond the stations, you will find this word in travel guides, railway websites (like HyperDia or Jorudan), and on the back of physical tickets. The 'Conditions of Carriage' (un-ya yakkan) posted in stations will use gesha to define the legal boundaries of a fare. For instance, it might explain that 'Once you have performed gesha and passed through the ticket gate, the contract for that ticket is fulfilled.' This makes gesha a key word for understanding your rights as a traveler. If you are using a special pass like the JR Pass, the rules regarding tochū-gesha (stopovers) are vital to maximize your travel value without accidentally voiding your ticket.

この駅で下車する人数は、一日平均一万人です。

Translation: The average number of people alighting at this station is 10,000 per day.

One of the most frequent mistakes English speakers make is using 下車 (gesha) in casual, everyday conversation. If you are talking to a friend and say, 'Tsugi no eki de gesha suru ne' (I’m alighting at the next station), it sounds incredibly stiff and robotic—almost like you are a pre-recorded announcement yourself. In casual settings, you should always use the verb oriru (降りる). Another common error is confusing gesha with kousha (降車). While they both mean 'getting off,' kousha is even more technical and is often used in the context of 'boarding and alighting' (jousha-kousha) as a pair. Gesha is more common when referring to the station you are leaving at, while kousha is used for the physical act of exiting the vehicle.

Register Mismatch: Using 'gesha' with friends sounds overly formal and awkward.

❌ 友達に：次のバス停で下車するよ。
✅ 友達に：次のバス停で降りるよ。

Correction: Use 'oriru' for friends; 'gesha' is for formal/official contexts.

Another mistake is the incorrect use of particles. While you can say 'densha o oriru' (get off the train), saying 'densha o gesha suru' is less common than 'densha kara gesha suru' or simply using the station name 'Shinjuku-eki de gesha suru.' Because gesha is a noun-based verb, it behaves slightly differently. Furthermore, learners sometimes confuse gesha with gezan (下山), which specifically means 'descending a mountain.' While both start with the 'down' kanji, they are not interchangeable. Finally, be careful not to confuse it with its antonym jousha (乗車), which means 'getting on.' Swapping these in an announcement or a question to a station attendant could lead to significant confusion about your travel intentions.

❌ 下車口から乗ってください。
✅ 乗車口から乗ってください。

Correction: Don't enter through the exit (gesha-guchi); use the entrance (jousha-guchi).

To truly master Japanese transit vocabulary, you must understand where 下車 (gesha) fits among its synonyms. The most common alternative is 降りる (oriru). This is the 'Swiss Army knife' of getting off. It can be used for trains, buses, cars, bicycles, elevators, and even mountains. It is the safe choice for all daily conversations. Then there is 降車 (kousha). While gesha focuses on the 'station' or 'place' where you end your ride, kousha focuses on the physical action of 'exiting the vehicle.' You will often see 'kousha-guchi' (exit door) on a bus. In technical transportation reports, kousha is used to count the number of people physically stepping off a vehicle.

Comparison: Gesha vs. Oriru: Gesha is formal/administrative; Oriru is casual/universal.

Another related term is 降機 (kouki), which specifically means 'disembarking from an aircraft.' You wouldn't use gesha for a plane because a plane is not a 'sha' (car/wheeled vehicle). Similarly, 下船 (gesen) is used for getting off a ship. For those interested in more literary or old-fashioned terms, shita-ori is almost never used today but appears in some historical contexts. In modern logistics, you might also see ni-oroshi (荷降ろし), which means 'unloading cargo,' sharing the same theme of 'moving things down and off.' Understanding these distinctions helps you navigate not just the physical world of Japan, but also the nuances of its status-conscious and context-heavy language.

飛行機から降機する際は、パスポートを手元にご用意ください。

Translation: When disembarking from the plane, please have your passport ready.

How Formal Is It?

Wusstest du?

Before trains existed, this word was used for getting out of horse-drawn carriages used by the nobility.

Aussprachehilfe

UK /ˈɡɛ.ʃə/

US /ˈɡeɪ.ʃə/

Flat pitch accent (Heiban). Both syllables are pronounced with equal weight.

Reimt sich auf

Densha (Train) Jousha (Boarding) Kousha (Alighting) Sensha (Tank/Car wash) Kinsha (Gold car) Gisha (Fake car/technician) Hasha (Winner) Musha (Warrior)

Häufige Fehler

Pronouncing it like 'geisha' (the entertainer).
Making the 'sh' sound too soft.
Stressing the first syllable too hard.

Schwierigkeitsgrad

Lesen 2/5

Kanji are basic (N5/N4 level).

Schreiben 2/5

下 and 車 are very common and easy to write.

Sprechen 3/5

Requires understanding of formal vs casual register.

Hören 2/5

Very common in announcements; easy to recognize.

Was du als Nächstes lernen solltest

Voraussetzungen

下車駅電車バス

Als Nächstes lernen

乗車停車発車改札切符

Fortgeschritten

振替輸送前途無効運賃精算旅客営業規則降車専用

Wichtige Grammatik

Suru-verbs

下車 + する = To get off.

Particle 'De' for location

駅で下車する。

Honorific 'Go'

ご下車の際は...

Noun compounding

下車 + 駅 = 下車駅

Te-form for sequences

下車して、歩く。

Registriere dich kostenlos für die vollständige Erklärung

Beispiele nach Niveau

新宿駅で下車します。

I will get off at Shinjuku Station.

駅 (eki) + で (de) + 下車 (gesha) + します (shimasu).

ここで下車してください。

Please get off here.

ここ (koko) + で (de) + 下車 (gesha) + してください (shite kudasai).

バスを下車しました。

I got off the bus.

Past tense of 下車する.

下車口はあちらです。

The exit (for alighting) is over there.

下車口 (gesha-guchi) means 'alighting exit'.

次の駅で下車しますか？

Will you get off at the next station?

Question form of 下車します.

下車のとき、切符を忘れないでください。

When getting off, please don't forget your ticket.

下車 (gesha) + の (no) + とき (toki) means 'when alighting'.

私は京都駅で下車しました。

I got off at Kyoto Station.

Subject (watashi) + station + de + gesha shimashita.

下車する人は左へ行ってください。

People getting off, please go to the left.

下車する人 (gesha suru hito) means 'people who get off'.

この切符で途中下車はできますか？

Can I make a stopover with this ticket?

途中下車 (tochū-gesha) is a key compound for 'stopover'.

下車する前に、荷物を確認してください。

Before getting off, please check your luggage.

下車する前 (gesha suru mae) means 'before getting off'.

特急列車は、この駅では下車できません。

You cannot get off the limited express train at this station.

下車できません (gesha dekimasen) is the negative potential form.

下車したあと、駅の近くで昼ご飯を食べました。

After getting off, I ate lunch near the station.

下車したあと (gesha shita ato) means 'after getting off'.

前のドアから下車してください。

Please get off from the front door.

Common instruction on regional Japanese buses.

下車する駅を間違えました。

I made a mistake with the station I was supposed to get off at.

下車する駅 (gesha suru eki) functions as a noun phrase.

多くの人がこの駅で下車します。

Many people get off at this station.

Quantifier (ooku no hito) + action.

下車してから、タクシーに乗りました。

After getting off, I took a taxi.

Sequence of actions using ~te kara.

途中下車ができるのは、有効期間内の乗車券に限ります。

Stopovers are only possible for tickets within their validity period.

Formal administrative Japanese.

下車される際は、足元に十分ご注意ください。

When alighting, please be very careful with your step.

Honorific form (gesha sareru) used in announcements.

最終目的地で下車するまで、切符は大切に保管してください。

Please keep your ticket carefully until you get off at your final destination.

下車するまで (gesha suru made) means 'until you alight'.

事故の影響で、予定していた駅で下車できませんでした。

Due to an accident, I couldn't get off at the planned station.

Cause (eikyou de) + negative potential.

このバスは下車時に運賃を支払うシステムです。

This bus has a system where you pay the fare upon alighting.

下車時 (gesha-ji) means 'at the time of alighting'.

下車客の波に押されて、反対側のホームに行ってしまった。

Pushed by the wave of alighting passengers, I ended up on the opposite platform.

下車客 (gesha-kyaku) as a compound noun.

無人駅での下車方法は、運転士に切符を渡すことです。

The way to get off at an unstaffed station is to hand your ticket to the driver.

下車方法 (gesha houhou) means 'method of alighting'.

定期券の区間内であれば、どの駅でも下車可能です。

If it's within the commuter pass area, you can get off at any station.

下車可能 (gesha kanou) means 'alighting is possible'.

新幹線の指定席券は、途中下車すると前途無効になります。

If you make a stopover with a Shinkansen reserved seat ticket, the remaining portion becomes invalid.

前途無効 (zentomukou) is a technical term for 'remaining journey void'.

ご下車されましたら、そのまま改札口へお進みください。

Once you have alighted, please proceed directly to the ticket gates.

Highly polite honorific (go-gesha saremashitara).

乗客の安全を確保するため、非常時以外の下車は禁止されています。

To ensure passenger safety, alighting except in emergencies is prohibited.

非常時以外 (hijouji igai) + noun + kinshi.

下車後の観光ルートについては、こちらのパンフレットをご覧ください。

For sightseeing routes after alighting, please refer to this brochure.

下車後 (gesha-go) means 'after alighting'.

この駅で下車する際は、ICカードをリーダーにタッチしてください。

When getting off at this station, please touch your IC card to the reader.

Standard IC card usage instruction.

降雪のため、一部の駅での下車が困難になっています。

Due to snowfall, alighting at some stations has become difficult.

Noun + ga + konnan (difficult).

団体客が一度に下車したため、ホームは大混雑となった。

Because a group of tourists alighted all at once, the platform became extremely crowded.

Cause/Reason + outcome.

下車印を押してもらうことで、記念に切符を持ち帰ることができます。

By getting a stopover stamp, you can take your ticket home as a souvenir.

下車印 (gesha-in) is the official term for the stamp.

鉄道営業法に基づき、不正な途中下車は罰金の対象となります。

Based on the Railway Business Act, unauthorized stopovers are subject to fines.

Legal/Technical Japanese.

当駅での下車客数は、周辺の再開発に伴い急増している。

The number of passengers alighting at this station is surging due to surrounding redevelopment.

下車客数 (gesha kyakusuu) as a statistical term.

下車後のスムーズな乗り継ぎを考慮し、車両の移動をお願いします。

Please move between cars in consideration of smooth transfers after alighting.

考慮し (kouryoshi) - connecting sentences formally.

明治時代の鉄道開業当初、「下車」という言葉は一般には馴染みが薄かった。

When the railways first opened in the Meiji era, the word 'gesha' was not well-known to the general public.

Historical context usage.

自動改札機の導入により、下車時の検札作業は大幅に省力化された。

With the introduction of automatic ticket gates, the inspection process upon alighting has been significantly streamlined.

省力化 (shouryokuka) means 'labor-saving'.

乗客は車内放送に耳を傾け、自らの下車駅が近づくのを待った。

The passengers listened closely to the on-board announcements and waited for their alighting station to approach.

Literary style description.

途中下車の権利を放棄することを条件に、割引運賃が適用される。

Discounted fares are applied on the condition that the right to a stopover is waived.

権利を放棄 (kenri o houki) means 'waiving a right'.

下車した瞬間に感じた北国の冷気は、旅情を一層引き立てた。

The cold air of the northern country felt the moment I alighted further enhanced the travel sentiment.

下車した瞬間 (gesha shita shunkan) means 'the moment I alighted'.

都市計画において、駅ごとの下車動線は群衆事故を防ぐための枢要な要素である。

In urban planning, the flow of alighting passengers at each station is a pivotal element for preventing crowd accidents.

Academic/Technical terminology (枢要な要素 - pivotal element).

旅客運送契約の法理によれば、下車は契約履行の最終段階と見なされる。

According to the legal principles of passenger transport contracts, alighting is regarded as the final stage of contract fulfillment.

Legal theory (法理 - houri).

深夜の終着駅で下車する人々の背中には、それぞれの人生の哀愁が漂っていた。

The backs of the people alighting at the terminal station late at night drifted with the melancholy of their respective lives.

High-level literary expression.

ICカードの履歴データから、消費者の下車後の購買行動を分析する試みがなされている。

Attempts are being made to analyze consumer purchasing behavior after alighting based on IC card history data.

Big data and marketing context.

下車を余儀なくされた乗客たちは、代替輸送のバスを求めて列を作った。

The passengers, who were forced to alight, formed a line seeking alternative transportation buses.

下車を余儀なくされる (gesha o yoginaku sareru) - 'forced to alight'.

駅のプラットフォームは、乗車と下車が交錯する都市の縮図である。

The station platform is a microcosm of the city where boarding and alighting intersect.

Metaphorical/Philosophical usage.

途中下車の旅をテーマにした紀行文は、日本の鉄道文化において独自のジャンルを築いている。

Travelogues themed around 'stopover journeys' have established a unique genre in Japanese railway culture.

Cultural analysis context.

下車時の混乱を回避すべく、抜本的な駅舎改修工事が計画されている。

A drastic renovation of the station building is being planned to avoid confusion during alighting.

Business/Planning context (べく - in order to).

Synonyme

降りる降車退車降車する

Gegenteile

乗車乗り込む

Häufige Kollokationen

途中下車する

下車駅

下車口

下車印

下車客

順次下車

強制下車

下車後

下車時

無断下車

Häufige Phrasen

途中下車前途無効

— Remaining journey becomes invalid after a stopover.

この切符は途中下車前途無効です。

お降りの際は

— When alighting (polite).

お降りの際は、足元にご注意ください。

下車されるお客様は

— Passengers who are alighting (honorific).

新宿で下車されるお客様はお急ぎください。

次の駅で下車

— Alighting at the next station.

私は次の駅で下車する予定です。

バスを下車する

— To get off the bus.

彼は静かにバスを下車した。

電車を下車する

— To get off the train.

満員電車を下車してほっとした。

下車して徒歩

— Getting off and then walking.

駅から下車して徒歩10分です。

下車を申し出る

— To request to get off.

運転士に下車を申し出た。

目的地で下車

— Alighting at the destination.

ようやく目的地で下車できた。

一斉に下車

— Alighting all at once.

乗客が一斉に下車した。

Wird oft verwechselt mit

下車 vs 降車

Focuses on the physical act of exiting, whereas 'gesha' is about the station/journey.

下車 vs 下山

Means descending a mountain, not a vehicle.

下車 vs 下船

Means getting off a ship.

Redewendungen & Ausdrücke

"人生の途中下車"

— Taking a break from the standard path of life.

彼は会社を辞めて、人生の途中下車を楽しんでいる。

Metaphorical

"下車して地を這う"

— To get off and walk (humble or literal).

車が故障したので、下車して地を這うように歩いた。

Literary

"乗りかかった船を下車する"

— To quit something you've already started (mixing metaphors).

乗りかかった船を下車するわけにはいかない。

Colloquial

"各駅下車の旅"

— A journey where one stops at every single station.

各駅下車の旅で、地元の名物を探す。

Travel

"下車の一歩"

— The first step off a vehicle (start of a new phase).

下車の一歩が、新たな冒険の始まりだ。

Poetic

"下車を拒む"

— Refusing to leave (staying until the end).

彼は最後まで下車を拒んだ。

Dramatic

"下車の間際"

— The very moment before alighting.

下車の間際に、大事なことを思い出した。

General

"下車して一礼"

— To bow after getting off (politeness/gratitude).

日本の運転士は下車して一礼することがある。

Cultural

"下車後の余韻"

— The lingering feeling after a journey ends.

旅の下車後の余韻に浸る。

Poetic

"下車駅不明"

— Destination unknown (metaphor for confusion).

彼の計画は下車駅不明のままだ。

Metaphorical

Leicht verwechselbar

下車 vs 乗車 (jousha)

Opposite meaning but similar sound/kanji structure.

Jousha is getting ON; Gesha is getting OFF.

乗車口から入ってください。

下車 vs 停車 (teisha)

Both involve a train stopping.

Teisha is the train stopping; Gesha is the person getting off.

電車が停車します。

下車 vs 降車 (kousha)

Almost identical meaning.

Kousha is more technical/physical; Gesha is more administrative/station-focused.

降車ボタン。

下車 vs 発車 (hassha)

Rhymes with gesha.

Hassha means the train is departing.

まもなく発車します。

下車 vs 廃車 (haisha)

Similar sound.

Haisha means scrapping a car.

古い車を廃車にする。

Satzmuster

[Station] で下車します。

東京駅で下車します。

途中下車はできますか？

この駅で途中下車はできますか？

下車する際は、[Caution]。

下車する際は、足元にご注意ください。

[Ticket] は下車時に回収されます。

切符は下車時に回収されます。

下車客の利便性を図るため、[Action]。

下車客の利便性を図るため、エスカレーターを増設した。

[Legal Clause] につき、途中下車は認められない。

規定につき、途中下車は認められない。

[Vehicle] を下車しました。

バスを下車しました。

下車してから [Time] 経った。

下車してから30分経った。

Wortfamilie

Substantive

下車

途中下車

下車駅

下車客

下車口

Verben

下車する

Verwandt

乗車

降車

停車

発車

転車

Registriere dich kostenlos, um alle Beispiele zu sehen

So verwendest du es

frequency

Very High in transit contexts; Low in general domestic life.

Häufige Fehler

Using 'gesha' for getting off a bike. → oriru (降りる)
Gesha is for larger public vehicles like trains/buses.
Saying 'gesha suru' to a close friend. → oriru (降りる)
It sounds too formal and stiff for casual talk.
Confusing 'gesha' with 'gezan'. → gesha (下車)
Gezan is for mountains; Gesha is for vehicles.
Using 'ni' instead of 'de' for the station. → Station + de + gesha suru
'De' marks the location of the action.
Using 'gesha' for an airplane. → kouki (降機)
Airplanes are not 'sha' (cars).

Tipps

Watch the Flow

Always let everyone 'gesha' before you try to 'jousha'. It's the golden rule of Japanese commuting.

Particle Choice

Use 'de' for the station where you get off. 'Shinjuku-eki de gesha shimasu'.

Compound Power

Learn 'tochū-gesha' (stopover) early; it's the most useful compound for travelers.

Announcement Clue

When you hear 'gesha', start gathering your bags. Your stop is coming!

Kanji Tip

The 'sha' in 'gesha' is the same as in 'kuruma' (car). It looks like a top-down view of a chariot.

Staff Interaction

If asking a staff member, 'Gesha shita-i desu' is okay, but 'Oritai desu' is more natural.

Ticket Gates

If your ticket doesn't come out of the gate after 'gesha', it usually means your journey is finished.

Watch the Gap

Announcements often pair 'gesha' with 'ashimoto' (feet/step). Watch the gap!

App Usage

Navigation apps like Google Maps will use 'oriru' or 'gesha' in their instructions.

JLPT Tip

Expect 'gesha' in the listening section of JLPT N4 or N3, usually in a station context.

Einprägen

Eselsbrücke

Imagine a person moving DOWN (下) from a CAR (車).

Visuelle Assoziation

A stick figure walking down stairs attached to a tiny train car.

Word Web

Train Bus Exit Ticket Station Announcement Step Travel

Herausforderung

Try to spot the '下車' kanji on a Japanese bus next time you see a photo of one!

Wortherkunft

Sino-Japanese (Kango). Derived from Middle Chinese roots.

Ursprüngliche Bedeutung: To descend from a chariot or carriage.

Japonic (using Chinese characters).

Kultureller Kontext

No specific sensitivities; it is a neutral, functional word.

Translates best to 'Alighting' in formal UK English or 'Exiting' in US English.

The song 'Tochū-gesha' by various artists. Railway travelogues in Japanese media. Station announcements in anime.

Im Alltag üben

Kontexte aus dem Alltag

Train Travel

途中下車できますか？
下車駅はどこですか？
下車印をお願いします。
下車時に精算する。

Bus Travel

前扉から下車してください。
下車ボタンを押す。
下車時に運賃を払う。
停留所で下車。

Business Directions

A駅で下車してください。
下車後、北口を出ます。
下車してすぐのビルです。
最寄り駅で下車。

Ticketing Rules

途中下車前途無効。
下車により契約終了。
下車駅の変更。
下車後の再入場。

News/Reports

乗客が下車を開始した。
下車客の数は減少した。
非常下車が行われた。
下車時のトラブル。

Gesprächseinstiege

"この切符で途中下車は可能でしょうか？"

"新宿駅で下車して、どこへ行けばいいですか？"

"下車する駅を乗り過ごしてしまいました。"

"バスの下車ボタンはどこにありますか？"

"下車した後に、おいしいラーメン屋はありますか？"

Tagebuch-Impulse

今日、電車を下車したときに何を見ましたか？

途中下車してみたい日本の町はどこですか？

下車する駅を間違えた経験はありますか？

バスを下車するとき、運転手さんに挨拶をしますか？

下車してから目的地までの道のりを説明してください。

Häufig gestellte Fragen

10 Fragen

Technically yes, but it sounds very formal. In a taxi or a friend's car, use 'oriru' or 'orimasu'.

It means a stopover. You get off at a station before your final destination, leave the ticket gate, and can later continue your journey.

The kanji are N5/N4, but the word itself is often taught at A1/A2 levels because it is so common in Japan.

They often use both. 'O-furi' is the polite native Japanese version, while 'gesha' is the formal Sino-Japanese version.

No, for airplanes use 'kouki' (降機).

It is a small red stamp that station staff put on your ticket when you make a stopover.

Yes, both 'gesha suru' and 'gesha o suru' are grammatically correct.

Yes, but usually in narrations or when characters are at a train station.

There isn't a direct opposite, but 'chokko' (going straight) might be used in some contexts.

Historically yes, as carriages were high. Today it just means exiting the vehicle.

Registriere dich kostenlos für Tipps & Notizen