Mind the Gap
Variants in Japanese
The following are some variants on the Japanese announcement 'Mind the Gap'. They fall into three types:
1. 'There are places where there is a wide gap between the train and the platform'.
2. Variations on 'watch your step'.
3. Omission of no de and separation into two sentences.
1. "There are places where there is a wide gap between the train and the platform". | ![]() Densha to hoomu to no aida ga hiroku aite iru tokoro ga gozaimasu. |
![]() Densha to hōmu to no aida ga hiroku aite iru kasho ga gozaimasu. |
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Comment: These two sentences are a slight refinement of the original.![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Note that tokoro or kasho 'place' is modified by the whole clause that comes before, i.e. tokoro (place) where densha to hōmu to no aida ga hiroku aite iru (there is a wide gap between the train and the platform). The modifying verb, in this case iru, is put in the plain form, not the -masu form. |
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2. Variations on "watch your step" | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Ashimoto ni go-chūi negaimasu. 'Please watch your step' |
Substitutes ![]() ![]() |
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![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Ashimoto ni o-ki o tsuke kudasai. 'Please watch your step' |
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The honorific form of the normal request ![]() ![]() |
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![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() O-ori no sai wa go-chūi kudasai. 'Please take care when you alight'. |
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3. Omission of no de | ![]() Densha to hōmu to no aida ga hiroku aite orimasu. Ashimoto ni go-chūi kudasai. |
Since no de is functionally little more than a polite link, it is quite possible to omit it and use two separate sentences. |