Japanese You Keep Seeing: 駅で見る「入口」と「出口」を覚えよう｜Japanese Grammar (N5–N3)

(Joy pointing at a yellow station sign asking “Deguchi wa doko desu ka?”, with Ken pointing the way, Raya tapping an IC card, and an orange cat holding a tiny ticket)

Welcome to “Japanese You Keep Seeing”!

Did you know that Shinjuku Station in Tokyo is the busiest train station in the world, featuring over 200 different exits? Getting lost in a Japanese train station is a rite of passage for every traveler! To survive these massive underground labyrinths, you only need to recognize two vital words: 入口 (Iriguchi) and 出口 (Deguchi). Let’s decode the signs and find our way out!

🗣 Conversation Scene

Joy, Ken, and Raya have just arrived at Shibuya Station. They want to go see the famous Scramble Crossing, but Joy is completely overwhelmed by the sea of people and yellow signs.

Joy

Line 1: 出口はどこですか？ Line 2: Deguchi wa doko desu ka? Line 3: (Where is the exit?)

人が多すぎます！Kenさん、出口はどこですか？ (There are too many people! Ken-san, where is the exit?)

Ken

あそこの黄色い看板を見てください。「ハチ公出口」はあっちです！ (Look at that yellow sign over there. The “Hachiko Exit” is that way!)

Raya

Always look for the yellow signs to find your way out. Let’s go!

💡 Explanation: Reading the Signs

To navigate successfully, you just need to memorize the simple shape of the kanji for “Mouth / Opening”!

1. The Box: 口 (Kuchi / Guchi) 🚪

This simple square kanji is 口 (Kuchi), which means “Mouth.” When attached to buildings or train stations, it means “Opening” or “Gate.” Almost every entrance or exit will end with this box shape!

2. Iriguchi (入口) – The Entrance 🟢

This is made of the kanji for “To Enter” (入) and “Opening” (口). 入口 (Iri-guchi) literally means “The entering opening.” You will see this at the front doors of shops, museums, and train stations. Look for it when you want to go inside!

3. Deguchi (出口) – The Exit 🟡

This is made of the kanji for “To Exit/Leave” (出) and “Opening” (口). 出口 (De-guchi) literally means “The leaving opening.” In all Japanese train stations, signs pointing to the Deguchi are always colored bright yellow to make them easy to spot in an emergency or crowded area!

💎 Pro Tip: The Compass Exits

Because stations are so big, exits are divided by compass directions. You will constantly see these attached to the “guchi” kanji! • 東口 (Higashi-guchi) = East Exit • 西口 (Nishi-guchi) = West Exit • 南口 (Minami-guchi) = South Exit • 北口 (Kita-guchi) = North Exit

🔥 Practice Quiz

Q1. You want to leave the train station. What color signs should you look for, and what word is written on them? A. Green signs with “Iriguchi” (入口) B. Yellow signs with “Deguchi” (出口)

Answer: B Exit signs (Deguchi) are universally bright yellow in Japanese train stations to guide passengers outside safely.

Q2. What does the square kanji “口” (kuchi/guchi) mean when used in these words? A. A ticket machine. B. A mouth or opening/gate.

Answer: B (Mouth/Opening) It represents the opening where people flow in or out of a building!

Q3. Your friend tells you to meet them at the “Higashi-guchi” (東口). Where should you go? A. The East Exit. B. The North Entrance.

Answer: A (East Exit) “Higashi” means East, and “Guchi” means Exit/Gate. You are meeting at the East Exit!

Ready to master the Ko-So-A-Do system?

Want to dive deeper? Check out our official Beginner’s Grammar Book for more examples, detailed explanations, and practice exercises to perfect your Japanese pointing skills!