What does 駅 mean in Japanese?
駅 means “station” in Japanese. You will often see it in practical words such as 駅 (station), 駅前 (in front of the station), and 駅員 (station staff).
For learners, the key is to study 駅 through real vocabulary. The examples below show how the kanji works in words, sentences, and related kanji.
Reading
On’yomi: エキ (eki)
Kun’yomi: —
Basic Information
| Kanji | 駅 |
|---|
How to Understand This Kanji
駅 is not limited to one English translation. In 駅 (えき), it means station; in 駅前 (えきまえ), it points to in front of the station; and in 駅員 (えきいん), it is used for station staff. Reading these compounds side by side helps you understand the range of the kanji.
Common Words
- 駅（えき / eki） — station
- 駅前（えきまえ / ekimae） — in front of the station
- 駅員（えきいん / ekiin） — station staff
- 東京駅（とうきょうえき / tōkyōeki） — Tokyo Station
- 駅名（えきめい / ekimei） — station name
- 終着駅（しゅうちゃくえき / shūchakueki） — terminal station
Example Sentences
-
駅で友だちを待ちます。
えきでともだちをまちます。 / Eki de tomodachi o machimasu.
I wait for my friend at the station.
-
駅前に新しい店ができました。
えきまえにあたらしいみせができました。 / Ekimae ni atarashii mise ga dekimashita.
A new shop opened in front of the station.
-
駅員に道を聞きました。
えきいんにみちをききました。 / Ekiin ni michi o kikimashita.
I asked the station staff for directions.
When Learners Usually See This Kanji
Start with 駅 (えき / eki) because it keeps the core meaning of 駅 clear. Then add 駅前 and 駅員 to see how the reading and meaning shift in real vocabulary. Do not memorize 駅 as a single English word; connect it to actual words and example sentences.
Summary
駅 means “station” and appears in useful Japanese words such as 駅, 駅前, and 駅員.