Rush Hour Revelations: Rediscovering Japan's Packed Trains #242

Join me, a remote worker, as I share fresh observations from my first 満員電車 (packed train) experience in years while heading home to Kagawa. From smartphone habits to the distinctive ぎゅうぎゅう (cramped) silence, discover how morning rush hour reveals subtle aspects of modern Japanese life.

Rush Hour Revelations: Rediscovering Japan's Packed Trains #242
Silver Penguin+ Members: Video Podcast and Japanese Transcripts (Furigana Included/Excluded)

単語 (Vocabulary)

通勤・通学の時間について | About Commuting Time

  • 満員電車 (まんいんでんしゃ) | Packed train
  • ラッシュアワー | Rush hour
  • 出勤時間 (しゅっきんじかん) | Starting time
  • 始業時間 (しぎょうじかん) | Starting time
  • 電車が混む (でんしゃがこむ) | Train gets crowded
  • 通勤ラッシュ (つうきんラッシュ) | Commuter rush
  • 通勤する (つうきんする) | To commute

通勤中の過ごし方 | How to Spend Time During the Commute

  • 覗く (のぞく) | To peek
  • 文庫本 (ぶんこぼん) | Paperback book
  • メッセージを返す / 返信する (メッセージをかえす / へんしんする) | To reply to a message
  • ノイズキャンセリング | Noise-canceling
  • (スマホを)触る (スマホをさわる) | To use (a smartphone)
  • ぼーっとする | To space out

観察と気づき | Observing and Noticing

  • 観察する (かんさつする) | To observe, To watch
  • 叫ぶ (さけぶ) | To shout, To yell
  • 仕草 (しぐさ) | Gesture
  • 避ける (さける) | To avoid
  • 少数派 (しょうすうは) | Minority

通勤の工夫 | Commuting Tips

  • メモを取る(とる) | To take notes
  • アイディアが生まれる(うまれる) | Ideas come up
  • ぎゅうぎゅう | Onomatopoeia for cramped/packed
  • 電車で読みやすいような本 | Easy-to-read-on-train books

会話の話題 (Conversation Topics)

普段(ふだん)通勤(つうきん)通学(つうがく)時間(じかん)はどのぐらいですか?その(あいだ)(なに)をしていますか?
How long is your usual commute to work or school? What do you do during that time?

都市部(としぶ)(くるま)通勤(つうきん)している(ひと)渋滞(じゅうたい)がありますね。何時(なんじ)ぐらいが(とく)渋滞(じゅうたい)しますか?
For people commuting by car in urban areas, there’s often heavy traffic, isn’t there? Around what time does it get particularly congested?

スマホを使(つか)(とき)(おも)にどんなアプリやコンテンツを()たり使(つか)ったりしていますか?
When you use your smartphone, what kinds of apps or content do you mainly view or use?

海外(かいがい)電車(でんしゃ)やバスに()った経験(けいけん)はありますか?(おどろ)いたことはありますか?
Have you ever taken a train or bus in a foreign country? Was there anything that surprised you?

()らない(ひと)観察(かんさつ)することはありますか?意識的(いしきてき)にしていなくても、どこですることが(おお)いですか?
Do you ever observe strangers? Even if you don’t do it intentionally, where do you find yourself doing it the most?

Video Podcast and Japanese Transcripts (Furigana Included/Excluded)

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