Useful Phrases To Describe Someone Who Is Lost in Japan
Japan is very crowded, and the malls or subway stations of Tokyo are some of the most frequented places on earth. The most important thing to do to not get separated from friends or family is to stay close.
If you decide to split up and meet again later, choose a very, very recognizable shop/place as the rendez-vous. Because there are so many people in Japan, it can be difficult to find your friends in the crowd.
You'll also be surprised to find many shops in the anthill that are on the biggest subway stations of the JR Yamanote line. Kids can easily be attracted to these, and you can lose them on the way. The number of exits is so huge, and you can find there is a 1 km walking distance between two exits.
A good tip would be to « walk in the way », which is usually on the left line. If you happen to go against the flow, you might get separated and have trouble finding each other again.
If you happen to be lost, or to lose someone in this crowded area, ask : « Uketsuke dochira desu ka », which means « where is the reception desk ? ». If you are on the street, ask directly : « Kouban ha dochira desu ka ? », to ask where is the nearest police station. There are alot of them in the streets (every 100 m, almost).
Once here, you’ll find usefull the sentences below, to describe the problem and the missing person.
If you want to say « I’m lost » use : Watashi ha mayote imasu.
My friend is lost : « Watashi no tomodachi ha mayote imasu ».
Please help me : « Tasukete kudasai ».
I’m looking for a friend : « Tomodachi wo sagashite imasu ».
My little girl is missing : « Watashi no musume ga maigo nachatta. »
My little boy left when I was doing shoppin : « Kaimono shite iru aida ni watashi no musuko ga maigo nachatta. »
It’s a girl : « Onnanoko desu ».
It’s a 6 years old boy : « Rokusai no otokonoko desu ».
It’s a 24 years old woman : « Nijuyonsai no josei desu ».
It’s a 30 years old guy : « sanjusai no dansei desu ».
Her name is Amanda and she doesn’t speak Japanese : « Namae ha Amanda de, kanojo ha nihongo ga wakarimasen ».
Can you please call for his name : « Namae wo yonde kudasai ».
I don’t know where he is : « Doko ni iru koto ga wakarimasen »
He’s tall : « Se ga takai desu ».
He’s small : Se ga ikui desu ».
His hair are blond : « Kami no ke ha kiroi desu ».
His hair are black and long : « Kami no ke ha kurokute nagai desu ».
His hair are brown and short : « Kami no ke ha chairo de mijikai desu ».
My friend’s eyes are blue : « tomodachi ha aoi me wo shite imasu ».
He’s wearing a shirt : « Shirt wo kite imasu. »
His shirt is checked : « check na you na shirt wo kite imasu. »
My friend’s shoes are red : « tomodachi ha akai kutsu wo haite imasu ».
He’s wearing a big bagpack : « ookii ruku wo motte imasu ».
She’s wearing jeans and she’s wearing glasses : « Jeans wo haite ite, megane wo kakete imasu. »
He’s wearing a shirt with red and white stripes : « Aka to shiro no shima no shirt wo kite imasu . »
Anyway, don’t panic. Japan is a very safe country, and people are always helping in the streets, even if they are very busy on their own. If your kid is lost, odds are someone will bring him to the nearest kouban and the patrol cars will start rolling arount calling your name or looking for any foreigner with a missing kid.
