Hi everyone!
Welcome to Everyday Kanji! In this series, we’re going to present pictures of kanji seen in various places in Japan taken by the team members at JapanesePod101.com. That’s right – kanji seen and used everyday!

The theme for this week is kanji found on signs at an airport. Let’s take a look!

①

出国審査・税関 (shukkoku shinsa/zeikan)：Anyone who has ever gone on a flight to a foreign country has experienced going through these two areas. Based on the kanji, can you guess what they are?

出国審査 (shukkoku shinsa) refers to immigration (for leaving the country). It is made up of the words 出国 (shukkoku), which is “departure of the country”, and 審査 (shinsa), which means “inspection”. These two words together mean “immigration” (for leaving the country). When referring to immigration procedures when entering a country, 入国審査 (nyūkoku shinsa) is used.

税関 (zeikan) is made up of the characters for “tax” and “connection”, and refers to customs.

出国審査 (shukkoku shinsa) = immigration (for leaving the country)
● 出 (shu) = to leave
● 国 (koku) = country
● 審 (shin) = judge
● 査 (sa) = investigate

税関 (zeikan) = customs
● 税 (zei) = tax
● 関 (kan) = connection

Sample Sentence:
無事に出国審査と税関を通過しました。
Buji ni shukkoku shinsa to zeikan o tsūka shimashita.
I made it through immigration and customs with no problems.

②

手荷物受取所 (tenimotsu uketorijo) refers to the Baggage Claim area. This is where you pick up your luggage that was checked in on your flight.

Let’s look at how we can break down this phrase. First we have 手荷物 (tenimotsu), which refers to luggage. 受取 (uketori) means “receiving”, and 所 (tokoro/jo) means “place”. All together, it roughly translates to a “place where you pick up your luggage”, which we call Baggage Claim in English.

手荷物 (tenimotsu) = luggage, hand baggage
● 手 (te) = hand
● 荷 (ni) = baggage
● 物 (motsu) = thing

受取 (uketori) = receiving
● 受 (u-ke) = accept
● 取 (to-ri) = take

所(tokoro/jo) = place
● 所 (tokoro/jo) = place

extra:
到着 (tōchaku) = arrival
● 到 (tō) = arrival
● 着 (chaku) = arrive

Sample Sentence:
330便の手荷物受取所はどこですか？
330-bin no tenimotsu uketorijo wa doko desu ka?
Where is the baggage claim for Flight 330?

③

第１ターミナル出発 (Dai-ichi tāminaru shuppatsu)：第１ means “first”, and ターミナル means “terminal”. Can you tell if this area is designated for arrivals or departures?

出発 (shuppatsu) means “departure”, and it is made up of the kanji 出 (shu), meaning “to leave”, and 発 (hatsu), which means “departure”. In this word, 発 (hatsu) undergoes a sound change and becomes “ppatsu”.

第１ターミナル出発 (Dai-ichi tāminaru shuppatsu) = Terminal 1 Departures
● 第 (dai) = counter for cardinal numbers
● 出 (shu) = to leave
● 発 (hatsu) = departure

Sample Sentence:
成田国際空港ではANAは第1ターミナルから出発します。
Narita kokusai kūkō de wa ANA wa dai-ichi tāminaru kara shuppatsu shimasu.
ANA flights depart from Terminal 1 at Narita International Airport.

④

乗り継ぎ案内 (noritsugi an’nai) is “Connecting Flight Information” – keep your eyes out for this when you have a connecting flight!

乗り継ぎ (noritsugi) means “connection” when talking about transportation, and 案内 (an’nai) means “guide” or “information”. You’ll often see informational signs that have the word案内 (usually preceded by a phrase) in giant characters.

乗り継ぎ案内 (noritsugi an’nai) = Connecting Flight Information

乗り継ぎ (noritsugi) = connecting flight
● 乗 (no-ri) = ride
● 継 (tsu-gi) = succeed

案内 (an’nai) = information, guide
● 案 (an) = proposition
● 内 (nai) = inside

Sample Sentence:
国際線から国内線への乗り継ぎについては、乗り継ぎ案内をご覧ください。
Kokusaisen kara kokunaisen no noritsugi ni tsuite wa, noritsugi an’nai o go-ran kudasai.
Please refer to the Connecting Flight Information for info on connecting from an international flight to a domestic flight.

⑤

第２ターミナル連絡バスのりば (dai-ni tāminaru renraku basu noriba)： So there’s the words for terminal, and bus, and the kanji that “links” them together… starting the get the picture?

We saw the kanji 第 (dai) in an earlier Everyday Kanji picture. 第２ターミナル (dai-ni tāminaru) refers to Terminal 2, and 連絡 (renraku) means “connection”. バスのりば (basu noriba) is a bus stand. So basically, you go here if you want to catch a (free!) bus that will take you to Terminal 2!

第２ターミナル(dai-ni tāminaru) = Terminal 2
● 第 (dai) = counter for cardinal numbers

連絡 (connection)
● 連 (ren) = connect
● 絡 (raku) = entwine

Sample Sentence:
第1ターミナルと第2ターミナルの間の移動には、ターミナル間連絡バスをご利用ください。
Dai-ichi tāminaru to dai-ni tāminaru no aida no idō ni wa, tāminaru kan renraku basu o go-riyō kudasai.
Please use the bus that connects the terminals to go between Terminal 1 and Terminal 2.

★ If you think you can remember them all, try testing yourself with this video on Youtube!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TbIa-JS2NNE
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