A1-58 / CEFR A1 / EPISODE 58

Taking a Taxi

Giving a taxi driver a destination

SceneIn a taxi in an unfamiliar city.

Frank looks out the window from a taxi passing through a city at night. — Select the illustration to view it at full size in a new tab.

Narrator

Frank is in a new city. He gets into a taxi.

フランクは見知らぬ街にいる。彼はタクシーに乗り込む。

Frank01

Please take me to the hotel. The Grand Hotel, downtown.

ホテルまでお願いします。ダウンタウンのグランドホテルです。

Driver02

Got it. About twenty minutes.

承知しました。20分ほどです。

Frank03

Thank you.

ありがとう。

Driver04

Your first time here?

ここは初めてですか？

Frank05

Yes. I am from a small mountain town.

はい。小さな山の町の出身です。

Driver06

This city is big and busy. Be careful.

この街は大きくて賑やかですよ。気をつけて。

Frank07

It is very loud. Where I am from, it is quiet.

とても騒がしい。僕の故郷は、静かなんです。

Driver08

You miss it?

恋しいですか？

Frank09

I miss my friend Tina. She is loud, like this city.

友達のティナが恋しい。この街みたいに騒がしいんです。

Driver10

Then you'll feel at home soon.

それなら、この街にもすぐなじめますよ。

WORDS & CONTEXT

Words & context

“The Grand Hotel, downtown.”

Downtown is the central business or shopping district of a city. It differs from the Japanese word “shitamachi,” which refers to an older, traditionally working-class district. Here it functions as an adverb indicating that the hotel is in the city center.

“Got it.” / “Your first time here?” / “feel at home”

Got it. shortens I got it. and means "Understood." It also answers Got it? (Do you understand?) in A1-22. Your first time here? shortens Is this your first time here? Feel at home means to feel as relaxed as in your own home, or to settle in. Here the driver suggests that if Frank misses his loud friend, he will soon feel comfortable in this loud city too. The warm punchline is that the city's noise reminds him of Tina, which makes it feel familiar.

Browse all 60 A1 episodes

STORY English with optional Japanese translations

Words & context

“The Grand Hotel, downtown.”

“Got it.” / “Your first time here?” / “feel at home”