It's funny, when you
are having a really bad day here, the day might get even worse
when you find your bike missing from the station where you
parked it.
Don't be too worried though, you bike was probably not stolen,but
taken to a "自転車保管場所” (jitensha hokan basho) to temporarily
store your bike. To get it back, you generally have to pay
a small fee and actually go to pick it up yourself! If that
is the case, please make sure to go to the detention center
during business hours "返還時間”(henkan jikan). The business
hours should be posted near the station.
But if you are lucky, you might catch them in the act of taking
your bike. If that happens, just speak English to them really
quickly
and take back you bike....If not:
You: すみません、自転車保管場所はどこですか？
You: Sumimasen, jitensha hokan basho wa doko desuka?
Excuse me, where is the bicycle detention area?
(At the bicycle detention center)
You: すみません、この間、（ ）駅に置いた自転車が取られました。
You: Sumimasen, kono aida, ( ) eki ni ooita jitensha ga toraremashita.
Excuse me, my bicycle was recently taken from ( ) station.
Them: この中にありますか？
Them: Kono naka ni arimasuka?
Is it among these?
You: ありゃま、あそこの黄色いやつ。
You: Ariyama, asoko no kiroii yatsu.
Well, what do you know, it is that yellow one over there.
Them: わかりました。移送保管料が１，５００円になります。
Them: Wakarimashita. Isou hokan ryou ga sen go hyaku en ni
narimasu.
Gottcha. There is a transfer and detention fee of 1,500 yen.
You: 高い！
You: Takai!
Expensive!
Vocabulary
| 自転車保管場所 |
jitensha hokan basho |
Bicycle detention area/center |
| 置く⇒置いた |
Oku ⇒ Oiita |
Place/leave/park ⇒ Placed/left/parked |
| "置く" Is quite the
versatile verb. It can be used when you place something
on a table, or park your car somewhere. |
| あそこ ⇒ ここ ⇒ そこ |
Asoko⇒koko⇒soko |
Over there. ⇒ here ⇒there |
| やつ |
Yatsu |
That one. |
"やつ" is an interesting
word. It is often used when referring to inanimate objects.
But it can be used to refer to a person too.
(Usually when you are peeved at someone). "あのやつ!”ano
yatsu! ⇒ That darn guy! |
Bonus Vocabulary
| 放置禁止区域 |
Houchi kinshi kuiki |
Illegal parking area |
| 自転車駐車場 |
Jitensha chusha jou |
Bicycle parking |
| 駐輪場 |
Chu rin jou. |
Parking area. |
| 原付 |
Gentsuki |
Scooter |
|
