防災 （ぼうさい) bousai & Japanese for emergency

「机の下に隠れてね！」

= Tsukue no shita ni kakurete ne.

= Hide under the table!

Hi everyone!

As we all know we had a big earthquake in Japan and it took a lot of people’s lives.

My deepest sympathies and prayers goes out to everyone affected by this disaster.

Also thank you so much for all your concern and encouragements. We have received so many warm messages from all over the world. As a Japanese person, I was personally moved to tears to receive your love and support.

For those who live in Japan, there are many helpful sites.

■Japan earthquake how to protect yourself

■Japan earthquake Multi-language Support site

■How to protect yourself

■Japan earthquake Information

■NHK world

■ USTREAM NHK World TV

■気象庁= kishouchou = Japanese meteorological bureau

■NTT　Disaster Emergency Message Dial

We all worry about the ongoing aftershocks and 放射能 (= houshanou )= radiation leakage problem from the 原子力発電所 (= genshiryoku hatsudensho )= atomic power plants. But 冷静になりましょう！(= “Reisei ni narimashou”) = let’s keep our heads, and not overreact. There too much information out there, and some people are panicking prematurely.

 

I will make this lesson for everybody who is in Japan or is coming to Japan in the future. Hopefully, this will help you stay safe.

Although it is painful for me to make this type of lesson, I think it might be useful in case of emergency.

But the motive of this lesson is not to make you worry. It is to help you deal with any situations calmly in Japanese.

Knowing other languages helps you to enjoy your trips and your life when you travel or stay in another country. At the same time knowing language helps you survive whenever something happens to you.

In other words, if you don’t know the language, there are more chances that you will feel very frightened because you will not know what is happening around you.

There are a lot of sources of information in Japanese but you might feel as if there is no information because a lot of TV news is not bilingual.

First, you need to understand some basic words to help you understand what is being said on TV, and the internet and to communicate with the people around you. You need to be able to get the basic information and find out what is happening. And it will be more useful if you can understand Japanese news even if it’s just a few keywords or phrases. And when you don’t know what is happening, you need to be able to ask the people around you quickly in Japanese.

I really hope you don’t need to ever use this lesson now or in the future but it’s good to be prepared.

We have a saying 備えあれば憂い無し。= Sonae areba urei nashi.= If you are prepared, you don’t have to worry.

 ⭐️To help you understand Japanese emergency warnings on TV or Radio :

As soon as we have an earthquake somewhere in Japan, you will hear/see the announcement on TV by 気象庁 = kishouchou = meteorological bureau

•地震情報 = jishin jouhou = earthquake information

•地震速報 = jishin sokuhou = prompt announcement for the earthquake

If you see it on TV, the

Ex. 緊急地震速報です。

= Kinkyuu jishin sokuhou desu.

= This is an emergency earthquake warning.

Ex. ＊時＊分（name of the place) で強い地震がありました。

= ＊ji＊pun/fun,(name of the place) de tsuyoi jishin ga arimashita.

= There was a big earthquake in (name of the place) at (time).

→ Variation :

•(time)+ 頃、

=( time)+ goro,

= around + time

•只今 = tadaima = right now

•先程 = sakihodo = a little while ago

•(place)で地震がありました。

•(place)de jishin ga arimashita.

= There was an earthquake in **

•地震 = jishin = earthquake

•ありました = arimashita = there was/were

Ex. 各地の震度は分かり次第お知らせ致します。

= Kakuchi no shindo wa wakari shidai oshirase itashimasu.

= We will announce the seismic intensity scale of each affected area as soon as we know.

•各地=kakuchi = each area

•震度= shindo = Japanese seismic intensity scale

And they will show you the degree of the earthquake in each area

↓

(location) 震度２ = (location) shindo ni = (location) intensity 2

We also describe the seismic intensity with マグニチュード= magunichuudo = magnitude later but it is pretty common to describe the intensity with 震度 = shindo in Japan.

:l: There are 10 different levels.

震度* 弱= shindo ＊jaku= intensity ＊ lower

The literal meaning of 弱= jaku is “weak”

震度* 強= shindo ＊kyou = intensity ＊ upper

The literal meaning of 強= kyou is “strong”

1)Intensity level 0= 震度０= shindo zero

Most people don’t feel any shakes.

2) Intensity level 1=震度１ = shindo ichi

Some people might feel it if you are in the room being quiet

3) Intensity level 2= 震度 2 = shindo ni

Most people in a quiet room can feel.

4) Intensity level 3 =震度 3 = shindo san

 

Most people in the house feel it.

5) Intensity level 4= 震度4 = shindo yon

 

Most people get surprised. Hanging objects such as lamps will swing and unstable ornaments in the house might fall.

6) Intensity level 5 lower =震度５弱= shindo go jaku

Most people feel frightened and try to hold onto something to walk.

Most books and dishes fall from cupboards or bookshelves. An unstable brick wall might fall.

7) Intensity level 5 upper =震度５強= shindo go kyou

It is difficult to walk without holding onto something. Unfixed furniture might fall.

8) Intensity level 6 lower =震度6弱= shindo roku jaku

It is difficult to stand. Most unfixed furniture will move or fall. Some doors won’t be able to open (because the frames will be twisted). Tiles on the wall or roof or window glasses might fall. Less earthquake-resistant wooden houses might fall or tilt.

9) Intensity level 6 upper =震度6強= shindo roku kyou

You can’t move without crawling. Sometimes you are knocked down. Most unfixed furniture will move and may fall. More less-earthquake-resistant wooden houses or buildings will incline or collapse. Landslides and cracks in the ground may also occur.

10) Intensity level 7 =震度7 = shindo nana

Even high-earthquake-resistant buildings might occasionally incline.

Many low-earthquake-resistant concrete buildings will collapse.

You will also see/here,

↓

(location) で地震 強い揺れに警戒

= (location) de jishin. Tsuyoi yure ni keikai.

= There was an earthquake in ~ . Be careful of strong shakes.

•強い = tsuyoi = strong

•揺れ = yure = shake

•警戒 = keikai = alert, warning (verb : 警戒する = keikai suru = to be alert)

Ex. 強い揺れに警戒してください

= Tsuyoi yure ni keikai shite kudasai.

= Be careful of strong shakes

Note: Many people registered for “the earthquake alert” on their cell phone company.

Softbank, Au, Docomo.

iPhone has an APP called ゆれくる= yurekuru (The literal translation is shaking is coming.)

It is based on information supplied by 気象庁 = kishouchou = meteorological bureau

Ex. 震度５弱がおよそ１０秒後

= shindo 5 jaku ga oyoso juubyougo

= A level 5 lower earthquake is coming within 10 seconds (more or less).

(Notice the icon picture is a なまず= namazu= catfish which are traditionally thought to be able to predict earthquakes.)

After the first announcement of the earthquake. They will soon announce

 

震源地 = shingenchi= epicenter

Check where it is. Check the Japanese map and make sure which area is affected.

Aftershocks are called

 

●余震 = yoshin

Ex. 余震がある= yoshin ga aru = there are aftershocks

and if you live on the seacoast, check for tsunami warnings.

After an earthquake, there are often aftershocks so you have to keep alert. They say sometimes aftershocks are bigger than the initial quake.

Then they will announce information about:

津波= tsunami

If tsunamis are not a problem, they will say

津波の心配はありません。

= Tsunami no shinpai wa arimasen.

When there is a warning of tsunami, they will announce

:u:

津波注意報が発表されました。

= Tsunami keihou ga happyou saremashita.

= They issued a tsunami advisory.

Now remember, in case of tsunami, typhoon ( = 台風 = taifuu), heavy rain ( = 大雨 = ooame), flood ( = 洪水 = kouzui)

there are two types of warnings

*注意報 = chuuihou = advisory

and

*警報 = keihou = alarm, alert

Note : 警報 = keihou is a stronger warning

(For example in the event of typhoon, if they publish 警報 = keihou for typhoon, Ex. 暴風警報 = boufuu keihou = storm wing warning, children have to stay home not leaving the house.)

•〜が発表されました。

= ~ ga happyou saremashita.

= ~ is announced.

Ex.津波警報が発表されているのは次の沿岸です。

= Tsunami keihou ga happyou sarete iru no wa tsugi no engan desu.

= The tsunami warning just announced affects the following seacoasts.

●沿岸 = engan = (sea) coast

In case of event of tsunami, go to a 高台 = takadai = upland, high place, up on hills as fast as you can.

⭐️ What to do during an earthquake:

I know there are a lot of useful sites — like the ones I mentioned above — but basically 安全確保 = anzen kakuho = to stay safe is key and 火の元に注意= hino monto ni chuui = be sure to turn off the stove, heater or gas.

1) Don’t panic!

2) Protect your head. If you have a bag made of strong material (a cushion or pillow will also work), lift it over the top of your head 10cm away from the top of your head. If at all possible hide under a table until the big shake is over. (like me in the picture)

3) 揺れが静まったら(= Yure ga shizumattara) =When the shakes settle, → Turn off the stove, heater or gas as soon as possible.

4) Open the doors, windows.

5) Don’t use the elevator when you escape.

6) Avoid being close to the building, vending machines, concrete walls, power lines, signs. Try to get into an open area.

********

⭐️ Useful Japanese for emergency :

Remember the following words and phrases:

★非常口 = hijouguchi = emergency exit

(If you stay in a hotel, find out where the exits are. )

Ex. 非常口はどこですか？

= Hijouguchi wa doko desuka?

= Where is the emergency exit?

Ex. 階段はどこですか？

= Kaidan wa doko desuka?

= Where are the stairs?

Ex. 出口はどこですか？

= Deguchi wa doko desuka?

= Where is the exit?

If you find a fire, you shout

Ex. 火事だ！= kajida! = Fire!!

Note: Emergency phone numbers in Japan

In case of fire or to call an ambulance car, we dial 119

 

「はい、119(番）です。火事ですか？救急ですか？」

= Hai ichiichi kyuu (hyakujyuukyuuban )desu. Kaji desuka? Kyuukyuu desuka?

= Hello, this is 119. Is it a matter of fire or do you need an ambulance?

「事故がありました。」

= Jiko ga arimashita.

=There was an accident.

「火事です。」

= kaji desu

= There is fire

「急病です。」

= Kyuubyou desu

=It means someone has a “sudden illness”. This is an emergency. Someone is sick! or injured.

「救急車お願いします。」

= Kyuukyusha onegai shimasu.

= Please send us an ambulance.

「消防車お願いします。」

= Shoubousha onegai shimasu.

= Please send a firetruck.

They will ask for your location and name. Then they’ll ask you to clearly describe what happened.

Ex. 「火事です。中に人がいます。」

= Kaji desu. Naka ni hito ga imasu.

= There is fire! There is someone inside.

Ex. 「怪我をしています。」

= Kega wo shiteimasu.

= I am (or someone is ) injured.

Give a direction 場所は〜です。= Basho wa ~ desu. = It is (location)

If it is a car accident or crime is involved, call 110

It is also called 110番 = hyakutouban

You can ask people around you

「すみません、119(番）に電話をして下さい。」

= Sumimasen ichiichi kyuu (or hyakujuu kyuuban )ni denwa wo shite kudasai.

= Please call 119 (for the ambulance car or fire car)

「すみません、110(番）(or 警察）に電話をして下さい。」

= Sumimasen hyakutouban (or keisatsu) ni denwa shite kudasai.

= Please call 110. / Please call the police.

!to right! For other warnings for emergency

Ex. 「逃げろ」

= Nigero!

= Evacuate! (Strong)

Ex. 「逃げて！」

= Nigete

= Evacuate! 

*This is an emergency, it doesn’t matter if you are a man or woman, just remember if someone says this you have to get out of there!

Ex. 「助けて！」

= Tasukete!

= Help!

Ex. 「助けて下さい！」

= Tasukete kudasai!

= Please help me!

If you don’t know what is happening, just grab anybody around you,

Ex. 「何が起きたのですか？」

= nani ga okita no desuka?

= What happened?

Ex. 「どうしたらいいですか？」

= Doushitara ii desuka?

= What should I do?

Ex.「どこへ行ったらいいですか？」

= Doko ye ittara iidesuka?

= Where should I go?

If you don’t understand them

Ex.「日本語がよくわかりません。ゆっくり話してください」

= Nihongo ga yoku wakarimasen. Yukkuri hanashite kudasai.

= I don’t understand Japanese well. Please speak slowly.

Ex「誰か英語がわかる人はいませんか？」

= Dareka eigo ga wakaru hito wa imasenka?

= Is there anybody who speaks English?

You can ask help saying,

「困っています。助けて下さい。」

= Komatte imasu. Tasukete kudasai.

= I am in trouble. Please help me.

********

In some severe cases, you may have to evacuate,

Ex. 「ここは危険ですか？」

= Koko wa kiken desuka?

= Is it safe here?

Note

•危険 = kiken = danger

• 安全 = anzen = safe

Ex. 危険地域 = kiken chiiki = dangerous zone

Ex. 安全地域 = anzen chiiki = safe zone

•避難 = hinan = evacuation

→verb: 避難する =hinan suru = to evacuate

Ex. 「直ちに避難して下さい！」

= Tadachi ni hinan shitte kudasai!

= Please evacuate as soon as possible.

緊急避難= kinkyuu hinan = emergency evacuation

Every district has its designated 避難所 = hinanjo = shelter Usually at a school gym or city hall where they can have a lot of people.

Ex. 「どこに避難したらいいですか？」

= Doko ni hinan shitara iidesuka?

= Where should I evacuate to?

Ex. 「避難所はどこにありますか？」

= Hinanjo wa dokoni arimasuka?

= Where is the shelter?

Ex. 「駅までどういけばいいですか？」

= Eki made douikeba iidesuka?

= How can I get to the station?

Ex. 「避難所まで歩いてどの位ですか？」

= Hinanjo made aruite donogurai desuka?

= How long does it take to get to the shelter from here on foot?

So basically in order to get information, you may have to ask a lot of questions.

⭐️How to communicate with people in emergency

🔹 「〜はどこですか？」

=〜wa doko desu ka?

= Where is 〜?

Ex. 「公衆電話はどこですか？」

= Koushuudenwa wa doko desuka?

=〜wa doko desu ka?

= Where is 〜?

🔹〜を貸してください。

=〜 wo kashite kudasai.

= May I use 〜

Ex. 「電話を貸してください。」

= Denwa wo kashite kudasai.

= May I use your phone?

🔹〜はどこで買えますか？

= 〜 wa doko de kaemasu ka?

= Where can I buy 〜?

Ex. 「電池はどこで買えますか？」

= Denchi wa doko de kaemasuka?

= Where can I buy batteries?

🔹 〜はどこでもらえますか？

= 〜wa dokode moraemasuka?

= Where can I get 〜

(もらえる = moraeru = means to get something for free)

Ex. 「水はどこでもらえますか？」

= Mizu wa doko de moraemasu ka?

= Where can I get water?

🔹(verb)ても（でも）大丈夫ですか？

= (verb) temo(demo) daijoubu desuka?

= Can I / Is it OK/ Is it Safe to verb?

Ex.「水道水は飲んでも大丈夫ですか？」

= Suidousui wa nondemo daijoubu desuka?

= Is it OK (safe) to drink tap water?

🔹〜を頂けますか？(polite)

=〜wo itadakemasuka?

= Could you give me 〜

Ex. 「水を頂けますか？」

= Mizu wo itadakemasu ka?

= Could you give me some water please?

or simply

〜を下さい

= 〜wo kudasai.

= Give me 〜, please.

Ex. 「地図を下さい。」

= Chizu wo kudasai.

= Give me a map, please.

〜を使わせて下さい

=〜wo tsukawasete kudasai.

= Let me use 〜 please.

Ex. 「トイレを使わせて下さい。」

= Toire wo tsukawasete kudasai.

= Please let me use the bathroom.

🔹〜させて下さい

= 〜sasete kudasai.

= Let me do ~

Ex. 「携帯を充電させて下さい。」

= Keitai wo juuden sasete kudasai.

= Let me charge my cell phone.

〜を探しています。

=〜wo sagashite imasu.

= I am looking for 〜

Ex. 「開いている店を探しています。」

= Aiteiru mise wo sagashite imasu.

= I am looking for an open store.

•開いている = aite iru = open

•閉まっている = shimatte iru = closed

Ex. 「友達を探しています。」

= Tomodachi wo sagashite imasu.

= I am looking for my friend.

Ex. 「どこにいったら買えますか？」

= Doko ni ittara kaemasuka?

= Where can I buy it/them?

Ex. 「どこで聞いたらわかりますか？」

= Doko de kiitara wakarimasu ka?

= Where can I get the information?

Ex. 「誰に聞いたらわかりますか？」

= Dare ni kiitara wakarimasu ka?

= Who should I ask?

**********

!to right! Transportation problems: transportation facilities: 交通機関 = koutsuu kikan

During the disaster, many trains, airplanes, subways, or buses will stop or reduce the service. A lot of people couldn’t go home and they are called 帰宅困難者 = kitaku konan sha Now I will teach you some of the keywords/sentences to understand what it is said in the announcement.

•ダイヤが乱れる = daiya ga midareru.

Ex. ダイヤが乱れています。

= daiya ga midarete imasu.

= The timetable has been disrupted.

•運転見合わせ = unten miawase = temporally suspended

Ex. 地震のため全線で運転を見合わせています。

= jishin no tame zensen de unten wo miawasete imasu.

= Due to the earthquake, all lines have been temporarily suspended.

•平常どおり運転しています。

= Heijou doori untenn shiteimasu.

= to have a normal train (or bus) service

•運転見合わせ

= unten miawase

= The operation was temporarily suspended

•運休

= unkyuu

= no service, cancellation

•運転再開

= unten saikai

=to restart operations, service resumed

**********

•停電 = teiden = power outage, blackout

•断水= dansui = cuts in water supply

To provide electricity supply to the most devastated area 被災地= disaster-affected areas east area of Japan has been doing

•計画停電 = keikaku teiden = planned outage

This is something new and we have never done it in Japan.

Ex. この地区の停電は何時から何時までか知っていたら教えて下さい。

= Kono chiku no teiden wa nanji kara nanji made ka shitteitara oshiete kudasai.

= Please tell me if you know from what time until what time the blackout in this area is.

People are trying to do 節電= setsuden = saving electricity

Japan is known as one of 地震大国 = jishin taikoku = the biggest earthquake countries.

After the big earthquake in Hanshin or Nigata area, people are more prepared for the earthquakes.

From the picture above:

★防災= bousai = disaster prevention

「机の下に隠れてね！」

= Tsukue no shita ni kakurete ne.

= Hide under the table!

Many companies and schools practice 避難訓練= hinan kunren = disaster drills

And many houses or companies prepare

非常袋 = hijoubukuro = emergency bag

•懐中電灯 = kaichuudentou = flashlight

•乾電池 = kandenchi = batteries

•飲料水 = inryousui = drinkable water

•非常食 = hijoushoku = emergency food

•ヘルメット = herumetto = helmets

etc.

Many people put a pair of shoes in the bedroom so that they can escape immediately.

And we fix the furniture with a pole,

******

Recently panicked people hoard food, water, toilet paper, and etc.

買い占め = kaishime = panic purchase, hoarding

It is sad to hear that even people who live far away try to buy up stuff supplies that they do not really need. This is mostly done out of fear.

 

Last but not least, a lot of people asked me how to encourage their Japanese friends. It is not a specific lesson but check my 労る= itawaru lesson. I will add a little bit here.

If you want to ask if someone is OK or not,

大丈夫ですか？

= daijoubu desuka?

↓

Ex. 地震がありましたが大丈夫でしたか？

= Jishin ga arimashitaga daijoubu deshitaka?

= There was an earthquake. Are you OK?

Ex.ご家族は皆さん無事でしたか？

= Gokaoku wa minasan buji deshitaka?

= Is everybody in your family all right?

If you want to show your sympathy, you say

↓

Ex. 心よりお見舞い申し上げます。

= Kokoro yori omimai moushiagemasu.

= I would like to express my deepest sympathies.

And if you find out everybody is OK and want to express your relief, you say

↓

無事でよかった！(with someone close to you)

= Buji de yokatta

= I am glad you are safe.

ご無事で本当によかったです。(formal)

= Gobuji de hontou ni yokattadesu.

= I am glad you are OK.

To be relieved in Japanese is

•安心する= anshin suru

or

•ほっとする =hotto suru

I’m relieved to hear you are OK.

Ex. 無事と聞き安心しました。

= Buji to kiki anshin shimashita.

or Ex. 無事と聞きほっとしました。

= Buji to kiki ni hotto shimashita.

Your cheering of

がんばって日本 = ganbatte nihon(nippon) = Hang in there, Japan

or

pray for Japan = 日本の為に祈る = nihon no tame ni inoru

reaches to Japanese hearts.

Thank you and ありがとう！= arigatou

Please keep us sending positive thoughts. You are all wonderful and I love you all!

マギー先生より= Maggie Sensei yori =From Maggie Sensei

 

安心して暮らせる美しい国、日本がまた元気になることを信じて下さい。

=Anshin shite kuraseru utsukushii kuni nihon ga mata genki ni naru koto wo shinjite kudasai.

= Please believe that beautiful Japan where we can live safely will be healthy again.

***

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