There exist many sport cyclists, but in this article, I am writing about commuter bicyclists. Biking is an essential transportation method for many Japanese. The Japanese public transportation infrastructure such as buses, subways, and trains are famous for their efficiency, but to get to the closest access point to such public transportation, many Japanese need to rely on walking or a bicycle. To accommodate bicycle commuters, there are plenty of parking spaces available specifically for bicycles. They’re called Churinjyo. Some churinjyos are staffed, some are not. In urban areas, I believe most people chose a paid parking lot that has a secure locking mechanism or are fenced with a secure gate so that only customers can enter. The fanciest bicycle parking is completely automated and looks like a small container with an elevator door. With an IC (Integrated Circuit) card issued by the parking lot, the door opens for you to deposit your bicycle, and it takes your bicycle down to the underground parking system. When you return, all you have to do is to scan the card again, then voilà, it comes out of the door. The monthly fee for using such automated systems is about $20 US dollars.
In Japan, bicyclists share the sidewalks with pedestrians if the pedestrian path is designated, but do not ride along side with cars or motorcycles. Many bicycles are equipped with a basket in the front so riders can place their bags and other items, also having a bell that makes a sensible warning sound is common. To me, it’s much more sophisticated than shouting “On your left! (or right!)” when approaching someone from behind. During rush hour, you may find it strange to see business people riding a bicycle in suits and dress shoes, but that is a common commuting scene in Japan.
日本語会話 初級
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A: マイケルさん、自転車(じてんしゃ)を持(も)っていますか？
B: はい、歩いて２０分(にじゅっぷん)ぐらいかかります。
B: 駐輪場？ 駐輪場ってなんですか？
A: 自転車を停(と)める所(ところ)です。たしか１ヶ月２０００円ぐらいだと思(おも)います。管理人(かんりにん)さんもいますから、安心(あんしん)です。
B: この近くに自転車を買える店(みせ)はありますか？
A: はい、ありますよ。この商店街(しょうてんがい)の山田自転車(やまだじてんしゃ)に行ってみてください。いい自転車が見つかると思いますよ。
B: ありがとうございます。じゃあ、今日早速(さっそく)行ってみます。
日本語会話 中級
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A: 駅まで自転車で行っているんだけど（けれど）、駅の近くに駐輪場(ちゅうりんじょう)がなくて不便(ふべん)なんだよ。
A: 本当(ほんとう)。それはいい知(し)らせだ。これで朝、もう１０分寝(ね)られる。今の駐輪場から駅まで１０分歩かなきゃいけないからね。
A: 僕(ぼく)の上司は人を褒(ほお)めないことで有名(ゆうめい)なんだ。いつも怒(おこ)られてばかりでうんざりだよ。あーあ、新しい仕事でも探(さが)そうかな〜。
B: 我慢(がまん)、我慢。一流(いちりゅう)の会社で勤(つと)めているんだから、もう少し辛抱(しんぼう)して頑張(がんば)れよ。
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覚えたいことば
まだ〜ない adv. have not (v) yet. here, "have not purchased yet."
買おう v. volitional form of 買う
が… p. but... think what is omitted after が
と p. plain present verb+と can create conditional. Compare with other conditional makers.
便利です ナ-adjective 便利な＋です
JR n. short for Japan Railway. pronounced Jei-Aaru.
ぐらい p. about
行けば v. conditional form of 行く
行けます v. able form of 行く
管理人 n. supervisor
安心です ナ-adj. 安心な＋です worry-free
商店街 n. a shopping arcade
見つかる v. able to find. compare with 見つける／見つけられる
早速 adv. immediately
らしい aux.v. here-say
以上 n. more than. a number comes before.
知らせ n. news. compare with 知らせる
寝ること gerund a plain form of a verb＋こと, 寝る+こと=Sleeping
ばかり p. plentiful of a thing that comes before particle. Here, 寝ることばかり=(think about) being in the bed only. Compare with だけ
上司 n. a boss
褒められる v. passive voice of 褒(ほ)める
怒られてばかり v. passive voice of 怒(おこ)る ばかり(see above)
うんざり adv. being sick of, being tired of. うんざりする for a verb usage.
でも p. used to list up a potential option. Here, "perhaps, I should find a new job." A new job is an optional choice of action.
我慢 n. being patient. 我慢する is a verb form.
一流 n. top grade, top-notch
勤めて v. て-form of 勤める=働く
辛抱して v. て-form of 辛抱する 辛抱する=我慢する (see above)