Japanese with Manga
Learning through examples in manga

Cost to ride the train with 電車

Kanji Explanation: Electricity and communication with 電

Manga panel from 三ツ星カラーズ showing example of Cost to ride the train with 電車.
三ツ星カラーズ » Volume 6 » Page 79

Yui and her friends get permission to ride the train to continue their search for the legendary giant robot. Tickets are listed as 70 yen for children.

さっちゃん:
「動物園(どうぶつえん)はタダなのに」
“Even though the zoo is free...”
結衣(ゆい):
「電車(でんしゃ)は動物(どうぶつ)より強(つよ)い」
“Trains are stronger than animals.”
琴葉(ことは):
「ティラノサウルスより強(つよ)い」
“Stronger than a Tyrannosaurus.”

Key Points

  1. 電車(でんしゃ) = train, literally an electric railway car

    • The 電 in 電車(でんしゃ) is the same kanji for electricity, so the word originally refers to an electrically powered train car.

  2. より is used for comparison

    • 「Ⓐは Ⓑより 強(つよ)い」 means “A is stronger than B”.

  3. The next line omits what is already understood: 電車(でんしゃ)は

    • 「ティラノサウルスより 強(つよ)い」 continues the same sentence pattern from the previous line.

    • The full idea is 電車(でんしゃ)は ティラノサウルスより 強(つよ)い.

  4. 〜のに marks contrast in Sacchan’s complaint

    • 「動物園(どうぶつえん)はタダなのに」 means “Even though the zoo is free…”

    • The sentence trails off, but the implied complaint is that the train still costs money.