When you need it
This is a dictionary for quickly checking, on the spot, the Japanese you often see at gas stations in Japan.
It gives not just the meaning but also what to do when you’re there.
Signs differ from station to station, so if there’s information on the spot, look at that first.
The words in this dictionary
Words you see at the entrance
- セルフ／セルフサービス — self-service
- フルサービス — full service
- 従業員専用 — staff only
- 24ｈ営業 — open 24 hours
Words on the pump and the screen
- 開始 — start
- 支払方法 — payment method
- 現金 — cash
- 油種 — type of fuel
- レギュラー — regular
- ハイオク — high-octane
- 軽油 — diesel
- 満タン — full tank
- 金額 — amount (in yen)
- 数量／給油量 — volume
- 静電気除去シート — static discharge pad
- 給油口／給油キャップ — fuel inlet / fuel cap
Words around the station
- 自動つり銭機 — automatic change machine
- レシート／領収証 — receipt
- インターホン／スタッフ呼び出し — intercom / staff call
- 給油中エンジン停止 — engine off while refueling
- 火気厳禁 — no open flames
- 禁煙 — no smoking
- 灯油 — kerosene
Words the staff say
- オーライ — all right (a signal)
Words you see at the entrance
セルフ／セルフサービス
A station where you fill up yourself. You make your choices on the pump’s touch panel and fill up yourself.
フルサービス
A station, or a pump, where an attendant fills your tank for you. Open your window and tell them, for example, 「レギュラー、満タン」 (regular, fill it up).
従業員専用
A pump only station employees use. Even if it’s at a self-service station, you don’t use it yourself.
24ｈ営業
Open 24 hours. If you see one at night in the countryside, filling up there will put your mind at ease.
Words on the pump and the screen
開始
What’s written on the first button you press. On some pumps, pressing it takes you through payment, type of fuel and amount, in that order.
支払方法
The screen where you choose how to pay. Choose cash or card.
現金
Paying with bills or coins. At self-service stations where you pay first, you put in money for the amount you want to fill up.
油種
The type of fuel. On the screen, you choose from レギュラー, ハイオク and 軽油.
レギュラー
Regular gasoline. At self-service pumps, if the nozzle and so on are colored, it’s red. Go by the characters rather than the color.
ハイオク
High-octane gasoline. At self-service pumps, if it’s colored, it’s yellow.
軽油
Fuel for diesel engines. It isn’t for kei cars. At self-service pumps, if it’s colored, it’s green.
満タン
Filling it all the way up. Once it stops automatically, don’t put in any more.
金額
Deciding how much to put in by the amount of money.
数量／給油量
Deciding how much to put in by volume (liters).
静電気除去シート
A pad attached to the pump. Before you fill up, touch it with your bare hand to let out the static electricity in your body.
給油口／給油キャップ
The opening where you put in fuel, and its cap. After filling up, check that you’ve closed the cap. Some cars don’t have a cap.
Words around the station
自動つり銭機
A machine where you get your change. With some, you hold the barcode on your receipt up to the reader.
レシート／領収証
Both are slips showing that you’ve paid. You may be asked to show one when you return a rental car, so hold on to it rather than throwing it away.
インターホン／スタッフ呼び出し
These are for calling the station staff. Press one when you can’t get past a screen.
給油中エンジン停止
Turn off the engine while refueling. It’s a sign with black characters on an orange (黄赤, a yellowish red) background.
火気厳禁
No open flames allowed.
禁煙
No smoking allowed.
灯油
Kerosene, used for things like home heating. It isn’t a fuel you put in a car.
Words the staff say
オーライ
The signal attendants use at full-service stations to guide you to where you should stop. Move forward following the signal, and stop.
If you’re not sure
If you don’t know what a sign means, press the intercom or speak to a staff member.
Show the staff member the word in this dictionary and the characters on the screen or sign in front of you, pointing to them side by side.
※ Names, how signs are displayed, the order of screens, payment methods and so on differ from station to station. When you actually fill up, follow the signs on the spot and the staff’s instructions.
