Signs

1. Eingang

   Entrance

   Usage

   Displayed at the entrance of buildings, stations, and facilities; signs show it as "EINGANG"

2. Ausgang

   Exit

   Usage

   Displayed at the exit of buildings, stations, and facilities; signs show it as "AUSGANG", also used as a directional sign in stations

3. Notausgang

   Emergency Exit

   Usage

   Emergency exit sign, shown with the white-on-green running-man pictogram; signs read "NOTAUSGANG"

4. Offen

   Open (door sign)

   Usage

   The short word on the flip sign hanging on a shop door; distinct from "Geöffnet", used on more formal signage

5. Geschlossen

   Closed (door sign)

   Usage

   The "CLOSED" side of a shop door sign; also marks closing days inside an "Öffnungszeiten" (opening hours) notice

6. Geöffnet

   Open for Business

   Usage

   Signage on banks, post offices, or restaurants stating they are currently open — more formal than the "Offen" flip sign on the door

7. Vorübergehend geschlossen

   Temporarily Closed

   Usage

   German has no exact fixed equivalent of Japanese "junbichuu" — this is the closest common wording. A weekly closing day is posted as "Ruhetag", and a long holiday closure as "Betriebsferien"

8. Herren

   Men

   Usage

   Marks the restroom for men; also written "WC Herren" or "Männer"

9. Damen

   Women

   Usage

   Marks the restroom for women; also written "WC Damen" or "Frauen"

10. Zutritt verboten

    No Entry

    Usage

    Posted on doors or areas closed to the public; signs read "ZUTRITT VERBOTEN". "Betreten verboten" and "Zutritt nur für Personal" mean the same

11. Rauchen verboten

    No Smoking

    Usage

    No-smoking sign posted in stations, indoors, and in restaurants; "Rauchverbot" and "Nichtraucher" mean the same

12. Raucherbereich

    Smoking Area

    Usage

    Marks a designated smoking area at airports and stations; also written "Raucherzone" or "Raucherinsel"

13. Treppe

    Stairs

    Usage

    Directional sign pointing to stairs; a lift is "Aufzug" and an escalator is "Rolltreppe"

14. Drücken

    Push

    Usage

    Sign on a door indicating it should be pushed to open; shown as "DRÜCKEN"

15. Ziehen

    Pull

    Usage

    Sign on a door indicating it should be pulled to open; shown as "ZIEHEN"

16. Baustelle

    Construction Site

    Usage

    Posted at construction sites and closed-off passages; German signage says "BAUSTELLE" where Japanese would say "under construction". The work itself is "Bauarbeiten"

17. Außer Betrieb

    Out of Order

    Usage

    Posted on lifts, ticket machines, or restrooms that are not working; capitalised signs read "AUSSER BETRIEB" (ß becomes SS in capitals). Also written "Defekt"

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