About This Lesson
Use Keeping Valuables Safe in a Bag to practice Japanese conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.
Dialogue
A
財布はどこに入れればいいですか？
SIGH-foo wa DOH-koh nee ee-REH-reh-bah EE dess kah Where should I put my wallet?
B
内ポケットに入れてください。
oo-chee poh-KEHT-toh nee ee-TEH-teh koo-DAH-sigh Keep it in the inside pocket.
A
前のポケットは安全ですか？
MYE noh poh-KEHT-toh wa ahn-ZEHN dess kah Is the front pocket safe?
B
内ポケットのほうが安全です。
oo-chee poh-KEHT-toh noh hoh-GAH ahn-ZEHN dess The inside one is safer.
A
ジッパーを閉められます。
JIP-pah o sheh-meh-rah-reh-MAHS I can close the zipper.
B
それなら、財布を安全に入れておけます。
soh-reh NAH-rah, SIGH-foo o ahn-ZEHN nee ee-TEH-teh OH-keh-MAHS That should keep it secure.
A
私の携帯電話もそこにあります。
wah-TAH-shee noh keh-TAI DEHN-wah moh soh-KOH nee ah-ree-MAHS My phone is in there too.
B
出かける前にポケットを確認してください。
deh-kah-KEH-roo MYE nee poh-KEHT-toh o kah-koo-NEEN shee-teh koo-DAH-sigh Check the pocket before you go.Word by Word
財布
財布 means “wallet” here, the item being placed in a bag. It is the object being discussed in the question about where to put something.
は
In 財布は, は marks 財布 as the topic. It presents the wallet as what the question is about, a common way to frame an item before asking about it.
どこ
どこ asks “where.” Here it asks for the location where the wallet should be put. It is commonly used when asking about a place.
に
In どこに, に marks the destination or location for putting the wallet. In this use, it follows the place where an item will be put.
入れれば
入れれば means “if or when I put it in” as part of asking what would be appropriate. The base verb is 入れる; here 入れれば combines with いい in 入れればいいですか to ask what one should do.
いい
In 入れればいい, いい means that the action is good or acceptable, so the whole phrase asks what one should do. It commonly follows a proposed action when asking for the appropriate choice.
です
In 入れればいいですか, です gives the question a polite tone. Its plain copula counterpart is だ, but this dialogue uses the polite form.
か
か turns the preceding polite expression into a question. Here it marks the request for guidance about where to put the wallet, and it commonly appears at the end of a polite question.
内ポケット
内ポケット means “inside pocket.” Here it is the recommended place to keep the wallet. It can be used with に when describing putting or keeping something in that pocket.
入れて
In 内ポケットに入れてください, 入れて means “put it in.” The base verb is 入れる; this て-form connects the action to ください to make a polite request. It follows a destination marked by に in this use.
ください
ください makes the preceding action a polite request: please put it in. It follows the action form in 入れてください and is used when giving a courteous instruction.
前
In 前のポケット, 前 identifies the front area. It specifies which pocket is being discussed and commonly combines with の before a noun to describe its position.
の
In 前のポケット, の links 前 to ポケット, meaning the pocket at the front. In 内ポケットのほう, it also links the inside pocket to the side being compared.
ポケット
ポケット means “pocket.” Here it names the front pocket in the question and the pocket to check before leaving. It can be the object of an action such as the checking described in ポケットを確認してください.
安全
安全 means “safe” in 前のポケットは安全ですか. It describes whether the front pocket is a secure place for the wallet. It can be used when asking whether something is safe.
ほう
In 内ポケットのほう, ほう identifies the inside pocket as the option or side being compared. Together with が and 安全, it supports the meaning that the inside pocket is safer.
が
In 内ポケットのほうが, が marks the option being presented as safer. It follows the compared option in this comparison pattern.
ジッパー
ジッパー means “zipper.” Here it is the thing the speaker says they can close to keep the bag contents secure. It is used as the object before を in ジッパーを閉められます.
を
In ジッパーを, を marks ジッパー as the object of closing. It commonly follows the thing directly acted on by the verb.
閉められます
閉められます means “can close,” referring here to the speaker’s ability to close the zipper. The base verb is 閉める; this polite form expresses ability. It can follow an object marked by を when describing an action the speaker can perform.
それ
それ refers back to the zipper-closing action just mentioned. Here it means “that” as the idea or solution under discussion. It can point back to an immediately preceding idea in a conversation.
なら
In それなら, なら means “if that is the case” or “given that.” It connects the preceding information to the conclusion about keeping the wallet secure and commonly follows a stated fact or condition.
おけます
In 入れておけます, おけます adds the idea that the wallet can be left or kept there securely. The citation form for this ability expression is おける; おけます is its polite form. It is used after an action when emphasizing that the result can remain in place.
私
In 私の携帯電話, 私 means “I” or “my.” With の, it identifies the speaker as the owner of the phone. It can be placed before の to describe possession.
携帯電話
携帯電話 means “mobile phone.” Here it is another item located in the same place as the wallet. It can be followed by も when adding it to something already mentioned.
も
In 携帯電話も, も means “also” or “too.” It adds the phone to the wallet as another item in that location and follows the item being added.
そこ
In そこにあります, そこ means “there,” referring to the place just under discussion, the pocket. It identifies a location before に when saying that something is located there.
あります
In そこにあります, あります says that the phone is located there. The citation form is ある; this polite form is used to state the location of an object. It commonly follows a place marked by に.
出かける
出かける means “go out” or “leave.” In 出かける前に, it identifies the time before the person leaves. Its citation form is also 出かける, and it is used before 前に to express “before going out.”
確認して
In ポケットを確認してください, 確認して means “check” or “confirm.” The base verb is 確認する; this て-form combines with ください to make a polite request. It follows the item marked by を when asking someone to check it.
Grammar Points
〜ば
内ポケットに入れれば、安全です。
oo-chee poh-KEHT-toh nee ee-REH-reh-bah, ahn-ZEHN dessIf you put it in the inside pocket, it is safe.
「〜ば」は条件を表し、「もし〜なら」という意味です。
〜ておく
そこに財布を入れておけます。
soh-KOH nee SIGH-foo o ee-TEH-teh OH-keh-MAHSYou can keep the wallet in there.
「〜ておく」は、後のために何かをして、その状態を保つことを表します。
Japanese Vocabulary
ジッパー
noun
JIP-pah
zipper
ジッパーを閉められます。
それなら
conj
soh-reh NAH-rah
in that case; then
それなら、財布を安全に入れておけます。
どこ
pron
DOH-koh
where
財布はどこに入れればいいですか?
ポケット
noun
poh-KEHT-toh
pocket
前のポケットは安全ですか?
安全
adj
ahn-ZEHN
safe
前のポケットは安全ですか?
財布
noun
SIGH-foo
wallet
財布はどこに入れればいいですか?
前
noun
MYE
front
前のポケットは安全ですか?
内ポケット
noun
oo-chee poh-KEHT-toh
inside pocket
内ポケットに入れてください。
入れておく
phrase
ee-TEH-teh OH-koo
to keep something in
入れておけます
それなら、財布を安全に入れておけます。
入れてください
phrase
ee-TEH-teh koo-DAH-sigh
please put in
内ポケットに入れてください。
入れる
verb
ee-REH-roo
to put in
入れれば
財布はどこに入れればいいですか?
閉める
verb
shee-MEH-roo
to close
閉められます
ジッパーを閉められます。
Quiz
Spelling
Tap the letters to spell the word.
to put in
Show Answer
入れればinside pocket
Show Answer
内ポケットplease put in
Show Answer
入れてくださいzipper