Borrowing a Book and Reading in a Quiet Library | Learn Japanese in English

Japanese lesson set in a contemporary Tokyo everyday setting: In a library, a visitor asks to borrow a book, where to return it, and where to read before leaving..

EN → JA / Level: A1

About This Lesson

Use Borrowing a Book and Reading in a Quiet Library to practice Japanese conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

A

この図書館はとても静かです。

koh-noh too-SHOH-kahn-wah toh-TEH-moh shee-ZOO-kah-dess This library is very quiet.
B

みんなが勉強できるように、私たちは静かに話します。

MIN-nah-gah ben-KYOO deh-KEE-roo YOO-nee, wah-SHEE-tah-chee-wah shee-ZOO-kah-nee hah-NAH-shee-mass We keep our voices low so people can study.
A

私はこの本を借りたいです。

wah-SHEE-wah koh-noh HON-oh kah-ree-TAH-ee dess I want to borrow this book.
B

カウンターであなたのために貸し出しの手続きをします。

kah-oon-TAH deh ah-nah-TAH-noh tah-meh-nee kah-SHEE-dah-shee-noh teh-tsoo-ZOO-kee-oh shee-MASS I can check it out for you at the desk.
A

どこに返せばいいですか。

DOH-koh-nee kah-eh-SEH-bah EE-dess-kah Where should I return it?
B

終わったら、カウンターに返してください。

oh-WAHT-tah-rah, kah-oon-TAH-nee kah-eh-SHE-teh koo-dah-SAH-ee Bring it back to the desk when you are finished.
A

窓側の席は座り心地がよさそうです。

mah-DOH-gah-wah-noh SEH-kee-wah soo-wah-ree-goh-KOH-chee-gah YOH-sah-SOH dess The window seat looks comfortable.
B

そこに座って、帰る前に読めます。

SOH-koh-nee soo-WAHT-teh, kah-eh-roo mah-EH-nee yoh-MEH-mass You can sit there and read before you leave.

Word by Word

この この means “this” and points to the library close to the speaker in “この図書館”. It is placed directly before a noun, so it is useful when identifying a particular nearby thing. You could use it when pointing out a nearby book, room, or place.
図書館 図書館 means “library” in “この図書館”. It names the quiet place where the speakers borrow and read a book. It can be used when talking about visiting, studying, or borrowing something at a library.
は は marks “この図書館” as the topic of the sentence. The sentence gives information about that library by saying it is very quiet. It is commonly placed after the thing being discussed.
とても とても means “very” and strengthens “静か” in “とても静かです”. It is placed before the word describing the degree of quietness. Use it when you want to emphasize a description.
静か 静か means “quiet” in “この図書館はとても静かです”. Here it describes the library’s quiet atmosphere. It is useful for describing a place where people speak softly or where there is little noise.
です です gives the sentence a polite ending in “とても静かです”. Here it politely states that the library is quiet. It is useful when making a polite description or statement.
みんな みんな means “everyone” in “みんなが勉強できるように”. It refers to all the people who need to study in the library. You can use it when referring to a whole group of people in a friendly, general way.
が が marks “みんな” as the subject of “勉強できる”. The sentence says that everyone is able to study. It is useful when identifying who performs an action or has an ability.
勉強 勉強 refers to studying in “みんなが勉強できる”. Here it names the activity that the quiet speaking is intended to support. It is useful when talking about studying in a library, school, or another learning place.
できる できる means “can” or “be able to” in “勉強できる”. Together with “勉強”, it says that studying is possible. It is useful for saying that an activity can be done under certain conditions.
ように ように means “so that” in the whole expression “みんなが勉強できるように”. よう presents the intended state or result, and に connects that result to the purpose of speaking quietly. Use this construction when describing an action done to make a desired result possible.
私たち 私たち means “we” or “us” and identifies the speakers’ group in “私たちは静かに話します”. Here it refers to the people who speak quietly in the library. It is useful when describing an action done by the speaker together with others.
静かに 静かに means “quietly” in “静かに話します”. It describes how the speakers talk, turning the idea of being quiet into a way of speaking. It is useful before an action when explaining that the action is done quietly.
話します 話します means “speak” or “talk” in “私たちは静かに話します”. Here it describes the polite action of speaking quietly so people can study. It is useful when politely describing a conversation or the way someone speaks.
私 私 means “I” or “me” in “私はこの本を借りたいです”. It identifies the speaker who wants to borrow the book. It is useful when clearly stating the speaker’s own wish or action.
本 本 means “book” in “この本を借りたいです”. Here it is the item the speaker wants to borrow. It is useful when talking about reading, borrowing, returning, or buying a book.
を を marks “この本” as the object of “借りたい”. It shows what the speaker wants to borrow. It is commonly placed after the thing directly affected by an action.
借りたい 借りたい means “want to borrow” in “この本を借りたいです”. It expresses the speaker’s wish to take the book for borrowing. It is useful when politely telling library staff which item you want to borrow.
カウンター カウンター means “desk” or “counter” in “カウンターで” and “カウンターに返してください”. Here it is the library desk used for checkout and return. You can use it when asking where to complete a service or return an item.
で で marks “カウンター” as the place where the checkout procedure is carried out in “カウンターで”. It identifies the location of an action rather than the destination of movement. It is useful after a place when saying where an activity happens.
あなた あなた means “you” in “あなたのために”. Here it identifies the person receiving the staff member’s help. It is useful when referring directly to the person who benefits from an action in this context.
の の links “あなた” and “ため” in “あなたのために”. It makes the meaning “for your sake” or “for your benefit”. It is useful for linking one noun to another when the first explains whose or what kind of thing the second is.
ため ため means “sake” or “benefit” in “あなたのために”. Together, “あなたのために” means that the procedure is done for the visitor’s benefit. It is useful when explaining who benefits from an action.
に に marks the beneficiary in “あなたのために”, giving the meaning “for you”. Here it completes the expression that says who the procedure is intended to help. It is useful after “ため” when identifying the person who benefits.
貸し出し 貸し出し means lending or checkout in “貸し出しの手続き”. Here it refers specifically to the library process for lending the book. It is useful when talking about borrowing services or library checkout.
手続き 手続き means “procedure” or “process” in “貸し出しの手続き”. It refers to the steps needed to check the book out. It is useful when discussing the formal steps for a service or transaction.
します します means “do” or “carry out” in “貸し出しの手続きをします”. Here it describes carrying out the checkout procedure for the visitor. It is useful after an activity or procedure when saying that someone performs it politely.
どこ どこ means “where” in “どこに返せばいいですか”. The speaker uses it to ask about the return location. It is useful at the beginning of a question about a place.
返せば 返せば means “if I return” within the question “どこに返せばいいですか”. Together with “いいですか”, it asks where it would be acceptable or appropriate to return the book. It is useful when asking for the correct action or location.
いい いい means “good” or “okay” in “返せばいいですか”. In this expression, it helps ask what action or place is acceptable. It is useful when asking what is suitable or permitted in a particular situation.
か か marks the end of the question “どこに返せばいいですか”. It shows that the speaker is asking for information rather than making a statement. It is useful at the end of a polite question.
終わったら 終わったら means “when you are finished” in “終わったら、カウンターに返してください”. It sets the time for returning the book after the relevant activity has ended. It is useful when one action should happen after another is completed.
返して 返して means “return” or “bring back” in “カウンターに返してください”. It connects the action of returning the book with the polite request ending “ください”. It is useful when asking someone to return an item to a specified place.
ください ください makes “返してください” a polite request to return the book. It follows “返して” and adds the meaning “please”. It is useful when politely asking someone to do an action.
窓側 窓側 means “window side” in “窓側の席”. It identifies the side of the library next to the window. It is useful when distinguishing a seat or area by which side it is on.
席 席 means “seat” in “窓側の席”. Here it refers to the place near the window where the visitor can sit and read. It is useful when choosing, finding, or offering a place to sit.
座り心地 座り心地 means the comfort of sitting in “座り心地がよさそうです”. Here it describes how comfortable the window seat seems. It is useful when evaluating a chair or seat based on how it feels to sit there.
よさそう よさそう means “seems good” or “looks comfortable” in “座り心地がよさそうです”. It presents the seat’s comfort as an impression based on how it appears. It is useful when making a tentative positive judgment about something.
そこ そこ means “there” in “そこに座って”. It points to the window seat that has just been mentioned. It is useful when referring to a place already identified in the conversation.
座って 座って means “sit” and connects sitting with the next action in “そこに座って、帰る前に読めます”. Here it tells the listener that reading can happen after sitting there. It is useful for linking two actions performed in sequence or together.
帰る 帰る means “leave” or “go home” in “帰る前に”. Here it refers to leaving the library. It is useful when describing an action that happens before someone departs.
前 前 means “before” in “帰る前に”. Together with “帰る”, it places the reading time before leaving. It is useful after an action or event when setting a time that comes earlier.
読めます 読めます means “can read” in “帰る前に読めます”. Here it says that reading is possible while sitting there before leaving. It is useful when offering or explaining that reading can be done in a particular place or time.

Grammar Points

〜たい

本を借りたいです。

HON-oh kah-ree-TAH-ee dess

I want to borrow a book.

Attach たい to a verb stem to express your desire to do something. 借りたい means “want to borrow.”

〜たら

勉強が終わったら、本を返してください。

ben-KYOO-gah oh-WAHT-tah-rah, HON-oh kah-eh-SHE-teh koo-dah-SAH-ee

When you finish studying, please return the book.

Use たら after a past-form verb to mean “when” or “if” something happens first.

Japanese Vocabulary

カウンター noun
kah-oon-TAH desk; counter

カウンターであなたのために貸し出しの手続きをします。

どこ adv
DOH-koh where

どこに返せばいいですか。

みんな pron
MIN-nah everyone

みんなが勉強できるように、私たちは静かに話します。

借りたい verb
kah-ree-TAH-ee want to borrow

私はこの本を借りたいです。

終わったら conj
oh-WAHT-tah-rah when you are finished

終わったら、カウンターに返してください。

図書館 noun
toh-SHOH-kahn library

この図書館はとても静かです。

静か adj
shee-ZOO-kah quiet

この図書館はとても静かです。

静かに話します phrase
shee-ZOO-kah-nee hah-NAH-shee-mass speak quietly

みんなが勉強できるように、私たちは静かに話します。

貸し出しの手続き phrase
kah-SHEE-dah-shee-noh teh-tsoo-ZOO-kee checkout procedure

カウンターであなたのために貸し出しの手続きをします。

返せばいいですか phrase
kah-eh-SEH-bah EE-dess-kah where should I return it?

どこに返せばいいですか。

勉強 noun
ben-KYOO study

みんなが勉強できるように、私たちは静かに話します。

本 noun
HON book

私はこの本を借りたいです。

Quiz

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

want to borrow

Show Answer借りたい

desk; counter

Show Answerカウンター

speak quietly

Show Answer静かに話します

checkout procedure

Show Answer貸し出しの手続き