About This Lesson
Use Using a Computer and Printer in a Quiet Library to practice Japanese conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.
Dialogue
A
このパソコンを使ってもいいですか。
KOH-noh pah-soh-KOHN oh tsoo-KAHT-teh moh EE dess-kah Can I use this computer?
B
そのパソコンは空いています。
SOH-noh pah-soh-KOHN wah ah-EE-teh ee-MAHS That computer is free.
A
画面がとても明るいです。
GAH-men gah toh-TEH-moh ah-KAH-roo-EE dess The screen is very bright.
B
ここで明るさを下げられます。
KOH-koh deh ah-kah-ROO-sah oh sah-geh-rah-reh-MAHS You can lower the brightness here.
A
プリンターも使ってもいいですか。
poo-RIN-tah moh tsoo-KAHT-teh moh EE dess-kah Can I use the printer too?
B
机の近くのプリンターを使えます。
tsoo-KOO-eh noh tsee-KAH-koo noh poo-RIN-tah oh tsoo-KAH-eh-MAHS You can use the printer near the desk.
A
私は音を流すとき、ヘッドホンを使います。
wah-TAH-shee wah OH-toh oh nah-gah-SOO toh-KEE, hehd-doh-HOHN oh tsoo-kah-EE-MAHS I'll use headphones if I play any audio.
B
それで、部屋を静かにできます。
SOH-reh-deh, HEH-yah oh shee-zoo-kah-NEE deh-kee-MAHS That will keep the room quiet.Word by Word
この
「この」means “this” and points to the computer that is near or otherwise associated with the speaker. It comes directly before a noun, as in 「このパソコン」. Use it when asking about or referring to a specific nearby item.
パソコン
「パソコン」means “computer” in this dialogue. It is the noun modified by 「この」 and marked as the object of 「使って」. Use it when talking about a personal computer, especially in everyday situations.
を
「を」marks 「このパソコン」 as the thing being used. It normally follows the object before the verb, as in 「パソコンを使う」. Use it when identifying what an action is done to or with.
使って
「使って」means “use” here and connects 「使う」 to the permission expression 「もいいですか」. The exact form is the て-form of 「使う」. Use this pattern when politely asking whether you may use something: 「〜を使ってもいいですか」.
も
In 「使ってもいいですか」, 「も」 helps form a permission question meaning “is it okay even if I use it?” It follows the て-form and appears before 「いいですか」. Use the full pattern when asking permission to do an action.
いい
In 「使ってもいいですか」, 「いい」means that the action is acceptable or permitted, rather than simply describing something as good. It follows 「ても」 in this permission question. Use 「〜てもいいですか」 to ask politely whether an action is allowed.
です
「です」makes the permission question polite in 「使ってもいいですか」. It follows 「いい」 before the question marker 「か」. Use it in polite questions and statements when speaking respectfully.
か
「か」marks 「使ってもいいですか」 as a question. It comes at the end of this polite request. Use it at the end of a polite question when you want to ask for information or permission.
その
「その」means “that” and modifies 「パソコン」 in 「そのパソコン」. It points to a computer already identified in the conversation, rather than the one referred to with 「この」. Use it directly before a noun when referring to an item associated with the listener or already under discussion.
は
「は」marks 「そのパソコン」 as the topic of the sentence. Here, the sentence says that the computer is available. Use it after the thing you want to set as the topic, as in 「そのパソコンは…」.
空いて
「空いて」contributes the meaning “available” or “unoccupied” in 「空いています」. It is the て-form of 「空く」 and connects to 「います」 to describe the computer’s current state. Use 「〜が空いています」 when saying that a seat, room, or device is available.
います
In 「空いています」, 「います」helps express the continuing state of the computer being available. Together with 「空いて」, it describes its current condition rather than an action happening now. Use it after a て-form when describing an ongoing state in a polite sentence.
画面
「画面」means “screen” in 「画面がとても明るいです」. It is the thing described as bright and is followed by the subject marker 「が」. Use it when talking about a display, such as a computer or phone screen.
が
「が」marks 「画面」 as the thing that is bright. It appears before the description 「とても明るいです」. Use it when identifying the subject of a description or observation.
とても
「とても」means “very” and strengthens the description 「明るい」. It normally comes before the adjective or other expression it modifies, as in 「とても明るい」. Use it to emphasize a noticeable degree in a polite observation.
明るい
「明るい」means “bright” here, describing the screen in 「画面がとても明るいです」. It comes after 「とても」 and before the polite ending 「です」. Use it for a screen, light, room, or other thing whose brightness is being described.
ここ
「ここ」means “here” and identifies the place where the brightness can be lowered. It is followed by 「で」 in 「ここで」. Use it when pointing out the current place or a location relevant to an action.
で
「で」marks 「ここ」 as the place where the action can be performed in 「ここで明るさを下げられます」. It comes after the location and before the action. Use 「場所で〜」 to say where an action takes place.
明るさ
「明るさ」means “brightness” and is the thing that can be lowered. It is followed by 「を」 before 「下げられます」. Use it when adjusting the brightness of a screen, light, or similar display.
下げられます
「下げられます」means that lowering the brightness is possible in this setting. It is used with 「明るさを」 to describe an available adjustment. Use the pattern 「明るさを下げられます」 when telling someone that they can turn down a screen or light.
プリンター
「プリンター」means “printer” in this dialogue. It is the object of 「使ってもいいですか」 in one line and is described by 「机の近くの」 in another. Use it when asking about or directing someone to a printer.
机
「机」means “desk” in 「机の近く」. It is the noun that identifies the reference point for the printer’s location. Use it when describing where something is located relative to a desk.
の
「の」links 「机」 to 「近く」 in 「机の近く」, meaning “near the desk.” It connects a noun with a following noun-like location expression. Use 「Aの近く」 to say “near A.”
近く
「近く」means “near” or “in the vicinity” in 「机の近くのプリンター」. With 「机の」 before it and 「のプリンター」 after it, it identifies the printer located near the desk. Use 「Aの近く」 when giving the location of something.
使えます
「使えます」means “can use” in 「プリンターを使えます」. It expresses that using the printer is possible and follows the object marked by 「を」. Use it when telling someone that a device, service, or facility is available for use.
私
「私」means “I” in 「私は音を流すとき、ヘッドホンを使います」. It is marked as the topic with 「は」, although that particle is not included in this word unit. Use it when explicitly identifying yourself as the person performing the action.
音
「音」means “sound” or “audio” in 「音を流す」. It is the thing being played and is marked by 「を」. Use it when referring generally to sound or audio rather than to a specific song or recording.
流す
「流す」means “play” or “stream” in 「音を流す」, referring to producing audio through the computer. It follows the object 「音を」 and appears before 「とき」 in the time expression. Use the pattern 「音を流す」 when saying that you will play audio.
とき
「とき」means “when” in 「音を流すとき」. It follows the clause 「音を流す」 and makes that clause the situation or time for the main action. Use 「〜とき」 to say what you do when a particular situation occurs.
ヘッドホン
「ヘッドホン」means “headphones” in this dialogue. It is the thing the speaker says they will use when playing audio. Use it when talking about listening privately or reducing sound heard by people nearby.
使います
「使います」means “use” in the polite sentence 「ヘッドホンを使います」. Here it states the speaker’s intended action when playing audio, with 「ヘッドホンを」 as the object. Use this polite form when describing what you use or intend to use in a situation.
それ
「それ」means “that” and refers here to the action just mentioned, especially using headphones. In 「それで」, it introduces the result or means connected with that action. Use it to refer back to something already said instead of repeating it.
部屋
「部屋」means “room” in 「部屋を静かにできます」. It is the thing whose condition can be changed and is marked by 「を」. Use it when talking about a room as a physical space.
静か
「静か」means “quiet” and describes the resulting condition of the room in 「部屋を静かにできます」. It comes before 「に」, which connects the description to the change of state. Use 「静かにする」 or a related pattern when making a place quiet.
に
In 「部屋を静かにできます」, 「に」marks 「静か」 as the resulting state of the room. It connects the state description to the possibility expressed by 「できます」. Use 「Aを静かにする」 when describing making A quiet.
できます
「できます」means that the action or result is possible in 「部屋を静かにできます」. With 「部屋を静かに」 before it, the sentence says that the room can be made quiet. Use it after an action or state expression when saying that something can be done.
Grammar Points
〜てもいいですか
このパソコンを使ってもいいですか。
KOH-noh pah-soh-KOHN oh tsoo-KAHT-teh moh EE dess-kahMay I use this computer?
This pattern asks for permission. The verb uses the て-form before もいいですか.
〜られます（可能形）
明るさを下げられます。
ah-kah-ROO-sah oh sah-geh-rah-reh-MAHSI can lower the brightness.
The potential form expresses ability. 下げる becomes 下げられる, meaning “can lower.”
Japanese Vocabulary
この
det
KOH-noh
this
その
det
SOH-noh
that
とても
adv
toh-TEH-moh
very
パソコン
noun
pah-soh-KOHN
computer
プリンター
noun
poo-RIN-tah
printer
下げる
verb
sah-GEH-roo
to lower
下げられます
画面
noun
GAH-men
screen
机
noun
tsoo-KOO-eh
desk
空く
verb
AH-koo
to be available
空いています
使う
verb
tsoo-KAH-oo
to use
使ってもいいですか
明るい
adj
ah-KAH-roo-EE
bright
明るさ
noun
ah-kah-ROO-sah
brightness
Quiz
Spelling
Tap the letters to spell the word.
computer
Show Answer
パソコンto be available
Show Answer
空いていますto use
Show Answer
使ってもいいですかto lower