Speaking quietly in a library | Learn Japanese in English

Japanese lesson set in a contemporary Tokyo everyday setting: In a library, one person politely asks another to lower their voice so people nearby can study..

EN → JA / Level: A1

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Use Speaking quietly in a library to practice Japanese conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

A

ここでは、もう少し静かに話していただけますか。

KOH-koh deh-wah, moh-oh soo-KOH-shee shee-ZOO-kah nee hah-NAH-shee-teh ee-tah-dah-keh-MAHS kah. Could you speak a little more quietly here?
B

私は、そんなに大きな声で話していたとは気づきませんでした。

WAH-tah-shee wah, SOHN-nah-nee OH-kee-nah KOH-eh deh hah-NAH-shee-teh-ee-tah toh-wah KEE-zoo-kee-mah-SEN deh-SHEE-tah. I didn't realize I was speaking so loudly.
A

隣のテーブルで、みんなが勉強しています。

toh-NAH-ree noh TAY-boo-roo deh, MEEN-nah gah ben-KYOH shee-TEH-ee-mahss. People are studying at the next table.
B

声を小さくします。

KOH-eh oh chee-SAH-koo shee-MAHS. I will lower my voice.
A

そうすれば、みんなが集中しやすくなります。

soh-oh-SOO-reh-bah, MEEN-nah gah SHOO-choo shee-YAH-soo-koo nah-ree-MAHS. It will make it easier for everyone to focus.
B

もっと近くに座れます。そうすれば、大きな声で話さなくてすみます。

MOHT-toh CHEE-kah-koo nee soo-wah-REH-mahss. Soh-oh-SOO-reh-bah, OH-kee-nah KOH-eh deh hah-NAH-sah-nah-koo-teh soo-MEE-mahss. I can sit closer so we do not have to talk loudly.
A

それなら、誰にも迷惑をかけずに作業を続けられます。

soh-reh-NAH-rah, dah-reh nee-moh MAY-wah-koo oh kah-keh-zoo-nee sah-GYOH oh tsoo-dzoo-keh-RAH-reh-mahss. Then we can keep working without bothering anyone.
B

これからは、声を小さくします。

koh-reh-kah-rah-wah, KOH-eh oh chee-SAH-koo shee-MAHS. I will keep it down from now on.

Word by Word

ここ ここ means “here,” referring to the place where the conversation is taking place. In ここでは, it sets this place as the context for the request. A common reuse pattern is ここで + an action.
で で marks the place where an action happens, as in ここでは静かに話していただけますか. Here, the action of speaking takes place here. A common pattern is placeで + verb.
は は marks ここ as the topic or context in ここでは, meaning “here, as for this place.” It focuses the request on the current location. A common pattern is placeは + statement.
もう もう means “more” in もう少し, making the request ask for a further small change. Together with 少し, it means “a little more.” A common pattern is もう少し + an adjective or manner expression.
少し 少し means “a little” in もう少し静かに, referring to a small additional amount. It softens the requested change in speaking volume. A common pattern is 少し + adjective or adverb.
静か 静か expresses the quality of being quiet in 静かに話していただけますか. The following に makes it describe how the person should speak. A common pattern is 静かに + an action.
に に changes 静か into the manner expression 静かに, meaning “quietly” in this request. It shows how the speaking should be done. A common pattern is adjective or state + に + verb.
話して 話して means “speak” as the action requested in 話していただけますか. It connects the speaking action to the polite request expression. A common pattern is a verb ending in て followed by a request or helping expression.
いただけます いただけます helps form the respectful request 話していただけますか, meaning “could you speak...?” It presents the requested action as something the listener might kindly do. A common polite request pattern is 〜ていただけますか.
か か marks the end of 話していただけますか as a question. Here, it turns the polite request into a question for the listener. A common pattern is a sentence or request + か.
私 私 means “I” in 私は, explicitly identifying the speaker. It is the person who did not notice the way they were speaking. A common pattern is 私は + a statement about oneself.
そんなに そんなに means “so” or “that much” in そんなに大きな声で話していたとは気づきませんでした. It emphasizes the degree of 大きな声. A common pattern is そんなに + an adjective or degree expression.
大きな 大きな describes 声 as large or loud in 大きな声. Here it refers to the volume of the speaker’s voice, not the physical size of an object. A common pattern is 大きな + noun.
声 声 means “voice” in 大きな声 and 声を小さくします. In this dialogue, it is the voice whose volume is being discussed and changed. A common pattern is 声を + an expression describing or changing the voice.
いた いた in 話していた shows that the speaking was in progress at the relevant past time. The speaker says they did not realize they were speaking that loudly. A common pattern is 〜ていた for an action or state that was continuing in the past.
と と marks the content of what the speaker did not realize in 話していたとは気づきませんでした. It introduces the idea “that I had been speaking...” before 気づきませんでした. A common pattern is a clause + と + a verb of noticing, thinking, or saying.
気づきませんでした 気づきませんでした means “did not realize” or “did not notice” in this polite statement. It says the speaker was unaware that they had been speaking loudly. A common pattern is 〜と気づきませんでした for saying that someone did not notice a fact.
隣 隣 means “next” or “adjacent” in 隣のテーブル, referring to the table beside the speakers. It identifies where the other people are studying. A common pattern is 隣の + noun.
の の links 隣 to テーブル in 隣のテーブル, showing that the table is the one next to the speakers. It connects one noun-like expression to the noun it describes. A common pattern is AのB, meaning B associated with or described by A.
テーブル テーブル means “table” in 隣のテーブル. It identifies the place where the nearby people are studying. A common pattern is テーブルで + an action taking place at the table.
みんな みんな means “everyone” or “all the people” in みんなが勉強しています. It refers to the people at the next table. A common pattern is みんなが + an action.
が が marks みんな as the people performing the action in みんなが勉強しています. It identifies who is studying. A common pattern is a person or group + が + verb.
勉強 勉強 means “study” in 勉強しています. It names the activity the people at the next table are doing. A common reuse pattern is 勉強する for studying.
しています しています shows that the people are currently engaged in the activity in 勉強しています. Together with 勉強, it means “are studying.” A common pattern is 〜ています for an action in progress.
を を marks 声 as the thing being changed in 声を小さくします. The sentence says that the speaker will make the voice lower. A common pattern is nounを + verb.
小さく 小さく means “to a smaller or lower level” in 声を小さくします. With 声, it expresses lowering the voice or speaking more quietly. A common pattern is nounを小さくする for making something smaller or lower.
します します means “make” or “do” in 声を小さくします. Together with 小さく, it expresses the speaker’s decision to lower the voice. A common pattern is nounを + an adverbial adjective form + します.
そう そう means “that way” in そうすれば, referring to the action just mentioned, such as lowering the voice. It connects that action with its helpful result. A common pattern is そうすれば、... for “if that is done, then...”
すれば すれば expresses “if one does” or “if that is done” in そうすれば. Here it introduces the result that everyone will find it easier to focus. A common pattern is 〜すれば、... for linking a condition with a result.
集中 集中 means “focus” or “concentration” in 集中しやすくなります. It describes the activity that becomes easier when the voices are lower. A common reuse pattern is 集中する for focusing.
しやすく しやすく means “easy to do” in 集中しやすくなります, so focusing becomes easier. It describes the ease of carrying out the action expressed by 集中. A common pattern is a verb expression + しやすい for something that is easy to do.
なります なります means “becomes” in 集中しやすくなります. It expresses a change into the condition of being easier to focus. A common pattern is an adjective or state + くなります for “becomes...”
もっと もっと means “more” in もっと近くに座れます. It indicates a greater degree of closeness than before. A common pattern is もっと + adjective or adverb.
近く 近く means “nearer” or “closer” in もっと近くに座れます. It describes where the speaker can sit in relation to the other person. A common pattern is 近くに + a position or movement verb.
座れます 座れます means “can sit” in もっと近くに座れます. It presents sitting closer as an available solution to avoid speaking loudly. A common pattern is placeに座れます for saying that someone can sit in a place.
話さなくて 話さなくて means “not speak” in 話さなくてすみます. It supplies the action that will no longer be necessary when the speakers sit closer. Together with すみます, the expression means “manage without having to speak.” A common pattern is 〜なくてすむ.
すみます すみます means “manage without needing to” in 話さなくてすみます. Here, it says that sitting closer means they can avoid speaking loudly. A common pattern is 〜なくてすみます for something that can be avoided.
それ それ means “that” in それなら, referring to the proposed arrangement of sitting closer. It points back to the situation just mentioned. A common pattern is それなら、... for responding to a suggestion or situation.
なら なら means “if so” or “in that case” in それなら. It introduces the speaker’s conclusion that they can continue working without bothering anyone. A common pattern is それなら、... followed by a response to the situation.
誰 誰 means “who,” but in 誰にも迷惑をかけずに it refers broadly to anyone because of the following も and negative meaning. The sentence says that no person will be bothered. A common pattern is 誰にも + a negative expression.
も も in 誰にも broadens 誰 to “anyone” in the negative context of 誰にも迷惑をかけずに. It helps express that no one will be affected. A common pattern is 誰も or 誰にも + a negative expression.
迷惑 迷惑 means “trouble” or “inconvenience” in 迷惑をかけずに. It is the unwanted effect that the speakers want to avoid causing other people. A common pattern is 迷惑をかける for causing someone trouble.
かけずに かけずに means “without causing” in 迷惑をかけずに. Together with 迷惑, it describes continuing the work without causing trouble to anyone. A common pattern is 〜ずに + an action for doing something without doing another action.
作業 作業 means “work” or “task” in 作業を続けられます. It refers to the activity the speakers want to continue in the library. A common pattern is 作業を続ける for continuing work.
続けられます 続けられます means “can continue” in 作業を続けられます. It says that the speakers will still be able to carry on with their work while keeping quiet. A common pattern is nounを続けられます for saying that an activity can continue.
これから これから means “from now on” in これからは、声を小さくします. It sets a new policy for the speaker’s behavior beginning at this point. A common pattern is これから + an action or これからは + a statement about future behavior.

Grammar Points

〜ていただけますか

ここでは、もう少し静かに話していただけますか。

KOH-koh deh-wah, moh-oh soo-KOH-shee shee-ZOO-kah nee hah-NAH-shee-teh ee-tah-dah-keh-MAHS kah.

Could you please speak a little more quietly here?

〜ていただけますか is a very polite way to ask someone to do something.

〜ずに

誰にも迷惑をかけずに作業を続けられます。

dah-reh nee-moh MAY-wah-koo oh kah-keh-zoo-nee sah-GYOH oh tsoo-dzoo-keh-RAH-reh-mahss.

You can continue your work without bothering anyone.

〜ずに means “without doing...” and connects one action to another.

Japanese Vocabulary

いただけますか phrase
ee-tah-dah-keh-MAHS kah could you please
ここ pron
KOH-koh here
そんなに adv
SOHN-nah-nee so much; that loudly
テーブル noun
TAY-boo-roo table
みんな pron
MEEN-nah everyone
もう少し adv
moh-oh soo-KOH-shee a little more
気づく verb
KEE-zoo-koo to realize; to notice 気づきませんでした
静かに adv
shee-ZOO-kah nee quietly
大きな声 phrase
OH-kee-nah KOH-eh loud voice
勉強する verb
ben-KYOH soo-roo to study 勉強しています
隣 noun
toh-NAH-ree next; neighboring
話す verb
hah-NAH-soo to speak 話して

Quiz

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

could you please

Show Answerいただけますか

loud voice

Show Answer大きな声

a little more

Show Answerもう少し

so much; that loudly

Show Answerそんなに