About This Lesson
Use Borrowing a Ladder Safely to practice Japanese conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.
Dialogue
A
あなたのはしごを借りてもいいですか？
ah-NAH-tah-noh hah-SHEE-goh oh kah-REE-teh moh EE dess kah Can I borrow your ladder?
B
もちろんです。でも、気をつけて使ってください。
moh-chee-ROHN dess. deh-MOH, kee oh tsoo-KEH-teh tsoo-KAHT-teh koo-dah-SAI Sure, but please be careful with it.
A
高い棚に手を伸ばす必要があります。
tah-KAI tah-NAH nee teh oh noh-BAH-soo nee-TSOO-yoh gah ah-ree-MAHS I need to reach a high shelf.
B
あなたのために、はしごをしっかり押さえます。
ah-NAH-tah-noh tah-MEH-nee, hah-SHEE-goh oh shee-KKAH-ree oh-sah-EH-MAHS I can hold it steady for you.
A
それはとても助かります。
soh-REH-wah toh-TEH-moh tah-soo-KAH-ree-MAHS That would help a lot.
B
一番上の段には乗らないでください。
ee-chee-BAHN OO-eh noh dahn nee-wah noh-RAH-nah-ee deh koo-dah-SAI Stay off the top step.
A
下の段に乗ります。
SHEE-tah noh dahn nee noh-ree-MAHS I will stay on a lower step.
B
終わったら、返してください。
oh-WAHT-tah-rah, kah-EH-shee-teh koo-dah-SAI Bring it back when you finish.Word by Word
あなた
「あなた」means “you” in this dialogue and identifies the person who owns the ladder. Together with 「の」in 「あなたのはしご」, it means “your.” A reusable pattern is 「あなたの」＋noun when referring to something belonging to the listener.
の
In 「あなたのはしご」, 「の」links the owner 「あなた」to the thing owned, 「はしご」, so the phrase means “your ladder.” This particle commonly connects two nouns in the pattern AのB, meaning that B is related to or belongs to A.
はしご
「はしご」means “ladder,” the object being borrowed and used in this dialogue. It is the noun in 「あなたのはしごを借りてもいいですか」. You can reuse it with a location or action, such as 「はしごを使う」for “use a ladder.”
を
In 「あなたのはしごを借りてもいいですか」, 「を」marks 「はしご」as the object of borrowing. It commonly follows the thing acted on, as in the reusable pattern 「Xを借りる」, “borrow X.”
借り
「借り」means “borrow” here and is the verb stem in 「借りてもいいですか」. It comes from 「借りる」and combines with 「てもいいですか」to ask permission to borrow something. A reusable pattern is 「Xを借りる」.
て
In 「借りてもいいですか」, 「て」follows the verb stem 「借り」and connects it to 「もいい」in the permission pattern. The full pattern 「Vてもいいですか」asks whether it is okay to do V, so it is useful when requesting permission.
も
In 「借りてもいいですか」, 「も」is part of the permission expression that asks whether borrowing is acceptable. Its meaning here comes from the whole pattern 「Vてもいいですか」, not from 「も」alone. Use this pattern when asking someone if you may do something.
いい
In 「借りてもいいですか」, 「いい」means “okay” or “acceptable,” so the question asks whether borrowing is allowed. It follows the 「ても」part of the permission pattern. A reusable pattern is 「Vてもいいです」for saying that an action is permitted.
です
In 「借りてもいいですか」, 「です」makes the permission question polite after 「いい」. It functions as a polite sentence ending here rather than adding a separate action. It is also used in polite statements such as 「これは本です」as a new example.
か
At the end of 「借りてもいいですか」, 「か」marks the sentence as a question. It turns the polite statement about something being okay into a request for confirmation. It is commonly placed at the end of a polite question.
もちろん
「もちろん」means “of course” in the reply 「もちろんです」, giving a clear affirmative answer to the request. It is useful when agreeing readily with another person. In this dialogue it is followed by 「でも」to introduce a safety condition.
でも
At the beginning of 「でも、気をつけて使ってください」, 「でも」means “but” and introduces a caution after agreeing. It is commonly used at the start of a sentence to contrast the next point with what was just said. Here the contrast is permission followed by a safety request.
気をつけて
The full expression 「気をつけて」means “be careful” in 「気をつけて使ってください」. It contains 「気」, referring to attention or care, 「を」, marking that object, 「つけ」, the stem of 「つける」, and 「て」, which connects the expression to 「使ってください」. Use 「気をつけて」when warning someone to act carefully.
使っ
「使っ」means “use” here and is the form used before 「てください」in 「使ってください」. It comes from 「使う」and combines with 「てください」to make a polite request to use something. A reusable pattern is 「Xを使ってください」.
ください
In 「使ってください」, 「ください」makes the preceding action into a polite request: “please use it.” It follows the connected verb form 「使って」. The reusable pattern 「Vてください」is used when politely asking someone to do an action.
高い
「高い」means “high” in 「高い棚」and describes the shelf’s position above the speaker. It comes directly before the noun it describes. A reusable pattern is 「高い」＋noun when describing something as high or tall.
棚
「棚」means “shelf” in 「高い棚に手を伸ばす必要があります」. It is the destination toward which the speaker extends a hand. You can reuse it in phrases such as 「棚の上」, “on top of the shelf,” as a new example.
に
In 「高い棚に手を伸ばす」, 「に」marks 「高い棚」as the target or destination of the hand’s movement. It identifies where the hand is being extended toward. A reusable pattern is 「場所に手を伸ばす」.
手
「手」means “hand” in 「手を伸ばす」, the body part that is extended toward the high shelf. It is marked by 「を」because it is the object of 「伸ばす」. A useful pattern is 「手を伸ばす」when reaching toward something.
伸ばす
「伸ばす」means “extend” or “reach out” in 「手を伸ばす」. With 「手」as its object, the expression describes extending one’s hand toward the shelf. A reusable pattern is 「Xに手を伸ばす」when reaching toward X.
必要
「必要」means “necessary” or “needed” in 「手を伸ばす必要があります」. The phrase says that reaching toward the shelf is necessary for the speaker’s purpose. A reusable pattern is 「Vる必要があります」for saying that an action needs to be done.
が
In 「手を伸ばす必要があります」, 「が」marks 「必要」as the thing that exists or is present: the need is present. It is not marking the hand here. A reusable pattern is 「Xが必要です」when saying that X is needed.
あり
「あり」means “exist” or “be present” in 「必要があります」and is the stem used before the polite ending 「ます」. Together, 「必要があります」states that a need exists. A reusable pattern is 「Nがあります」for saying that something exists or is available.
ます
In 「必要があります」, 「ます」is the polite verb ending attached to 「あり」. It makes the statement about the need polite. This ending commonly follows a verb stem in polite statements, such as the dialogue form 「押さえます」.
ため
In 「あなたのために」, 「ため」means “for the benefit of” someone. The phrase identifies the listener as the person for whom the speaker will hold the ladder steady. A reusable pattern is 「人のために」＋action when doing something for a person.
しっかり
「しっかり」means “firmly” or “steadily” in 「しっかり押さえます」. It describes how the ladder will be held so that it does not move easily. It commonly comes before a verb to describe careful, firm action.
押さえ
「押さえ」means “hold down” or “hold steady” here and is the verb stem in 「はしごをしっかり押さえます」. It comes from 「押さえる」and takes 「はしごを」as the object. A reusable pattern is 「Xを押さえる」when keeping X in place.
それ
「それ」means “that” or “it” in 「それはとても助かります」and refers to the offer to hold the ladder from the previous line. It brings that whole helpful action into the next statement as the topic. A reusable pattern is 「それは」when commenting on something just mentioned.
とても
「とても」means “very” in 「とても助かります」and strengthens how helpful the other person’s action is. It appears before the expression it modifies. A reusable pattern is 「とても」＋descriptive expression when emphasizing a high degree.
助かり
「助かり」means “be helpful” or “be a great help” here and is the stem in 「とても助かります」. The speaker uses it to thank the other person for holding the ladder. This expression is useful when someone’s assistance makes a situation easier.
一番上
The full expression 「一番上」means “the very top” in 「一番上の段」. 「一番」indicates the highest degree or number one, while 「上」means the upper or top part; together they identify the topmost part. A reusable pattern is 「Nの一番上」for the very top of N.
段
「段」means “step” or “rung” in the ladder expressions 「一番上の段」and 「下の段」. It identifies a particular level on the ladder. A reusable pattern is 「Nの段」when specifying which step or rung of N is meant.
乗ら
「乗ら」is the form used at the beginning of 「乗らないでください」, meaning “get on” or “step onto” in the safety warning. It comes from 「乗る」and combines with 「ないでください」to request that someone not get on the top step. A reusable pattern is 「Nに乗らないでください」.
ない
In 「乗らないでください」, 「ない」marks the action as negative, so the request means “please do not get on.” It follows 「乗ら」and works with 「でください」as a polite negative request. The reusable pattern is 「Vないでください」.
で
In 「乗らないでください」, 「で」is part of the negative request pattern 「ないでください」. It connects the negative form 「乗らない」to the polite request ending 「ください」. Use 「Vないでください」when politely asking someone not to do something.
下
「下」means “lower” or “bottom” in 「下の段」and contrasts with the top step mentioned earlier. It describes the step where the speaker will remain. A reusable pattern is 「下の」＋noun when identifying the lower part of something.
乗り
「乗り」means “get on” or “stay on” here and is the verb stem in 「下の段に乗ります」. It comes from 「乗る」and takes 「下の段に」as the location where the person will be. A reusable pattern is 「Nに乗ります」for saying that someone gets on or rides N.
終わっ
「終わっ」means “finish” in 「終わったら」and is the form used before 「たら」. It comes from 「終わる」and introduces the time condition for returning the ladder. A reusable pattern is 「Vたら」when referring to what happens when or after an action is finished.
たら
In 「終わったら、返してください」, 「たら」means “when” or “after” and makes the completed action a time condition. The instruction is to return the ladder after finishing. A reusable pattern is 「clauseたら、main clause」for saying what to do when the first event occurs.
返し
「返し」means “return” or “give back” here and is the verb stem in 「返してください」. It comes from 「返す」and refers to giving the borrowed ladder back. A reusable pattern is 「Xを返してください」when politely asking someone to return X.
Grammar Points
〜ないで
乗らないで。
noh-RAH-nah-ee dehPlease don't stand on it.
〜ないで expresses a request or instruction not to do something; 乗る changes to 乗らないで.
〜たら
終わったら
oh-WAHT-tah-rahwhen finished; after finishing
〜たら can mean “when” or “after”; 終わる changes to 終わったら.
Japanese Vocabulary
あなた
pron
ah-NAH-tah
you
しっかり
adv
shee-KKAH-ree
firmly; steadily
はしご
noun
hah-SHEE-goh
ladder
もちろん
adv
moh-chee-ROHN
sure; of course
押さえる
verb
oh-sah-EH-roo
to hold down; to steady
押さえます
気をつける
phrase
kee oh tsoo-KEH-roo
to be careful
気をつけて
高い
adj
tah-KAI
high; tall
使う
verb
tsoo-KAH-oo
to use
使って
借りる
verb
kah-REE-roo
to borrow
借りても
手を伸ばす
phrase
teh oh noh-BAH-soo
to reach; to stretch out one's hand
棚
noun
tah-NAH
shelf
必要
noun
nee-TSOO-yoh
need; necessity
Quiz
Spelling
Tap the letters to spell the word.
sure; of course
Show Answer
もちろんto reach; to stretch out one's hand
Show Answer
手を伸ばすto be careful
Show Answer
気をつけてto borrow