About This Lesson
Use Waiting in Line to practice Japanese conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.
Dialogue
A
この列はカウンターの列ですか？
koh-noh RET-soo wah KOWN-tah noh RET-soo dess kah Is this line for the counter?
B
ここが列の始まりです。
koh-KOH gah RET-soo noh hah-jee-MAH-ree dess This is where it starts.
A
チケットが必要ですか？
CHEE-keht-toh gah hee-TSOO-yoh dess kah Do I need a ticket?
B
この箱から一枚取ってください。
koh-noh HAH-koh kah-rah ee-chee-MAH-ee TOHT-teh koo-DAH-sigh Take one from this box.
A
私の番はいつですか？
wah-TAH-shee noh bahn wah EE-tsoo dess kah When is my turn?
B
あの人の次があなたの番です。
ah-noh hee-TOH noh tsoo-GEE gah ah-NAH-tah noh bahn dess You're after that person.
A
ここで待ちます。
koh-KOH deh mah-CHEE-mahs I will wait here.
B
前の人はもうすぐ終わります。
MAH-eh noh hee-TOH wah moh-oh-SOO-goo oh-WAH-ree-mahs The person ahead is almost finished.Word by Word
この
この means “this” here and directly identifies この列 as the line being discussed. A common reuse pattern is この + noun, such as この箱 in this dialogue.
列
列 means “line” or “queue” here, referring to people waiting for the counter. It appears in この列 and カウンターの列, and the pattern Xの列 can identify what a line is for.
は
は marks この列 as the topic: “As for this line...” in この列はカウンターの列ですか？. It commonly follows the topic before the rest of the sentence explains or asks about it.
カウンター
カウンター means “counter” here, the service counter for which the line is intended. In カウンターの列, の links the counter with the line.
の
の links カウンター with 列 in カウンターの列, giving the meaning “the counter’s line” or “a line for the counter.” The same linking pattern appears in 私の番 and あの人の次.
です
です makes the statement polite in この列はカウンターの列ですか？. The pattern Xですか？ is used to ask politely whether something is X.
か
か marks the end of この列はカウンターの列ですか？ as a question. It turns the polite statement ending です into a yes-or-no question.
ここ
ここ means “here,” identifying the place where the line starts in ここが列の始まりです. It also combines with で in ここで待ちます to identify where an action happens.
が
が marks ここ as the place being identified as the start in ここが列の始まりです. The phrase presents “here” as the specific point that is the beginning of the line.
始まり
始まり means “beginning” or “start” here, specifically the start of the line in 列の始まりです. The pattern Xの始まり can identify the beginning of something.
チケット
チケット means “ticket” here, the item the speaker asks about in チケットが必要ですか？. It is the item described as necessary in チケットが必要です.
必要
必要 means “needed” or “necessary” here. In チケットが必要です, it says that a ticket is needed; the pattern Xが必要です states that X is necessary.
箱
箱 means “box” here, specifically the box from which a ticket should be taken in この箱から一枚取ってください. It can be used with a demonstrative such as この箱 to identify a particular box.
から
から marks the source in この箱から一枚取ってください: the ticket is to be taken from this box. It commonly follows a place or source from which something is taken.
一枚
一枚 means “one flat item” here, referring to one ticket in 一枚取ってください. It is used with a flat item such as a ticket, and the phrase 一枚取ってください asks someone to take one.
取って
取って contributes the action “take” or “get” in 取ってください. Together, 取ってください is a polite request meaning “please take it,” and 一枚取ってください requests one ticket.
ください
ください makes 取ってください a polite request: “please take it.” A common request pattern is a verb in the て-form followed by ください, as in 取ってください.
私
私 means “I” or “my” here, identifying the speaker in 私の番. In the pattern Xの番, it identifies whose turn it is.
番
番 means “turn” here, as in 私の番 and あなたの番. The pattern Xの番 identifies the person whose turn it is in an ordered situation such as a line.
いつ
いつ means “when” here and asks when the speaker’s turn will come in 私の番はいつですか？. The phrase いつですか？ is a polite way to ask when something is.
あの
あの means “that” here and points to the person referred to as あの人. It is used before a noun when identifying a particular person or thing.
人
人 means “person” here, referring to the person ahead in the line in あの人 and 前の人. These phrases identify a person by pointing to them or describing their position.
次
次 means “next” here, indicating the position after that person in あの人の次. The pattern Xの次 identifies what comes after X in an order or sequence.
あなた
あなた means “you” here, referring to the listener in あなたの番. The phrase あなたの番 means “your turn” in this line situation.
で
で marks the location of the action in ここで待ちます: the speaker will wait here. It commonly follows a place before an action performed there.
待ちます
待ちます means “wait” here and describes the speaker’s planned action in ここで待ちます. It is the polite form of 待つ; the pattern Xで待ちます can state where someone will wait.
前
前 means “ahead” or “in front” here, describing the person ahead in the line in 前の人. The phrase 前の人 identifies someone positioned before the speaker.
もうすぐ
もうすぐ means “soon” or “almost” here and shows that the person’s completion is near in もうすぐ終わります. It commonly comes before an action or event that is expected shortly.
終わります
終わります means “will finish” or “will end” here; in もうすぐ終わります, it says that the person ahead will be finished soon. It is the polite form of 終わる, and もうすぐ終わります is a reusable way to say that something will finish soon.
Grammar Points
Nの次は〜です
あの人の次はあなたです。
ah-noh hee-TOH noh tsoo-GEE wah ah-NAH-tah dessYou are after that person.
の links a noun to the following noun, showing a relationship such as order or position.
V-てください
チケットを一枚取ってください。
CHEE-keht-toh o ee-chee-MAH-ee TOHT-teh koo-DAH-sighPlease take one ticket.
〜てください is a polite way to make a request.
Japanese Vocabulary
いつ
adv
EE-tsoo
when
私の番はいつですか?
カウンター
noun
KOWN-tah
counter
この列はカウンターの列ですか?
ここ
adv
koh-KOH
here
ここが列の始まりです。
チケット
noun
CHEE-keht-toh
ticket
チケットが必要ですか?
一枚
num
ee-chee-MAH-ee
one ticket; one flat item
この箱から一枚取ってください。
始まり
noun
hah-jee-MAH-ree
beginning; start
ここが列の始まりです。
私
pron
wah-TAH-shee
I; me
私の番はいつですか?
取ってください
verb
TOHT-teh koo-DAH-sigh
please take
この箱から一枚取ってください。
箱
noun
HAH-koh
box
この箱から一枚取ってください。
番
noun
bahn
turn
私の番はいつですか?
必要です
adj
hee-TSOO-yoh dess
be necessary; need
チケットが必要ですか?
列
noun
RET-soo
line; queue
この列はカウンターの列ですか?
Quiz
Spelling
Tap the letters to spell the word.
counter
Show Answer
カウンターticket
Show Answer
チケットplease take
Show Answer
取ってくださいbe necessary; need