About This Lesson
Use Leaving Space in a Crowded Line to practice Japanese conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.
Dialogue
A
この列はかなり混んできました。
KOH-noh RET-soo wah KAH-nah-REE KOHN-deh KEE-mah-shee-tah. This line is getting really crowded.
B
横に少しスペースを空けましょう。
YOH-koh nee soo-KOH-shee soo-PAY-soo oh ah-KEH-mah-SHOH. Let's leave some room on the side.
A
私は少し後ろに下がったほうがいいですか。
Wah-TAH-shee wah soo-KOH-shee oo-SHEE-roh nee sah-GAHT-tah hoh-GAH EE-deh-soo-kah. Should I move back a little?
B
そうすれば、人が通りやすくなります。
SOH-oo-soo-REH-bah, HEE-toh gah TOH-ree yah-soo-koo nah-REE-mah-soo. That would make it easier for people to pass.
A
これで十分ですか。
KOH-reh deh JOO-boon DEH-soo-kah. Is this far enough?
B
今は通り道が空いています。
EE-mah wah TOH-ree-MEE-chee gah ah-EE-teh EE-mah-soo. There is a clear path now.
A
壁のもっと近くに立てます。
KAH-beh noh MOHT-toh CHEE-kah-koo nee TAH-teh-mah-soo. I can stand closer to the wall.
B
それで、通り道を空けておけます。
SOH-reh deh, TOH-ree-MEE-chee oh ah-KEH-teh OH-keh-mah-soo. That keeps the walkway open.Word by Word
この
この means “this” and points to the specific line in この列. It is placed directly before the noun it describes. Use it before a noun when identifying a nearby or currently discussed item.
列
列 means a line or queue, referring here to the line that is becoming crowded. In この列, it is the thing being discussed as the topic. Use it for an ordered group of people or objects waiting in line.
は
は marks 列 as the topic in この列は, meaning “as for this line.” It frames the following description as information about the line. Use it after the person or thing you want to make the topic of a sentence.
かなり
かなり means “quite” or “considerably” and strengthens the description of how crowded the line is. It adds more force than a small degree. Use it before an adjective or state description when the degree is fairly high.
混んで
混んで describes the line as crowded in 混んできました. It is the form of 混む that links the crowded condition to きました, showing a developing change. Use this linking form when a crowded or busy condition is connected to what follows.
きました
きました in 混んできました shows that the line has gradually become crowded up to now, rather than describing someone physically coming. In this construction, it comes from 来る and marks a change that has developed toward the present. Use this pattern to describe a condition that has been developing over time.
横
横 means “the side” in 横に少しスペースを空けましょう, referring to the side area where space should be left. It identifies the position beside the line. Use it when talking about the side or beside an object in a physical arrangement.
に
に in 横に marks the side as the place where space is to be left. It connects the location with the action 空けましょう. Use it after a place when describing where an action or arrangement is made.
少し
少し means “a little” and indicates a small amount of space in 少しスペース. It limits the amount without saying that a large area is needed. Use it before an amount, object, or action when referring to a small degree or quantity.
スペース
スペース means “space,” specifically an open area left beside the line in this dialogue. It is the area that 空けましょう asks the speakers to leave open. Use it for physical room or an available gap when discussing how people or objects are arranged.
空けましょう
空けましょう means “let’s leave it open” or “let’s make some space” in 横に少しスペースを空けましょう. It is a polite suggestion to create an open area together, from 空ける. Use it when proposing a shared action that leaves a place or gap open.
私
私 means “I” in 私は少し後ろに下がったほうがいいですか, identifying the speaker as the person who may move back. Japanese often leaves this pronoun unstated, but it is explicit here. Use it when you need to clearly identify yourself as the subject or topic.
後ろ
後ろ means “the back” or “behind” in 後ろに下がる, indicating the direction of moving backward. It describes where the speaker would move in relation to the line. Use it with a location marker when describing movement toward the back or behind something.
下がった
下がった means “moved back” in 下がったほうがいいですか, the action being considered as a way to make room. It comes from 下がる and presents that action inside a question about what would be better. Use it when discussing whether someone should move backward or retreat from a position.
ほう
ほう in 下がったほうがいいですか turns the action of moving back into the option being considered as better. The whole expression asks whether moving back would be preferable, while ほう presents that option for comparison. Use it in the pattern describing which option or action would be better.
が
が in 下がったほうがいいですか marks the option of moving back as the one being evaluated as better. It works with ほうがいい as a recommendation pattern, not simply as a general subject marker. Use it after the option or action that is considered preferable.
いい
いい means “good” or “better” in 下がったほうがいいですか, where it evaluates moving back as the preferable choice. Together with ほうが, it asks whether that action would be advisable. Use it when asking for or giving a recommendation about an action.
です
です gives the question a polite sentence ending in 下がったほうがいいですか. It keeps the recommendation question formal and courteous. Use it at the end of a polite statement or question when a respectful tone is appropriate.
か
か marks 下がったほうがいいですか as a question. It turns the polite statement into a request for confirmation or advice. Use it at the end of a sentence when asking whether something is the case or advisable.
そう
そう means “that way” or “so” in そうすれば, referring to moving back as just proposed. It points back to the preceding action instead of naming it again. Use it to refer to an already mentioned way, condition, or arrangement.
すれば
すれば in そうすれば means “if that is done” or “if so,” connecting the proposed movement with its result. It comes from する and supplies the conditional part of the expression. Use it after a condition when explaining what will happen if that action or arrangement is carried out.
人
人 means “people” in 人が通りやすくなります, referring to the people who need to pass through the open space. Here it identifies who will benefit from the arrangement. Use it for a person or people when the surrounding context makes the number clear.
通り
通り is the form used in 通りやすく, expressing the action of passing through. It comes from 通る and combines with やすく to say that passing is easy. Use a verb stem in this position when describing an action as easy to perform.
やすく
やすく in 通りやすくなります means “more easily” or “easier to do,” describing how people can pass. It is the linking form of the ease pattern attached to 通り. Reuse this pattern after a verb stem when explaining that an action is easy to carry out.
なります
なります means “becomes” in 通りやすくなります, showing that passing becomes easier as a result of leaving space. It comes from なる and marks a change into a new condition. Use it after a description when saying that something changes or becomes that way.
これ
これ means “this” in これで十分ですか, referring to the current amount of space or the current arrangement. It points to something close to the speaker or to the situation just created. Use it when checking or discussing the item or arrangement currently in view.
で
で in これで十分ですか means “with this arrangement” or “as it is now.” It evaluates whether the current result is sufficient. Use it after a means, condition, or arrangement when asking whether that situation is enough for the purpose.
十分
十分 means “enough” or “sufficient” in これで十分ですか, asking whether the space created meets the need. It evaluates the current arrangement rather than describing a specific object. Use it when checking whether an amount, level, or preparation is adequate.
今
今 means “now” in 今は通り道が空いています, locating the clear path in the present situation. It contrasts the current open path with the earlier crowded arrangement. Use it to state when a condition is true at the present time.
通り道
通り道 means “walkway” or “passage,” the space people use to pass through the line. In 通り道が空いています, it is described as open and available. Use it for a physical route or passage left for people to walk through.
空いて
空いて in 空いています describes the walkway as open or unoccupied. It links the open condition to います, which presents that condition as continuing now. Use this form when an area is free, vacant, or unobstructed and the state continues.
います
います in 空いています shows that the walkway remains in the open state at present. Here it supports a continuing condition rather than referring to a person or animal. Use it after a connected state form when describing a condition that is currently maintained.
壁
壁 means “wall” in 壁のもっと近く, identifying the surface beside which the speaker can stand. It provides the reference point for the desired position. Use it for a wall or vertical barrier in descriptions of location and movement.
の
の in 壁のもっと近く links 壁 with もっと近く, meaning a place closer to the wall. It shows the relationship between the reference object and the location. Use it to connect a noun with another noun or place description that specifies its relation to it.
もっと
もっと means “more” in 壁のもっと近く, indicating a greater degree of closeness to the wall. It modifies 近く to suggest moving even nearer. Use it before a description when asking for or indicating an increased degree.
近く
近く means “near” or “closer” in 壁のもっと近く, describing the place where the speaker can stand. With 壁の, it means closer to the wall. Use it for a nearby location or for comparing a position with a reference point.
立てます
立てます means “can stand” in 壁のもっと近くに立てます, describing the speaker’s ability or possibility of standing nearer the wall. The location is marked by に before the verb. Use it when saying that someone can take a standing position in a particular place.
それ
それ means “that” in それで、通り道を空けておけます, referring to the proposed arrangement of standing closer to the wall. It points back to an action or situation just mentioned. Use it to refer to something slightly removed from the speaker or already established in the conversation.
を
を marks 通り道 as the object of 空けておけます in 通り道を空けておけます. The walkway is the thing being kept open. Use it after the direct object of an action.
空けて
空けて means “leave open” in 空けておけます and links that action to おけます. It describes creating or maintaining an open walkway. It comes from 空ける and uses the linking form needed before another verb.
おけます
おけます in 空けておけます means “can keep it that way,” so the speakers can keep the walkway open. It follows 空けて in the pattern that expresses maintaining a resulting state, with the possibility or ability added here. Use this pattern when an action is done so that its result can be maintained.
Grammar Points
動詞た形＋ほうがいいですか
後ろに下がったほうがいいですか。
oo-SHEE-roh nee sah-GAHT-tah hoh-GAH EE-deh-soo-kah.Should I move back?
This pattern asks for advice about whether an action is better. た形 comes before ほうがいいですか。
動詞て形＋おく
横にスペースを空けておけます。
YOH-koh nee soo-PAY-soo oh ah-KEH-teh OH-keh-mah-soo.I can leave space open on the side.
〜ておく means doing something in advance or keeping a resulting state. Here, the space remains open.
Japanese Vocabulary
かなり
adv
kah-NAH-ree
quite; fairly; considerably
This line is getting really crowded.
スペース
noun
soo-PAY-soo
space; room
Let's leave some room on the side.
そうすれば
phrase
SOH-oo-soo-REH-bah
if you do that; then
That would make it easier for people to pass.
横
noun
YOH-koh
side
Let's leave some room on the side.
下がる
verb
sah-GAH-roo
to move back; to step back
下がったほうがいいですか
Should I move back a little?
空ける
verb
ah-KEH-roo
to make space; to leave open
空けましょう
Let's leave some room on the side.
後ろ
noun
oo-SHEE-roh
back; behind
Should I move back a little?
混む
verb
KOH-moo
to become crowded
混んできました
This line is getting really crowded.
少し
adv
soo-KOH-shee
a little; some
Let's leave some room on the side.
人
noun
HEE-toh
person; people
That would make it easier for people to pass.
通る
verb
TOH-roo
to pass through; to go through
通りやすくなります
That would make it easier for people to pass.
列
noun
RET-soo
line; queue
This line is getting really crowded.
Quiz
Spelling
Tap the letters to spell the word.
to move back; to step back
Show Answer
下がったほうがいいですかto become crowded
Show Answer
混んできましたto make space; to leave open
Show Answer
空けましょうspace; room