Using a Shared Kitchen | Learn Japanese in English

Japanese lesson set in a contemporary Tokyo everyday setting: In a shared kitchen, two adults talk about washing a cup, wiping the table, and putting trash in the right bin..

EN → JA / Level: A1

About This Lesson

Use Using a Shared Kitchen to practice Japanese conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

A

ここで自分のカップを洗ってもいいですか？

KOH-koh deh JEE-boon noh KAP-poo oh ah-RAHT-teh moh EE dess kah? Can I wash my cup here?
B

左側のシンクを使ってください。

hee-dah-REE-gah-wah noh SHEEN-koo oh tsoo-KAHT-teh koo-dah-SIGH. Use the sink on the left.
A

この場所をきれいにしておきたいです。

KOH-noh bah-SHOH oh kee-RAY nee shee-TEH oh-kee-TAH-ee dess. I want to keep the space clean.
B

終わったらテーブルを拭いてください。

oh-WAHT-tah-rah, TAY-boo-roo oh FOO-ee-teh koo-dah-SIGH. Please wipe the table after you finish.
A

ごみはこのごみ箱に入れますか？

GOH-mee wah KOH-noh GOH-mee-bah-koh nee ee-REH-mahss kah? Does trash go in this bin?
B

ドアのそばのごみ箱に入れてください。

DOH-ah noh soh-BAH noh GOH-mee-bah-koh nee ee-REH-teh koo-dah-SIGH. Put it in the bin by the door.
A

今、私が片づけます。

EE-mah, wah-TAH-shee gah kah-TAH-zoo-keh-MAHSS. I will take care of it now.
B

そうすると、みんながキッチンを使える状態にしておけます。

SOH-oo soo-roo-toh, MEEN-nah gah KEET-cheen oh tsoo-KAH-eh-roo joh-TAH-ee nee shee-TEH oh-KEH-mahss. That keeps the kitchen ready for everyone.

Word by Word

ここ ここ means “here,” referring to the place where the speaker wants to wash the cup. A reusable pattern is ここで + an action when saying that something happens here. You can use it when asking or explaining where to do something.
で で marks ここ as the place where the action happens in ここで. It connects a place with an action rather than marking the object of the action. A reusable pattern is place + で + action, useful when talking about where to do something.
自分 自分 means one’s own self, and in 自分のカップ it refers to the speaker’s own cup. With の, it identifies something as belonging or relating to oneself. A reusable pattern is 自分の + noun when distinguishing one’s own item in a shared situation.
の の connects 自分 with カップ in 自分のカップ and shows that the cup belongs or relates to the speaker. A reusable pattern is XのY for possession or another close connection between two nouns. Use it when identifying whose item something is.
カップ カップ means “cup,” the item being washed in this dialogue. It is a loanword used for a cup or similar drinking container. A reusable pattern is カップを + an action when saying what to do with the cup.
を を marks カップ as the thing directly acted on in カップを洗って. It shows what is being washed or otherwise acted upon. A reusable pattern is noun + を + action verb, useful when naming the object of an action.
洗って 洗って is the form of 洗う used for “wash” here, referring to washing the cup. It connects with もいい to form the permission question 洗ってもいいですか. A reusable pattern is objectを洗ってください when politely asking someone to wash an object.
も In 洗ってもいいですか, も is part of the expression asking whether an action is permitted. Together, the expression asks whether washing the cup is okay. A reusable pattern is verbて + もいいですか when asking permission to do something.
いい いい means “okay” in 洗ってもいいですか, so the question asks whether the action is acceptable. Its meaning here comes from the permission expression with 洗っても, not from いい alone. A reusable pattern is verbて + もいい when saying that an action is allowed.
です です is the polite sentence ending in いいですか. Together with か, it makes the permission question polite and complete. A reusable pattern is a polite statement or question ending in ですか when speaking courteously.
か か marks the sentence as a question at the end of いいですか. Here it turns the polite permission expression into a request for confirmation. A reusable pattern is a polite sentence ending in ですか when asking a question.
左側 左側 means “left side” in 左側のシンク, identifying which sink to use. With の, it modifies the following noun and locates it on the left side. A reusable pattern is location + の + noun when selecting a particular object.
シンク シンク means “sink,” specifically the sink the speaker is told to use. It is the place where the cup is to be washed. A reusable pattern is シンクを使う when talking about using a sink.
使って 使って is the form of 使う used in 使ってください, meaning “use” the specified sink. The form connects with ください to make a polite request. A reusable pattern is nounを使ってください when politely telling someone to use something.
ください ください completes 使ってください as a polite request to use the sink. It makes the instruction courteous rather than simply stating an order. A reusable pattern is verbてください when asking someone to do an action.
この この means “this” in この場所 and points to a place near or relevant to the speaker. It comes directly before the noun it describes. A reusable pattern is この + noun when identifying a particular nearby or understood thing.
場所 場所 means “place” or “space” in この場所, referring to the shared area that should remain clean. It is the object of the action described by きれいにしておきたい. A reusable pattern is 場所を + a description or action when talking about how a space should be kept.
きれい きれい means “clean” in きれいにしておきたい. With に, it describes the clean state that the speaker wants the place to be put or kept in. A reusable pattern is nounをきれいにする when saying that something is made clean.
に に marks きれい as the resulting state in きれいにしておきたい. It shows that the place is made or kept clean, rather than simply describing it. A reusable pattern is adjective or noun + に + する when changing something into a particular state.
して して is the form of する used in きれいにしておきたい, meaning to make or keep the place clean. It connects the cleaning action with おきたい. A reusable pattern is nounをきれいにしておく when saying that a place is left clean for later use.
おきたい おきたい is related to おく and expresses wanting to leave or keep something in a prepared state in きれいにしておきたい. Here, the speaker wants the space to remain clean after cleaning it. A reusable pattern is verbておきたい when expressing a wish to do something in advance or leave a result ready.
終わったら 終わったら means “after finishing” or “when it is finished,” referring to the task the listener is doing. It comes from 終わる and links that condition to the request to wipe the table. A reusable pattern is action or task + たら + request when giving instructions for what to do afterward.
テーブル テーブル means “table,” the surface that should be wiped after the task is finished. It is marked as the object of 拭いてください. A reusable pattern is テーブルを拭く when talking about wiping a table.
拭いて 拭いて is the form of 拭く used in 拭いてください, meaning “wipe” the table. It connects with ください to form a polite request. A reusable pattern is surfaceを拭いてください when politely asking someone to wipe a surface.
ごみ ごみ means “trash” or “garbage” in ごみは..., which makes trash the topic of the question. The speaker is asking which bin should receive it. A reusable pattern is ごみを + an action verb when talking about handling trash.
は は marks ごみ as the topic in ごみはこのごみ箱に入れますか. The question is about what should happen to the trash. A reusable pattern is noun + は + question when setting the topic before asking for information.
ごみ箱 ごみ箱 means “trash bin,” the container for the trash in this dialogue. It appears both as the bin being checked and as the bin near the door. A reusable pattern is ごみをごみ箱に入れる when describing putting trash into a bin.
入れます 入れます is the polite form of 入れる and means “put in” in このごみ箱に入れますか. It describes placing the trash inside a specified bin. A reusable pattern is objectをcontainerに入れますか when asking whether something should be put into a container.
ドア ドア means “door” in ドアのそば, which helps locate the correct trash bin. It is the reference point for the bin’s location. A reusable pattern is nounのそば when describing something near a door or another place.
そば そば means “near” or “beside” in ドアのそばのごみ箱. Together with の, it identifies the bin located near the door. A reusable pattern is XのそばのY for locating Y near X.
入れて 入れて is the form of 入れる used in 入れてください, meaning “put it in” the specified bin. It connects with ください to make a polite instruction. A reusable pattern is objectをcontainerに入れてください when asking someone to place something inside a container.
今 今 means “now” in 今、私が片づけます and places the cleanup in the present. It emphasizes that the speaker will handle it immediately. A reusable pattern is 今 + action when saying that something is being done at this moment.
私 私 means “I” or “me” in 私が片づけます. It identifies the speaker as the person who will clean up the items. A reusable pattern is 私が + action when saying that the speaker will take responsibility for an action.
が が marks 私 as the subject in 私が片づけます, identifying who will do the cleanup. It is useful when specifying the person responsible for an action. A reusable pattern is person + が + action when highlighting who performs it.
片づけます 片づけます is the polite form of 片づける and means “clean up” or “put away” here. It refers to taking care of the remaining mess or items in the kitchen. A reusable pattern is objectを片づけます when politely saying that someone will put something away or clean it up.
そう そう in そうすると points back to the cleanup actions just mentioned and means “that way” or “so.” Together with すると, it introduces the result of those actions. A reusable pattern is そうすると + result when explaining what happens as a consequence.
すると すると works with そう in そうすると to link the preceding actions with their result, meaning “then” or “in that case.” It shows that the kitchen’s readiness follows from cleaning and disposing of trash correctly. A reusable pattern is そうすると + outcome when describing a consequence.
みんな みんな means “everyone” in みんながキッチンを使える状態. It refers to all the people who share the kitchen. A reusable pattern is みんなが + ability or action when describing what everyone can do.
キッチン キッチン means “kitchen,” the shared space being kept ready for use. It is the place that everyone should be able to use. A reusable pattern is キッチンを使う when talking about using the kitchen.
使える 使える is related to 使う and means “can use” in みんながキッチンを使える状態. It describes a condition in which everyone is able to use the kitchen. A reusable pattern is place or thingを使える when describing something that someone can use.
状態 状態 means “state” or “condition” in 使える状態. It describes the condition in which the kitchen is ready and usable. A reusable pattern is verb or description + 状態 when referring to a state characterized by that action or condition.
おけます おけます is the polite form related to おく and, in しておけます, means “can leave or keep something that way.” Here it expresses that the cleanup can leave the kitchen ready for everyone. A reusable pattern is verbておけます when saying that something can be done and left prepared or maintained.

Grammar Points

〜たら、〜

終わったら、テーブルを拭いてください。

oh-WAHT-tah-rah, TAY-boo-roo oh FOO-ee-teh koo-dah-SIGH.

When you finish, please wipe the table.

〜たら means “when/if.” It attaches to the past form and describes a condition or time before the next action.

〜ておきたいです

きれいにしておきたいです。

kee-RAY nee shee-TEH oh-kee-TAH-ee dess.

I want to leave it clean.

〜ておく means doing something in advance or leaving something in a certain state. 〜たい expresses desire.

Japanese Vocabulary

カップ noun
KAP-poo cup
きれい adj
kee-RAY clean きれいに
ここ adv
KOH-koh here
しておく verb
shee-TEH oh-KOO to leave something in a certain state; to do something in advance しておきたいです
シンク noun
SHEEN-koo sink
テーブル noun
TAY-boo-roo table
左側 noun
hee-dah-REE-gah-wah left side 左側の
使う verb
tsoo-KAH-oo to use 使ってください
自分 pron
JEE-boon one's own; my own 自分の
終わる verb
oh-WAHR-oo to finish; to end 終わったら
場所 noun
bah-SHOH place; space この場所
洗う verb
ah-RAH-oo to wash 洗って

Quiz

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

place; space

Show Answerこの場所

to use

Show Answer使ってください

clean

Show Answerきれいに

to leave something in a certain state; to do something in advance

Show Answerしておきたいです