About This Lesson
Use Preparing the room for a quiet evening to practice Japanese conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.
Dialogue
A
最近は暗くなるのが早いね。
sigh-KEEN wah KAH-roo-kah nah-ROO noh gah HAH-ee neh It is getting dark earlier these days.
B
夕食の前にカーテンを閉めるね。
YOO-shoh-koo noh MAH-eh nee KAH-ten o SHEH-meh-roo neh I will close the curtains before dinner.
A
小さいヒーターもつけてくれる？
chee-SAI hee-TAH moh tsuh-KEH-teh koo-REH-roo Could you switch on the small heater too?
B
弱にできるよ。
YOH-wah nee deh-KEE-roo yo I can set it to low.
B
でも、部屋はもう快適だよ。
DEH-moh, heh-YAH wah moh-oh KAI-teh-kee dah yo But the room already feels comfortable.
A
今晩は部屋を居心地よくしたいな。
kohn-BAHN wah heh-YAH o ee-goh-KOH-chee yoh-KOO shee-TAI nah I want the room to feel cozy this evening.
B
やわらかい光のランプなら、部屋を暖かくしすぎずに居心地よくできるかも。
yah-wah-rah-KAI HEE-kah-ree noh RAHM-poo nah-rah, heh-YAH o ah-tah-tah-KOO shee-soo-GEE-zoo nee ee-goh-KOH-chee yoh-KOO deh-KEE-roo kah-moh A softer lamp might do that without making it too warm.
A
やわらかい光にすると、部屋がもっと落ち着いた感じになるね。
yah-wah-rah-KAI HEE-kah-ree nee soo-ROO-toh, heh-YAH gah MOHT-toh oh-chee-TSOO-ee-tah KAHN-jee nee nah-ROO neh The softer light makes the room feel much calmer.
B
じゃあ、食べたあとでリラックスできるね。
jah-ah, tah-BEH-tah AH-toh deh ree-RAHK-soo deh-KEE-roo neh Then we can relax after we eat.Word by Word
最近
最近 means “these days” or “recently” in 最近は暗くなるのが早いね. It introduces a current period being discussed. A common reuse pattern is 最近は followed by a comment about a present trend or situation.
は
は marks 最近 as the topic in 最近は, giving the sense “as for these days.” It sets the time period for the statement that follows. Reuse the pattern time expression + は when commenting on a period.
暗く
暗く describes becoming dark in 暗くなる. This form connects the state of darkness to なる, showing a change into that state. A reusable pattern is adjective-like state + くなる for a change in condition.
なる
なる means “become” in 暗くなる, so 暗くなる describes the room or outside becoming dark. It follows 暗く to express a change of state. Reuse になる or くなる when describing something becoming a new state.
の
の turns 暗くなる into the noun-like expression 暗くなるの, which can then be marked by が. Here it lets the speaker describe the event of becoming dark as something that happens early. A common pattern is verb phrase + のが + description.
が
が marks 暗くなるの as the subject of 早い in 暗くなるのが早い. The statement says that the event of becoming dark happens early. Reuse が after the thing or event being described.
早い
早い means “early” in 暗くなるのが早い, describing the early timing of darkness. It is not describing a person’s speed here. A reusable pattern is event + のが早い when an event happens earlier than expected or usual.
ね
ね at the end of 最近は暗くなるのが早いね makes the comment softer and invites agreement. It presents the observation as something the speakers can share. Reuse a statement + ね in familiar conversation when checking or emphasizing shared awareness.
夕食
夕食 means “dinner” in 夕食の前に. It identifies the meal used as the time reference for closing the curtains. A common pattern is a meal or event + の前に for “before” that event.
前
前 means “before” in 夕食の前に, not “front.” It places the curtain-closing action before dinner. Reuse noun + の前に when saying that an action happens before a named event.
に
に marks the time relation in 夕食の前に. Together with 前, it identifies when the next action will happen. Reuse a time expression such as 夕食の前に + action.
カーテン
カーテン means “curtains” in カーテンを閉める. It is the thing being closed before dinner. Reuse it with を when describing an action directed at the curtains.
を
を marks カーテン as the object in カーテンを閉める. It shows what the speaker will close. Reuse を after the thing directly affected by an action.
閉める
閉める means “close” or “shut” in カーテンを閉める. Here it describes closing the curtains before dinner. Reuse the pattern object + を + 閉める for doors, windows, curtains, and similar things that can be closed.
小さい
小さい means “small” in 小さいヒーター. It describes the size of the heater being discussed. Reuse an adjective directly before a noun when identifying a particular object by its size.
ヒーター
ヒーター means “heater” in 小さいヒーターもつけてくれる？. It names the appliance the speaker asks the other person to turn on. Reuse it as the object of an action involving heating or adjusting the room.
も
も means “also” or “too” in ヒーターもつけてくれる？. It adds the heater to the other room preparations already being discussed. Reuse noun + も when including an additional item in an action or request.
つけて
つけて is the form used for turning on the heater in つけてくれる？. It connects the requested action to くれる. Reuse the て-form of an action + くれる？ when casually asking someone to do something for you.
くれる
In つけてくれる？, くれる shows that the speaker is asking whether the other person will turn on the heater for the speaker’s benefit. The request is casual and directed to someone familiar. Reuse て-form + くれる？ for a request that highlights the other person doing something for you.
弱
弱 means the low setting in 弱にできるよ. It identifies how strongly the heater can be set. Reuse it with に when naming a low setting for an appliance.
できる
できる means “can” in 弱にできる, saying that the heater can be set to low. With に, it describes being able to put something into a particular setting. Reuse a setting + にできる when saying that an appliance can be adjusted that way.
よ
よ at the end of 弱にできるよ adds emphasis and gives the listener this information reassuringly. It presents the ability to use the low setting as useful new information. Reuse a statement + よ when informing someone or emphasizing an answer.
でも
でも means “but” in でも、部屋はもう快適だよ. It introduces a point that limits or balances the suggestion to turn on the heater. Reuse でも at the beginning of a sentence when presenting an opposing or qualifying point.
部屋
部屋 means “room” in 部屋はもう快適だよ. It is the place whose comfort is being evaluated. Reuse it with は when making a comment about the room as the topic.
もう
もう means “already” in 部屋はもう快適だよ. It says that the room is comfortable at this point, even before more heating is added. Reuse もう with a state or action that has been reached by the time being discussed.
快適
快適 means “comfortable” in 快適だ, describing the room as pleasant enough already. It evaluates the room’s condition rather than naming a physical object. Reuse it with だ to make a plain statement about a comfortable condition.
だ
だ completes 快適だ as a plain statement that the room is comfortable. It states the condition directly in this casual conversation. Reuse a noun-like description + だ for a simple informal assertion.
今晩
今晩 means “this evening” or “tonight” in 今晩は部屋を居心地よくしたいな. It sets the time for the speaker’s wish about the room. Reuse it at the beginning of a sentence when discussing plans or conditions for tonight.
居心地
居心地 refers to how comfortable a place feels in 居心地よくしたい. It focuses on the room’s atmosphere and the experience of being there. Reuse it when describing the comfort or feel of a place.
よく
よく connects 居心地 with したい in 居心地よくしたい, expressing the wish to make the room feel comfortable. It describes the result the speaker wants to create. Reuse a state in its adverbial form + する when describing making something that way.
したい
したい means “want to make” in 居心地よくしたい. It expresses the speaker’s desire to create a more comfortable atmosphere in the room. Reuse the たい form after an action or making expression to say that you want to do it.
な
な at the end of したいな adds a gentle, reflective feeling to the wish. It makes the statement sound like a soft personal thought rather than a firm command. Reuse a desire + な when expressing a mild wish in conversation.
やわらかい
やわらかい means “soft” or “gentle” in やわらかい光. It describes the quality of the light from the lamp. Reuse an adjective directly before a noun to describe the light or atmosphere an object provides.
光
光 means “light” in やわらかい光. It is the quality of the lamp that is suggested as a way to make the room cozy. Reuse it after a describing word when talking about the character or strength of light.
ランプ
ランプ means “lamp” in やわらかい光のランプ. It identifies the proposed source of the softer light. Reuse it with の when describing a lamp by the kind of light it gives.
なら
なら presents ランプ as the condition or option in ランプなら. The sentence suggests that if the choice is a lamp with softer light, it may create the desired atmosphere. Reuse noun + なら when responding to a situation or choice with “if it is” or “in that case.”
暖かく
暖かく describes the result of making the room warm in 暖かくしすぎずに. It connects the quality of warmth to the following expression about not going too far. Reuse a state + くする when describing making something warm or another quality.
しすぎず
In 暖かくしすぎずに, しすぎず means “without making it too much.” Here it says the room can become cozy without making it excessively warm. Reuse the pattern action + すぎずに when saying that something is done without going too far.
かも
かも means “might” or “maybe” in できるかも. It shows that the speaker is suggesting a possibility rather than making a firm prediction. Reuse a plain statement + かも when offering a tentative idea.
する
する appears at the start of すると and expresses making the light into the softer-light condition. In やわらかい光にすると, it contributes the idea of changing or setting something that way. Reuse にする when describing choosing or making a particular state or setting.
と
と connects the change and its result in すると. Here やわらかい光にすると introduces what happens when the light is made softer. Reuse a condition + と when linking a change or action with its resulting situation.
もっと
もっと means “more” or “much more” in もっと落ち着いた感じ. It increases the degree of calmness compared with the current feeling. Reuse もっと before a describing word when asking for or describing a greater degree.
落ち着いた
落ち着いた describes a calm, settled impression in 落ち着いた感じ. It characterizes how the room feels after using softer light. Reuse it before 感じ when describing a calm or settled atmosphere.
感じ
感じ means “feeling” or “impression” in 落ち着いた感じになる. It presents the room’s calmness as the way the room seems or feels. Reuse a describing word + 感じ when talking about an atmosphere or impression.
じゃあ
じゃあ means “then” or “in that case” at the beginning of じゃあ、食べたあとでリラックスできるね. It draws a practical consequence from the earlier suggestion about the room. Reuse it at the start of a response when moving from a conclusion to its result.
食べた
食べた refers to eating as the event completed before the next action in 食べたあとで. It means that relaxing will happen after the meal. Reuse the completed-action form + あとで when sequencing one action after another.
あと
あと means “after” in 食べたあとで. It places relaxing later than the eating event. Reuse a completed-action expression + あとで to say what happens afterward.
で
で marks the timing phrase in あとで, showing when the relaxing will happen. Together with あと, it means “afterward” or “after doing that.” Reuse a time expression + で when identifying the time for a following action.
リラックス
リラックス names the relaxing activity in リラックスできる. With できる, the expression means that the speakers will be able to relax after eating. Reuse it when talking about taking it easy after an activity or once a comfortable situation has been created.
Grammar Points
い形容詞の語幹＋く
部屋を暖かくできる。
heh-YAH o ah-tah-tah-KOO deh-KEE-rooYou can make the room warm.
い形容詞は動詞の前で「〜く」に変わります。「暖かい」→「暖かく」。
動詞＋できる
今晩は居心地よくリラックスできる。
kohn-BAHN wah ee-goh-KOH-chee yoh-KOO ree-RAHK-soo deh-KEE-rooYou can relax comfortably tonight.
「できる」は動詞に付き、「〜することができる」という可能・能力を表します。
Japanese Vocabulary
カーテン
noun
KAH-ten
curtain
夕食の前にカーテンを閉めるね。
つける
verb
tsuh-KEH-roo
to turn on
つけて
小さいヒーターもつけてくれる?
できる
verb
deh-KEE-roo
can; be able to
弱にできるよ。
ヒーター
noun
hee-TAH
heater
小さいヒーターもつけてくれる?
暗くなる
verb
KAH-roo-kah nah-ROO
to get dark
最近は暗くなるのが早いね。
最近
adv
sigh-KEEN
recently; these days
最近は暗くなるのが早いね。
弱
noun
YOH-wah
low setting
弱にできるよ。
小さい
adj
chee-SAI
small
小さいヒーターもつけてくれる?
前に
phrase
MAH-eh nee
before
夕食の前にカーテンを閉めるね。
早い
adj
hah-EE
early
最近は暗くなるのが早いね。
閉める
verb
SHEH-meh-roo
to close
夕食の前にカーテンを閉めるね。
夕食
noun
YOO-shoh-koo
dinner
夕食の前にカーテンを閉めるね。
Quiz
Spelling
Tap the letters to spell the word.
heater
Show Answer
ヒーターcurtain
Show Answer
カーテンto get dark
Show Answer
暗くなるto close