Saving leftovers for tomorrow | Learn Japanese in English

Sentence explanations

1. 夕食の残り物がたくさんあります。

   There are a lot of leftovers from dinner.

   夕食

   dinner

   残り物

   leftovers

   たくさん

   a lot

   あります

   there is/are

   More detail

   夕食 means “dinner.” It is a noun and can combine with の to show a relationship: 夕食の残り物 means “leftovers from dinner” or “dinner leftovers.” The particle の links the first noun to the second; it does not mean that dinner itself is leftover. 残り物 means “leftovers.” It refers to food remaining after a meal or other use. The related noun 残り means “remainder” or “what remains,” while 物 means “thing,” but 残り物 is a natural established compound for leftover things, especially leftover food. Example: 残り物を食べます。 — “I eat the leftovers.” たくさん means “a lot” or “many.” It expresses a large amount or number and commonly comes before the predicate or the noun phrase it modifies. In this sentence, it says that the amount of leftovers is large; it does not itself identify an exact number. Example: 水がたくさんあります。 — “There is a lot of water.” あります is the polite non-past form of ある, used here for the existence or presence of inanimate things. Its plain non-past form is ある; あります is the polite form. The subject marker が appears after 残り物, making 残り物がたくさんあります an existence statement: “there are a lot of leftovers.” For people and animals, Japanese generally uses いる instead of ある. Together, 夕食の identifies the source or relation (“from dinner”), 残り物が marks the leftovers as what exists, and たくさんあります states that they exist in a large amount. The whole utterance means: “There are a lot of leftovers from dinner.”

2. きれいな容器に入れましょう。

   Let's put them in a clean container.

   きれいな

   clean

   容器

   container

   入れましょう

   let’s put in

   More detail

   きれいな means “clean” here and modifies the noun that follows it. It is the form of the な-adjective きれい used directly before a noun: きれいな容器 means “a clean container.” きれい can also mean “beautiful” or “pretty” in other contexts, but the fixed translation supports “clean” here. 容器 means “container.” It is a noun for something used to hold or store something. In きれいな容器, the adjective comes before the noun, as in the reusable pattern Aな N (“a/an N that is A”). 入れましょう comes from the transitive verb 入れる, “to put something in” or “to place something inside.” The ending -ましょう forms a polite volitional expression: 入れましょう means “let’s put [it/them] in.” The object is not stated in this sentence; the fixed translation and bounded context identify it as the leftovers. The container is marked by に, which indicates the destination or place into which something is put. The verb’s object and destination can therefore be expressed in the pattern Nを 容器に 入れましょう (“Let’s put N in the container”). Together, きれいな容器に means “in a clean container,” and 入れましょう means “let’s put [them] in.” The whole utterance is therefore “Let’s put them in a clean container.”

3. 明日の昼食に温め直してもいいですか。

   Can I reheat them for lunch tomorrow?

   明日

   tomorrow

   昼食

   lunch

   温め直して

   reheat

   もいいですか

   is it okay to …?

   More detail

   明日 means “tomorrow.” It is a time word and can modify a following noun with の, as in 明日の昼食 (“tomorrow’s lunch”). 昼食 means “lunch,” in a relatively neutral or somewhat formal vocabulary choice. In this sentence, 明日の昼食に presents lunch tomorrow as the occasion or intended use: “for tomorrow’s lunch.” 温め直して is the te-form of 温め直す, “to reheat.” The second part, 直す, adds the idea of doing something again or correcting it, so 温め直す is specifically “reheat,” not merely “heat.” The te-form connects this verb to the following permission construction. For example, これを温め直してもいいですか。 means “May I reheat this?” もいいですか is used after a te-form to ask whether an action is permitted: Vて + もいいですか = “May I …?” or “Is it okay if I …?” Here, も is part of the permission pattern, and いいですか asks whether that is acceptable. The quoted part itself does not include the action; 温め直して supplies it. Together, 明日の昼食に (“for tomorrow’s lunch”) and 温め直してもいいですか (“may I reheat [it/them]?”) produce: “Can I reheat them for lunch tomorrow?” Japanese leaves the object unstated here; the fixed translation and surrounding context identify it as the items already being discussed. The sentence is a polite request for permission.

4. それまで冷蔵庫に入れておけば、温め直せます。

   You can if we keep them in the fridge until then.

   それまで

   until then

   冷蔵庫

   fridge

   入れておけば

   if you keep them in

   温め直せます

   can reheat

   More detail

   それまで means “until then.” それ is a demonstrative pronoun meaning “that,” and まで marks the endpoint of a time period. Here, “then” is the previously established time for lunch tomorrow. 冷蔵庫 means “refrigerator” or “fridge.” It is a noun: 冷蔵 means refrigeration and 庫 indicates a storage place, but learn the full compound as the ordinary word for a refrigerator. 入れておけば expresses “if we keep them in” or, more literally, “if we put them in and leave them there.” The base verb is 入れる (“to put in”), and 入れて is its て-form. Adding おく expresses doing something in advance or leaving the result in place; in this form, 入れておく becomes 入れておけば, with ば marking the condition. The omitted object is understood from the fixed translation and context as “them.” A reusable pattern is V-ておけば、… = “if you/we do V in advance or leave something in that state, …” For example, 窓を開けておけば、涼しくなります。 means “If you leave the window open, it will become cool.” The subject is not stated in the Japanese example; the surrounding situation determines who does the action. 温め直せます means “can reheat.” Its base expression is 温め直す, “to reheat,” made from 温める (“to warm”) plus 直す (“do again”). The form 温め直せる is the potential form, expressing ability or possibility, and 温め直せます adds the polite ます ending. Thus the ability is presented politely; it is not simply the plain action 温め直します (“will reheat” or “reheat”). Together, それまで冷蔵庫に入れておけば sets the condition: keeping them in the refrigerator until the established time. 温め直せます gives the result: they can be reheated. The whole utterance therefore means, “You can [reheat them] if we keep them in the fridge until then.”

5. 容器にラベルを貼りましょうか。

   Should I put a label on the container?

   容器

   container

   ラベル

   label

   貼りましょうか

   Shall I stick it on?

   More detail

   容器 means “container” here. It is a noun for something that holds contents, such as a box, jar, or other receptacle. A reusable pattern is 容器に (“onto/in the container”): with 貼る, に marks the surface or place where something is attached. ラベル is the noun “label.” It is a Japanese loanword and can be used for a label attached to a container or another item. In this sentence, ラベルを marks the label as the thing being attached; を marks the direct object. 貼りましょうか comes from the verb 貼る, “to stick, attach, or put on.” The form 貼り is the stem used before ましょう; ましょうか makes a polite question proposing or offering an action, with the speaker as the understood actor: “Shall I …?” The question does not itself specify a gender or number for the speaker. The pattern Nに Nを 貼りましょうか can be reused as “Shall I attach a label/sticker/etc. to N?” For example, 箱にシールを貼りましょうか。 means “Shall I put a sticker on the box?” This is a new example, not a statement about the supplied conversation. Together, 容器にラベルを貼りましょうか。 asks whether the speaker should attach a label to the container: “Should I put a label on the container?”

6. そうすれば、明日、中に何が入っているか分かります。

   That way, tomorrow we will know what is inside.

   そうすれば

   that way; if so

   明日

   tomorrow

   中に

   inside

   何が入っているか

   what is inside

   分かります

   will know; can tell

   More detail

   そうすれば refers to carrying out the action just discussed and means “if you do that” or “that way.” すれば is the conditional form of する (“do”); the whole expression is a useful way to connect an action with its expected result. It does not itself specify who performs the action. 明日 means “tomorrow.” Japanese commonly uses a nonpast verb form with a future time word, so the later result can be understood as happening tomorrow. 中に means “inside.” 中 is “inside” or “interior,” and に marks the location where something is or exists. The phrase identifies an inside location without specifying a particular container in this sentence. 何が入っているか is an embedded question meaning “what is inside.” 何 means “what,” and が marks it as the subject of the embedded question. 入っている is the ている form of 入る (“enter; go in”), and here it describes the resulting state: something is inside. か marks the preceding clause as an embedded question. A reusable pattern is ［question clause］か分かる, “know what/whether …”: for example, 何が入っているか分かりません。 means “I don’t know what is inside.” 分かります is the polite nonpast form of 分かる, meaning “know,” “understand,” or “be able to tell” in the relevant context. With 何が入っているか before it, it means “know what is inside.” The nonpast form can express a future result when combined with 明日; 明日分かります means “we will know tomorrow” in this context. The subject is understood from context rather than stated in the sentence. Together, そうすれば sets up the condition or method, 明日 gives the time, 中に何が入っているか supplies the information to be known, and 分かります gives the result. The whole utterance means: “That way, tomorrow we will know what is inside.”

7. 分かりやすいラベルを貼ります。

   I'll put a clear label on it.

   分かりやすい

   clear; easy to understand

   ラベル

   label

   貼ります

   put on; attach

   More detail

   分かりやすい describes something that is easy to understand or recognize. It is an i-adjective formed from 分かる (“understand; be clear”) with 〜やすい, a pattern meaning that an action or result is easy to achieve. The adjective itself ends in い, as in 分かりやすいラベル (“a clear/easy-to-understand label”). For example: この説明は分かりやすい。 — “This explanation is easy to understand.” ラベル is the noun “label.” It is a loanword written in katakana. In this sentence, ラベルを marks the label as the direct object of the action. The particle を is not included in the selected quote, but it connects the noun to the verb that follows. 貼ります means “put on” or “attach” here, specifically by sticking something onto a surface. Its dictionary form is 貼る; 貼ります is the polite nonpast form. Japanese nonpast forms can describe a future action, so in this context it means “will put on” or “will attach,” matching the translation. The sentence does not state the subject in Japanese; the fixed translation identifies the speaker as the person who will do it. For example: 箱にラベルを貼ります。 — “I will put a label on the box.” Together, 分かりやすいラベルを貼ります means “I’ll put a clear label on it.” The adjective modifies ラベル, を marks that label as the object, and polite 貼ります expresses the speaker’s intended or upcoming action. The object receiving the label is understood from the situation rather than named in this sentence.

8. そうすれば、昼食がもっと簡単になります。

   That will make lunch easier.

   そうすれば

   if you do that; then

   昼食

   lunch

   もっと

   more

   簡単

   easy; simple

   なります

   becomes; will become

   More detail

   そうすれば is a reusable conditional expression meaning “if you do that” or, in a result sequence, “then.” It is built from そうする (“do that”) with the conditional -ば form, すれば. Here, そう refers to the action just described in the preceding context, without needing to repeat that action. 昼食 means “lunch.” It is a noun: 昼 means “daytime/noon” and 食 relates to eating, but 昼食 is learned as the compound noun “lunch.” With the particle が, 昼食が marks lunch as the thing whose state will change. もっと is an adverb meaning “more” or “even more.” It indicates an increase relative to the current or expected degree. For example, もっと大きい means “bigger” or “larger.” 簡単 means “easy” or “simple.” It is a na-adjective. Before a noun, use 簡単な, as in 簡単な方法 (“an easy method”); in this sentence, it is followed by に as part of the change-of-state pattern 簡単になる (“become easy”). なります is the polite nonpast form of なる, “to become” or “to come to be.” The form なります can describe a future result as well as a present or habitual one; here, the conditional context gives it the future-result meaning “will become.” The pattern adjective + に + なる expresses becoming that quality, so 簡単になります means “will become easier.” Together, 昼食がもっと簡単になります says that lunch will become easier, with もっと marking an increase in ease. The opening そうすれば makes this the result of doing the previously mentioned action: “If you do that, lunch will become easier.”