About This Lesson
Use Reporting a Lost Wallet to practice Japanese conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.
Dialogue
A
財布を置き忘れたと思います。
SAI-foo oh oh-kee-wah-soo-REH-tah toh oh-moh-ee-MAH-soo I think I left my wallet behind.
B
受付に戻って、届け出ましょう。
oo-keh-tsoo-keh nee moh-DOHT-teh toh-doh-keh-deh-mah-SHOH Let's go back to the front desk and report it.
A
茶色で、小さな銀色のボタンが付いています。
chah-ee-roh deh, chee-sah-nah geen-ee-roh noh boh-tahn gah tsoo-ee-teh-ee-MAH-soo It's brown with a small silver button.
B
その特徴があると、係の人が落とし物を確認しやすくなります。
soh-noh toh-koo-CHOH gah ah-roo-toh, kah-kah-ree noh hee-toh gah oh-toh-shee-moh-noh oh kah-koo-NIN she-yah-SOO-koo nah-ree-mah-soo That detail will help them check lost property.
A
詳しいことを聞かれたら、何と言えばいいですか。
koo-WAH-shee koh-toh oh hee-kah-reh-tah-rah, nahn-toh ee-eh-TEH-bah EE-deh-soo-kah What should I say if they ask for details?
B
財布の特徴を説明して、個人情報は伝えないでください。
SAI-foo noh toh-koo-CHOH oh seh-tsu-MAY she-teh, koh-jeen-joh-HOH wah tsoo-TAH-eh-nai deh-koo-dah-SAI Describe the wallet, but keep personal information private.
A
係の人のために短いメモを書けます。
kah-kah-ree noh hee-toh noh tah-meh nee tahn-KAI meh-moh oh kah-KEH-mah-soo I can write a short note for them.
B
そうすれば、届け出の内容が分かりやすくなります。
soh-ooh-sheh-bah, toh-doh-keh-deh noh nah-ee-YOH gah wah-kah-ree-yah-SOO-koo nah-ree-mah-soo That will make the report clear.Word by Word
財布
「財布」 means “wallet” here, the item that was left behind. It names the object marked by 「を」 in 「財布を置き忘れた」. Use it when identifying a wallet in a lost-property report.
を
「を」 marks 「財布」 as the object of 「置き忘れた」, so the sentence says the wallet was left behind. It commonly follows the thing affected by an action, as in 「財布を置き忘れた」. Use it when saying what was lost, moved, or handled.
置き忘れた
「置き忘れた」 means “left behind” or “forgot after putting something down” here. It is the past form used for the completed action in 「財布を置き忘れたと思います」; the citation form is 置き忘れる. Use it when reporting that you accidentally left an item somewhere.
と
「と」 marks the thought or statement quoted by 「思います」, linking it to 「財布を置き忘れた」. In 「財布を置き忘れたと思います」, the whole clause means “I think I left my wallet behind.” Use it after a quoted idea before verbs such as thinking or saying.
思います
「思います」 means “I think” here and presents the speaker’s belief politely. It follows the clause 「財布を置き忘れたと」 in this sentence. Use it to state a belief or judgment without presenting it as certain.
受付
「受付」 means “front desk” or “reception” here, the place they return to make the report. It is the destination marked by 「に」 in 「受付に戻って」. Use it when referring to a reception point in a facility.
に
「に」 marks 「受付」 as the place they return to, so 「受付に戻って」 means “go back to the front desk.” It commonly marks a destination or place of arrival with movement verbs. Use it when saying where someone goes or returns.
戻って
「戻って」 means “go back” or “return” and connects that action to the next action, reporting the wallet. It is the て-form of 戻る, used in 「受付に戻って、届け出ましょう」. Use this form to link sequential actions, such as returning somewhere and then doing something.
届け出ましょう
「届け出ましょう」 means “let’s report it” in this front-desk situation. It is a polite suggestion to carry out a report together, and it appears after the return action in 「受付に戻って、届け出ましょう」. Use it when proposing a shared formal report or notification.
茶色
「茶色」 means “brown” here and gives the wallet’s color. It is linked to the next description by 「で」 in 「茶色で、小さな銀色のボタンが付いています」. Use it to identify an item by color.
で
「で」 connects 「茶色」 with the following description, so the speaker lists the wallet’s color and its button together. Here it is a connective form used in 「茶色で、小さな銀色のボタンが付いています」. Use it to join descriptive information about the same object.
小さな
「小さな」 means “small” here and describes the size of the button. It directly modifies 「ボタン」 in 「小さな銀色のボタン」. Use it before a noun when identifying an item by a small size.
銀色
「銀色」 means “silver-colored” here and describes the button’s color. It is connected to 「ボタン」 by 「の」 in 「銀色のボタン」. Use it to identify an object by its silver color.
の
「の」 links 「銀色」 to 「ボタン」, making 「銀色のボタン」 mean “a silver button.” It commonly connects a describing noun or category to the noun it describes. Use it when one noun specifies the type, color, or material of another noun.
ボタン
「ボタン」 means “button” here, the small identifying part attached to the wallet. It is the subject marked by 「が」 in 「ボタンが付いています」. Use it when describing a button on clothing, a bag, or another object.
が
「が」 marks 「ボタン」 as the thing that is attached in 「ボタンが付いています」. It commonly marks the subject of a description or state. Use it when identifying which item exists or has a particular condition.
付いて
「付いて」 means “be attached” here and describes the button as attached to the wallet. It is the て-form of 付く and combines with 「います」 in 「ボタンが付いています」. Use it with 「います」 to describe an attachment that remains in place.
います
「います」 helps show the continuing state in 「ボタンが付いています」, meaning that the button is attached. Here it follows the て-form 「付いて」 rather than expressing the presence of a person. Use it with a て-form to describe an ongoing or maintained state.
その
「その」 means “that” here and points to the identifying detail just described, including the wallet’s color and button. It comes before 「特徴」 in 「その特徴」. Use it before a noun when referring to something already mentioned or understood in the conversation.
特徴
「特徴」 means “feature” or “identifying detail” here, referring to the wallet’s color and button. In 「その特徴があると」, it identifies information that can help staff check the lost property. Use it when describing a distinctive detail of an object.
ある
「ある」 says that the feature is present in 「その特徴があると」. In this sentence, the presence of that feature is the condition that makes checking easier. Use it with 「が」 to say that a thing or feature exists or is present.
係
「係」 refers to the staff role or person in charge here, as part of 「係の人」. In the dialogue, this is the staff member who checks the lost property. Use it when identifying responsible staff at a facility.
人
「人」 means “person” and completes 「係の人」, meaning “the person in charge” or “staff member.” It follows a role or description to refer to a person. Use it when identifying someone by their role.
落とし物
「落とし物」 means “lost property” here, referring to items that someone has lost and that staff may check. It is the object of 「確認」 in 「落とし物を確認しやすくなります」. Use it when reporting or asking about a lost item.
確認
「確認」 means “check” or “verify” here, specifically checking the lost property. It is followed by 「しやすく」 in 「落とし物を確認しやすくなります」. Use it when verifying whether something matches, is present, or is correct.
しやすく
「しやすく」 means “easily” or “easy to do” here, modifying 「確認」 to say that checking becomes easier. It is the adverbial form of しやすい in 「確認しやすくなります」. Use it after a verb stem to describe an action that is easy to perform.
なります
「なります」 means “becomes” here and shows a change to an easier state in 「確認しやすくなります」. It is the polite form of なる. Use it when describing a resulting change, especially after an adjective-like form.
詳しい
「詳しい」 means “detailed” or “specific” here, referring to information about the wallet. It modifies 「こと」 in 「詳しいことを聞かれたら」. Use it to describe information that gives more detail about a matter or object.
こと
「こと」 refers to matters or details here, making 「詳しいこと」 mean “detailed information” or “specific details.” In 「詳しいことを聞かれたら」, it lets the speaker refer to details without naming each one. Use it when referring to a matter or content in an abstract way.
聞かれたら
「聞かれたら」 means “if” or “when asked” here, referring to questions from the staff. It expresses the condition in 「詳しいことを聞かれたら、何と言えばいいですか」. Use it when describing what to do if someone asks you something.
何
「何」 means “what” here. In 「何と言えばいいですか」, it asks what words the speaker should say. Use it to ask what something is or what should be said.
言えば
「言えば」 means “if” or “when I say” here and forms the conditional part of the advice question. Together with 「いいですか」 in 「何と言えばいいですか」, it asks what wording would be appropriate. Use it when asking what someone should say in a particular situation.
いい
「いい」 means “good” in the sense of “appropriate” here, as part of 「言えばいいですか」. The phrase asks what the speaker should say, rather than describing the quality of a thing. Use it after a conditional form when asking what action or choice is suitable.
です
「です」 is the polite ending in 「何と言えばいいですか」. It makes the question polite and formal in this conversation. Use it to form polite statements and questions.
か
「か」 marks 「何と言えばいいですか」 as a question. It appears at the end of this polite question about what to say. Use it at the end of a polite question.
説明して
「説明して」 means “describe” or “explain” here, referring to the wallet’s features. Its て-form connects the instruction to the following request in 「財布の特徴を説明して、個人情報は伝えないでください」. Use it to link actions or connected instructions.
個人
「個人」 means “personal” or “individual” here as part of 「個人情報」. It specifies that the information belongs to a person rather than describing the wallet. Use it before 「情報」 when referring to personal information.
情報
「情報」 means “information” here, specifically the personal information that should not be communicated. It forms the compound 「個人情報」. Use it when referring to facts or details that are communicated, written, or kept private.
は
「は」 marks 「個人情報」 as the topic of the instruction in 「個人情報は伝えないでください」. It sets the information being discussed apart from the wallet features that may be described. Use it to identify the topic of a statement or request.
伝えない
「伝えない」 means “do not communicate” or “do not tell” here, and it is part of a polite negative request. It is the negative form of 伝える in 「伝えないでください」. Use it before 「ください」 to ask someone not to disclose something.
ください
「ください」 contributes “please” to the negative request 「伝えないでください」. Here it makes the instruction polite. Use it after a negative request form to ask someone not to do something.
ため
「ため」 means “for the sake of” or “for” here in 「係の人のために」, showing who the note is intended to help. It is followed by 「に」 to express purpose or a beneficiary. Use it when explaining that an action or item is for someone’s benefit.
短い
「短い」 means “short” here and describes the length of the note. It modifies 「メモ」 in 「短いメモ」. Use it before a noun when describing something as short in length or duration.
メモ
「メモ」 means “note” here, referring to the short written message for the staff member. It is the object of 「書けます」 in 「短いメモを書けます」. Use it when referring to a brief written reminder or message.
書けます
「書けます」 means “can write” here, expressing the ability to write a short note. It is the polite potential form related to 書く. Use it with the thing that can be written, as in 「メモを書けます」.
そう
「そう」 means “that way” or “by doing so” here, referring back to writing the note. It works with 「すれば」 in 「そうすれば、届け出の内容が分かりやすくなります」 to introduce the result. Use it to refer to an action or method already mentioned instead of repeating it.
すれば
「すれば」 means “if one does so” here; together with 「そう」, it introduces the result of writing a note. It is the conditional form of する. Use it after an understood action when explaining its likely result.
届け出
「届け出」 means “report” or “notification” here, as a noun in 「届け出の内容」. The same written form appears in 「届け出ましょう」, but this line uses it to name the report itself. Use it when referring to the contents or status of a formal report.
内容
「内容」 means “contents” or “details” here, referring to what the report says. It forms 「届け出の内容」, meaning the contents of the report. Use it when referring to the contents of a message, document, or report.
分かりやすく
「分かりやすく」 means “easy to understand” or “clear” here, describing the report’s contents. It is used in 「届け出の内容が分かりやすくなります」 to show that the contents become clearer. Use it before 「なります」 to say that information becomes easier to understand.
Grammar Points
〜られたら
係の人に聞かれたら、詳しく説明して。
kah-kah-ree noh hee-toh nee hee-kah-reh-tah-rah, koo-WAH-shee-koo seh-tsu-MAY she-tehIf the staff member asks you, explain in detail.
「聞かれたら」は「聞く」の受け身＋「たら」で、「if you are asked」または「when you are asked」を表します。
〜ないでください
個人情報を伝えないでください。
koh-jeen-joh-HOH oh tsoo-TAH-eh-nai deh-koo-dah-SAIPlease do not provide personal information.
動詞のない形に「でください」を付けると、丁寧に禁止や依頼を表します。
Japanese Vocabulary
と思います
phrase
toh oh-moh-ee-MAH-soo
I think
財布を置き忘れたと思います。
ボタン
noun
boh-tahn
button
銀色
noun
geen-ee-roh
silver-colored
小さな銀色のボタンが付いています。
財布
noun
SAI-foo
wallet
財布を置き忘れたと思います。
受付
noun
oo-keh-TSOO-keh
front desk; reception desk
受付に戻って、届け出ましょう。
小さな
adj
chee-sah-nah
small
小さな銀色のボタンが付いています。
置き忘れる
verb
oh-kee-wah-SOO-reh-roo
leave behind by forgetting
置き忘れた
財布を置き忘れたと思います。
茶色
noun
chah-ee-roh
brown
茶色で、小さな銀色のボタンが付いています。
届け出
noun
toh-doh-keh-DEH
report; notification
届け出の内容が分かりやすくなります。
届け出る
verb
toh-doh-keh-DEH-roo
report; officially notify
届け出ましょう
受付に戻って、届け出ましょう。
付く
verb
tsoo-koo
be attached; be on
付いています
小さな銀色のボタンが付いています。
戻る
verb
moh-DOH-roo
go back; return
戻って
受付に戻って、届け出ましょう。
Quiz
Spelling
Tap the letters to spell the word.
I think
Show Answer
と思いますreport; officially notify
Show Answer
届け出ましょうleave behind by forgetting
Show Answer
置き忘れたbe attached; be on