Making a Short Phone Call Before a Meeting | Learn Japanese in English

Japanese lesson set in a contemporary Tokyo everyday setting: Before a meeting, one adult steps into the hallway for a private phone call while another saves the seat and notes..

EN → JA / Level: A2

About This Lesson

Use Making a Short Phone Call Before a Meeting to practice Japanese conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

A

私は短い電話をかける必要があります。

wah-TAH-shee wah mee-jee-KAH-ee DEN-wah oh kah-KEH-roo hee-TSOO-yoh gah ah-ree-MAHSS I need to make a short phone call.
B

人に聞かれたくないなら、廊下を使ってもいいです。

HEE-toh nee kee-kah-reh-tah-koo NAH-ee nah-rah, ROH-kah oh tsoo-KAHT-teh moh EE dehss You can use the hallway if you need privacy.
A

みんなの邪魔をしたくありません。

MEEN-nah noh jah-MAH oh shee-TAH-koo ah-ree-mah-SEN I don't want to disturb everyone.
B

今、廊下は静かなはずです。

ee-MAH, ROH-kah wah shee-ZOO-kah-nah hah-zoo dehss It should be quiet out there right now.
A

私は会議が始まる前に戻ります。

wah-TAH-shee wah KAH-ee-gee gah hah-jee-MAH-roo MAH-eh nee moh-doh-ree-MAHSS I'll return before the meeting starts.
B

それで大丈夫です。まだ十分な時間があります。

soh-reh-deh dah-ee-JOH-boo dehss. mah-DAH JOO-boon-nah JEE-kahn gah ah-ree-MAHSS That works. We still have enough time.
A

私が電話をかけている間、私の席を取っておいてください。

wah-TAH-shee gah DEN-wah oh kah-KEH-teh ee-roo ah-EE-dah, wah-TAH-shee noh SEH-kee oh toh-T-teh oh-EE-teh koo-DAH-sah-ee Please save my seat while I call.
B

あなたのメモはここに置いておきます。

ah-NAH-tah noh MEH-moh wah KOH-koh nee oh-EE-teh oh-kee-MAHSS I'll keep your notes here.

Word by Word

私 私 refers to the speaker: “I” or “me.” In this dialogue it appears as 私は, 私が, and 私の, showing the speaker, the subject, or the owner of something. The form 私の席 is a reusable way to identify the speaker’s seat.
は は marks 私 as the topic in 私は短い電話をかける必要があります. It presents the speaker as the person whose need is being discussed. A reusable pattern is 私は followed by information about the speaker.
短い 短い describes the phone call as short in 短い電話. It comes directly before the noun it describes. A reusable pattern is an adjective such as 短い followed by a noun.
電話 電話 means “phone call” in 電話をかける. Here it is the thing being made, rather than the device itself. 電話をかける is a reusable expression for making a phone call.
を を marks 電話 as the object of かける in 電話をかける. It shows what the calling action is directed toward. A reusable pattern is a noun followed by を and an action verb.
かける かける means “make a phone call” in 電話をかける. Together with 電話を, it describes the action A needs to perform. 電話をかける is a reusable pattern for making a call.
必要 必要 names the need or necessity in かける必要があります, meaning that making the call is necessary. The preceding action, かける, identifies what is needed. A reusable pattern is a verb followed by 必要があります when an action is necessary.
が が marks 必要 as the thing that exists in かける必要があります. The construction says that a need exists for making the call. A reusable pattern is a noun followed by がある or がありません when talking about its existence.
あります あります says that the need exists in かける必要があります. In this dialogue, it completes the polite expression for saying that an action is necessary. A reusable pattern is nounがあります for saying that something exists or is available.
人 人 means “person” or “people” in 人に聞かれたくない. It identifies the people from whom the speaker does not want to be heard. 人に can be reused when identifying a person connected to an action.
に に marks 人 as the people by whom the speaker does not want to be heard in 人に聞かれたくない. Its meaning here depends on the surrounding expression, not on に alone. A reusable pattern is a person followed by に in expressions describing an action involving that person.
聞かれたくない 聞かれたくない means “do not want to be heard” in 人に聞かれたくない. It explains why the speaker may choose the hallway: the speaker wants privacy from other people. This form is useful when saying that you do not want someone to hear what you are saying.
なら なら introduces a condition in 人に聞かれたくないなら, meaning “if you do not want to be heard by people.” It connects that condition to the suggestion to use the hallway. A reusable pattern is a statement followed by なら to respond to or set up a condition.
廊下 廊下 means “hallway” in 廊下を使ってもいいです. It is the place B suggests for the private phone call. A reusable pattern is 廊下を使う when talking about using the hallway.
使って 使って means “use” as part of the permission expression 廊下を使ってもいいです. It links the action of using the hallway to the statement that the action is acceptable. The pattern verbて形もいいです is reusable for asking or giving permission.
も も is part of 使ってもいいです, where it helps form the meaning “may use” or “it is okay to use.” It does not by itself mean that the whole action is permitted. A reusable pattern is verbて形もいいです for permission.
いい いい means “okay” or “acceptable” in 使ってもいいです. Together with も, it says that using the hallway is acceptable. A reusable pattern is verbて形もいいです when an action is allowed.
です です gives 使ってもいいです a polite sentence ending. It makes the permission statement suitable for this polite conversation. A reusable pattern is a polite statement ending in です.
みんな みんな means “everyone” in みんなの邪魔をしたくありません. It refers to all the people in the meeting area whom A does not want to disturb. A reusable pattern is みんなの followed by something associated with everyone.
の の connects みんな with 邪魔 in みんなの邪魔, showing that the disturbance concerns everyone. It links one noun to another in a relationship such as possession or association. A reusable pattern is nounのnoun.
邪魔 邪魔 means a disturbance or interference in みんなの邪魔をしたくありません. With をする, 邪魔をする describes disturbing or getting in someone’s way. A reusable pattern is 邪魔をする when an action interferes with other people.
したくありません したくありません means “do not want to do” in 邪魔をしたくありません. With 邪魔を, it says that A does not want to disturb everyone. A reusable pattern is a verb stem followed by たくありません to express that the speaker does not want to do something.
今 今 means “now” in 今、廊下は静かなはずです. It places the expected quietness in the present time. A reusable pattern is 今 followed by a statement about the current situation.
静か 静か describes the hallway as quiet in 廊下は静かなはずです. The form 静かな appears before はず because it describes the expected state of the hallway. A reusable pattern is 静かな followed by a noun, or 静かです at the end of a polite statement.
な な links 静か to はず in 静かなはずです. It allows 静か to describe the expected state expressed by はず. A reusable pattern is a な-adjective followed by な before a noun-like expression.
はず はず expresses an expectation in 静かなはずです: the hallway is expected to be quiet now. It presents B’s reasonable belief about the situation, not a request. A reusable pattern is a noun or adjective followed by はずです when something is expected.
会議 会議 means “meeting” in 会議が始まる前に. It identifies the event whose beginning sets the time for A’s return. A reusable pattern is 会議が始まる when referring to a meeting beginning.
始まる 始まる means “start” or “begin” in 会議が始まる. It describes the meeting beginning. A reusable pattern is an event followed by が始まる.
前 前 means “before” in 会議が始まる前に. It places A’s return earlier than the meeting’s start. A reusable pattern is a verb in its plain form followed by 前に for “before doing something.”
戻ります 戻ります means “will return” in 会議が始まる前に戻ります. A uses it to promise to come back before the meeting starts. A reusable pattern is a place or time expression followed by 戻ります when saying that someone will return.
それ それ refers to the proposed arrangement in それで大丈夫です: A’s plan to make the call and return before the meeting. It points to something already mentioned rather than naming it again. A reusable pattern is それで followed by a judgment about that plan.
で で connects それ with 大丈夫 in それで大丈夫です, giving the sense “with that arrangement” or “that way.” It shows what arrangement is being accepted. The exact expression それで大丈夫です is reusable for confirming that a proposed plan is acceptable.
大丈夫 大丈夫 means “all right” or “acceptable” in それで大丈夫です. B uses it to approve A’s plan. A reusable expression is それで大丈夫です when confirming that an arrangement works.
まだ まだ means “still” in まだ十分な時間があります. It shows that enough time remains at this point. A reusable pattern is まだ followed by a statement about something that continues to be available or true.
十分 十分 means “enough” or “sufficient” in 十分な時間があります. It describes the amount of time as adequate for the phone call. A reusable pattern is 十分な followed by a noun such as 時間.
時間 時間 means “time” in 十分な時間があります. It is the resource B says is still available. A reusable pattern is 時間があります for saying that there is time.
かけて かけて is the form of かける used in 電話をかけている間. It identifies the calling action that is in progress while B keeps the seat. A reusable pattern is 電話をかけている when describing someone currently making a call.
いる いる helps show an ongoing action in 電話をかけている間. Together with かけて, it indicates that the phone call is in progress. A reusable pattern is verbている for an action that is currently continuing.
間 間 means “while” or “during” in 電話をかけている間. It covers the period in which A is making the call and B saves the seat. A reusable pattern is a clause followed by 間 to describe what happens during that period.
席 席 means “seat” in 私の席を取っておいてください. It is the place A asks B to keep available. A reusable pattern is 私の席 when identifying the speaker’s seat.
取って 取って contributes the action of securing or taking the seat in 私の席を取っておいてください. Together with おいてください, it asks B to reserve the seat while A is away. A reusable pattern is a verbて-form followed by おいてください for a request to arrange something in advance or leave it that way.
おいて おいて contributes the idea of leaving the seat secured in 取っておいてください. Together with 取って, it makes the request mean “save the seat” for later use. A reusable pattern is verbておく when something is done in advance or kept in a certain state.
ください ください makes 取っておいてください a polite request. Here A asks B to save the seat during the call. A reusable pattern is verbてください for politely asking someone to do something.
あなた あなた refers to the other person in あなたのメモ, identifying whose notes are being kept. It is linked to メモ by の. A reusable pattern is あなたの followed by a noun when explicitly identifying something belonging or relating to the listener.
メモ メモ means “notes” or “memo” in あなたのメモ. It is the item B promises to keep here. A reusable pattern is メモを置く when talking about putting notes somewhere.
ここ ここ means “here” in ここに置いておきます. It identifies the place where B will leave the notes. A reusable pattern is ここに followed by an action describing what is done at this place.
置いて 置いて means “put” or “leave” as part of ここに置いておきます. It links placing the notes with おきます, which adds the idea of leaving them there. A reusable pattern is an object followed by a placeに置く when putting something in a location.
おきます おきます indicates that the notes will be left or kept in place in ここに置いておきます. It presents the arrangement as something B will take care of while A is making the call. A reusable pattern is verbておきます for doing something in advance or leaving something ready for later.

Grammar Points

〜てもいいです

廊下を使ってもいいです。

ROH-kah oh tsoo-KAHT-teh moh EE dehss

You may use the hallway.

Attach てもいいです to the て-form to ask for or give permission.

〜ておく

私の席を取っておいてください。

wah-TAH-shee noh SEH-kee oh toh-T-teh oh-EE-teh koo-DAH-sah-ee

Please save my seat.

〜ておく means doing something in advance or keeping something in a certain state.

Japanese Vocabulary

はず noun
hah-zoo should; expected to はずです
みんな pron
MEEN-nah everyone みんなの
今 adv
EE-mah now
使う verb
tsoo-KAH-oo use 使ってもいいです
邪魔をする phrase
jah-MAH oh soo-ROO disturb; get in the way 邪魔をしたくありません
人 noun
HEE-toh person; people 人に
静かな adj
shee-ZOO-kah-nah quiet 静かなはずです
短い adj
mee-jee-KAH-ee short

短い電話

電話をかける phrase
DEN-wah oh kah-KEH-roo make a phone call
必要 noun
hee-TSOO-yoh need 必要があります
聞かれたくない verb
kee-kah-reh-tah-koo-NAH-ee do not want to be heard
廊下 noun
ROH-kah hallway 廊下を

Quiz

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

make a phone call

Show Answer電話をかける

need

Show Answer必要があります

everyone

Show Answerみんなの

do not want to be heard

Show Answer聞かれたくない