About This Lesson
Use Using the Library Printer to practice Japanese conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.
Dialogue
A
図書館のプリンターはどうやって使いますか？
toh-shoh-KAHN noh poo-rin-TAH wa DOH yat-teh tsu-kah-ee-MAHS kah? How do I use the printer in the library?
B
まず、この画面でプリンターを選んでください。
MAH-zoo, KOH-noh gah-MEN deh poo-rin-TAH o eh-RAHN-deh KOO-dah-SAI. First, choose the printer on this screen.
A
両面印刷を選べますか？
ryoh-men een-SAHT-soo o eh-rah-beh-MAHS kah? Can I choose double-sided printing?
B
印刷する前に設定を変えてください。
een-SAHT-soo soo-roo mah-eh nee set-TAI o kah-eh-teh KOO-dah-SAI. Change the setting before you print.
A
短い文書を一つ印刷するだけです。
mee-jee-KAI boohn-SHOH o hee-TOHT-soo een-SAHT-soo soo-roo dah-keh dess. I only need to print a short document.
B
では、始める前にプレビューを確認してください。
deh-WAH, hah-jee-meh-roo mah-eh nee poo-reh-BYOO o kah-koo-NEEN shee-teh KOO-dah-SAI. Then check the preview before you start.
A
印刷したページはどこから出てきますか？
een-SAHT-soo shee-tah PAY-jee wa DOH-koh kah-rah deh-teh-kee-MAHS kah? Where do the printed pages come out?
B
下のトレイに出てきます。
SHEE-tah noh toh-RAY nee deh-teh-kee-MAHS. They come out in the tray below.Word by Word
図書館
図書館 means “library” in 図書館のプリンターはどうやって使いますか？. It identifies the place associated with the printer. A common reuse pattern is a place noun followed by の and another noun.
の
In 図書館のプリンター, の links 図書館 to プリンター and shows their relationship: the printer in or associated with the library. It connects one noun to the following noun. This noun + の + noun pattern is useful for describing places, ownership, or affiliation.
プリンター
プリンター means “printer” in 図書館のプリンター and refers to the machine being used. It is also the item selected in この画面でプリンターを選んでください. You can use it as the object of actions such as selecting or using a printer.
は
In 図書館のプリンターはどうやって使いますか？, は marks 図書館のプリンター as the topic of the question. The question is about how to use that printer. A common reuse pattern is to place は after the topic being discussed.
どうやって
どうやって asks “how” or “by what method” in 図書館のプリンターはどうやって使いますか？. どう supplies the idea of “how,” and やって completes the expression for asking how an action is carried out. It is useful before an action when asking for instructions or a method.
使います
使います means “use” in 図書館のプリンターはどうやって使いますか？. It is the polite form used to ask how the printer is operated, related to the citation form 使う. A common reuse pattern is an object followed by を and 使います.
か
At the end of 図書館のプリンターはどうやって使いますか？, か marks the sentence as a question. It turns the polite statement into a request for information. It is commonly placed at the end of a polite question.
まず
まず means “first” in まず、この画面でプリンターを選んでください。. It presents selecting the printer as the first step in the instructions. It is useful when giving steps in order.
この
この means “this” in この画面でプリンターを選んでください。. It points to the screen that is near or relevant to the speaker. この comes before the noun it describes, as in この画面.
画面
画面 means “screen” in この画面でプリンターを選んでください。. It identifies where the printer choice is displayed. It can be used after a demonstrative such as この to refer to a particular screen.
で
In この画面でプリンターを選んでください。, で marks the screen as the place or setting where the selection happens. It also appears as part of では in では、始める前に..., where the whole form では introduces “then” or “in that case”; that transition is not the meaning of で alone. A common reuse pattern is a place followed by で and an action.
選んで
選んで means “choose” or “select” in この画面でプリンターを選んでください。. It is the form of 選ぶ that connects the selection action to ください. The form is useful in the polite request pattern seen in 選んでください.
ください
ください makes 選んでください a polite request to select the printer. The request meaning comes from the whole expression, while ください adds the polite “please” force. A common reuse pattern is a verb in the て-form followed by ください.
両面
両面 means “both sides” in 両面印刷を選べますか？. Here it specifies printing on both sides of the paper. It is useful before 印刷 when selecting a double-sided printing option.
印刷
印刷 means “printing” in 両面印刷を選べますか？ and forms the verb 印刷する, meaning “to print,” in 印刷する前に設定を変えてください。. It names the printing action or option in this dialogue. A common reuse pattern is an object followed by を and 印刷する.
を
を marks the object of an action in 両面印刷を選べますか？ and 短い文書を一つ印刷するだけです。. It shows what is being selected or printed. A common reuse pattern places を after the thing affected by the verb.
選べます
選べます means “can choose” or “can select” in 両面印刷を選べますか？. It asks whether the double-sided option is available to choose, and it is related to the verb 選ぶ. A useful question pattern is an option followed by を and 選べますか？.
する
In 印刷する, する supplies the action part that makes 印刷 mean “to print.” The complete meaning comes from the compound 印刷する, not from する alone. This form appears before 前に in 印刷する前に設定を変えてください。.
前
前 means “before” in 印刷する前に and 始める前に. It places the following action before printing or starting. A common reuse pattern is an action in the plain form followed by 前に.
に
In 印刷する前に and 始める前に, に marks the time point before which another action should happen. It connects the “before” phrase to the requested action. This timing pattern is useful for giving instructions about what to do before an event.
設定
設定 means “setting” in 印刷する前に設定を変えてください。. It refers to a printer option that should be changed before printing. It commonly appears as the object in 設定を変えてください.
変えて
変えて means “change” in 印刷する前に設定を変えてください。. It is the form of 変える that connects the instruction to ください. The dialogue shows it in the reusable request pattern 設定を変えてください.
短い
短い means “short” in 短い文書を一つ印刷するだけです。. It describes the length of the document. It comes directly before the noun it modifies, as in 短い文書.
文書
文書 means “document” in 短い文書を一つ印刷するだけです。. It identifies the short document that the speaker needs to print. In this dialogue it appears as the object within 短い文書を一つ印刷する.
だけ
In 一つ印刷するだけです, だけ limits the statement to “only” or “just” printing one item. The full limitation comes from the whole phrase, not from だけ alone. A common reuse pattern is a quantity or action followed by だけです.
です
In 一つ印刷するだけです, です gives the statement a polite ending and presents the preceding limitation as a polite assertion. It is used here after だけ to say that this is all the speaker needs. It can politely end a simple statement or identification.
始める
始める means “start” in 始める前にプレビューを確認してください。. It identifies the action that should happen only after the preview has been checked. It appears before 前に in the pattern for doing something before starting.
プレビュー
プレビュー means “preview” in 始める前にプレビューを確認してください。. It refers to the on-screen view that should be checked before starting the print job. In this dialogue it is the object of プレビューを確認してください.
確認
確認 means “check” or “confirm” in プレビューを確認してください。. The whole expression asks the listener to check the preview before starting. A reliable reuse pattern is to place the item before を and use the request form seen in プレビューを確認してください.
した
In 印刷したページ, した marks the printing as completed before ページ, giving the meaning “pages that were printed.” It is the past form of する within 印刷する. This form can come before a noun to identify something on which an action has been completed.
ページ
ページ means “page” in 印刷したページ. It refers to the pages produced by the printer. The dialogue uses it with the description 印刷した to identify the printed pages.
どこ
どこ means “where” in 印刷したページはどこから出てきますか？. It asks about the place or point from which the printed pages emerge. It is useful in questions about a location or source.
から
In どこから出てきますか？, から marks the point or place something comes from. Here it asks from where the printed pages come out. It commonly follows a location word in a source expression such as どこから.
出てきます
出てきます means “come out” in 印刷したページはどこから出てきますか？ and 下のトレイに出てきます。. 出て connects to きます, and together they describe the pages emerging from the printer. This expression is useful when asking or explaining where something comes out.
下
下 means “below” or “underneath” in 下のトレイに出てきます。. It locates the tray beneath the relevant printer area. It comes before のトレイ to describe which tray is meant.
トレイ
トレイ means “tray” in 下のトレイに出てきます。. It identifies the part of the printer where the printed pages appear. In this dialogue it is specified by 下の and marked as the destination with に.
Grammar Points
動詞て形＋ください
画面で両面印刷を選んでください。
gah-MEN deh ryoh-men een-SAHT-soo o eh-RAHN-deh KOO-dah-SAI.Please select double-sided printing on the screen.
Use the て-form plus ください to make a polite request. For example, 選ぶ becomes 選んでください.
どうやって＋動詞
図書館のプリンターをどうやって使いますか。
toh-shoh-KAHN noh poo-rin-TAH o DOH yat-teh tsu-kah-ee-MAHS kah.How do you use the library printer?
どうやって asks how to do something and comes before the verb.
Japanese Vocabulary
どうやって
adv
DOH yat-teh
how
どうやって使いますか?
プリンター
noun
poo-rin-TAH
printer
図書館のプリンター
まず
adv
MAH-zoo
first
まず、この画面で
印刷する
verb
een-SAHT-soo soo-ROO
to print
印刷する前に
画面
noun
gah-MEN
screen
この画面で
使う
verb
tsu-KAH-oo
to use
使います
どうやって使いますか?
図書館
noun
toh-shoh-KAHN
library
図書館のプリンター
設定
noun
set-TAI
setting
設定を変えてください。
選ぶ
verb
eh-RAH-boo
to choose; to select
選んでください
プリンターを選んでください。
短い
adj
mee-jee-KAI
short
短い文書
変える
verb
kah-EH-roo
to change
変えてください
設定を変えてください。
両面印刷
noun
ryoh-men een-SAHT-soo
double-sided printing
両面印刷を選べますか?
Quiz
Spelling
Tap the letters to spell the word.
to use
Show Answer
使いますhow
Show Answer
どうやってprinter
Show Answer
プリンターdouble-sided printing