About This Lesson
Use Borrowing Time at the Library to practice Japanese conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.
Dialogue
A
この本はどのくらい借りておけますか？
KOH-noh hohn-wah doh-noh KOO-rah-ee kah-REE-teh oh-KEH-mahs-kah? How long can I keep this book?
B
その紙に返却日が書いてあります。
soh-noh KAH-mee nee hen-KYAH-koo-bee gah KAH-ee-teh ah-REE-mahs. The slip shows the due date.
A
もっと時間が必要なときは、どうすればいいですか？
MOHT-toh JEE-kahn gah hee-tsoo-YOH-nah toh-KEE wah, doh-oo-soo-REH-bah EE dehs-kah? What should I do if I need more time?
B
ほかにその本を待っている人がいなければ、オンラインで貸出期間を延長できます。
hoh-KAH-nee soh-noh hohn-oh MAHT-teh ee-ROO hee-TOH gah ee-NAH-keh-REH-bah, ohn-RAH-een deh kah-SHEE-dah-shee kee-KAHN-oh en-CHOH deh-KEH-mahs. You can extend the loan online if no one else is waiting for the book.
A
家からそれができますか？
EE-eh kah-rah soh-reh gah deh-KEH-mahs-kah? Can I do that from home?
B
家から図書館のアカウントにログインしてください。
EE-eh kah-rah toh-SHOH-kahn noh ah-KAH-oon-toh nee roh-goo-EEN sheh-teh koo-dah-SAH-ee. Log in to your library account from home.
A
では、その紙を本と一緒に保管しておけばいいですね。
deh-wah, soh-noh KAH-mee oh hohn-toh ees-SHOH-nee hoh-KAHN sheh-teh oh-KEH-bah EE dehs-neh. Then I should keep the slip with the book.
B
その紙があれば、期限までに本を返却できます。
soh-noh KAH-mee gah ah-REH-bah, kee-GEHN mah-deh nee hohn-oh hen-KYAH-koo deh-KEH-mahs. It will help you return it on time.Word by Word
この
この means “this” and points to the book near the speaker in この本. It is placed before a noun, as in この本 for “this book.” You can use it when identifying a nearby or currently discussed thing, such as この問題 for “this problem.”
本
本 means “book” here, referring to the item being borrowed. In この本, it is the noun modified by この. Use 本 when talking about a book as an object, such as 本を読む for “read a book.”
は
は marks この本 as the topic of the question, so the question is about this book. It follows the topic noun or noun phrase, as in この本は. Use it to set the thing you are discussing before giving information about it.
どのくらい
どのくらい asks “how long” in この本はどのくらい借りておけますか？. It asks about the length of time the book may be kept. Use it before a phrase describing an amount or duration when asking how much or how long.
借りて
借りて means “borrow” as the first part of 借りておけますか？, where the idea is borrowing the book and keeping it. It is the form that connects 借りる to the following おけます. In a new example, 借りてください means “please borrow it,” with 借りて linking to the request.
おけます
おけます expresses that the borrowed book can be kept in the state described by 借りておく, so 借りておけますか？ asks how long it may be kept. Together with 借りて, it describes leaving the borrowing arrangement in place. This pattern is useful for asking whether something can be kept or left that way.
か
か marks この本はどのくらい借りておけますか？ as a question. It comes at the end of this polite question. Use it after a sentence when you want to ask for information or confirmation.
その
その means “that” and points to the slip already relevant in the conversation, as in その紙. It comes directly before the noun it describes. Use it when referring to something associated with the listener or something just mentioned.
紙
紙 means “paper” or “slip” here, referring to the paper that shows the return date. In その紙に返却日が書いてあります, it is the paper where the information is written. Use 紙 for a paper document or sheet, such as 紙に書く for “write on paper.”
に
に marks the paper as the place where the return-date information is written in その紙に返却日が書いてあります. Here it points to the location or surface associated with the information. Use it after a place or surface when stating that something is written or present there.
返却日
返却日 means “return date” or “due date” in その紙に返却日が書いてあります. It names the date by which the borrowed book should be returned. Use it when discussing the date for returning a library item.
が
が marks 返却日 as the information that is written in その紙に返却日が書いてあります. It identifies what exists in the written state described by 書いてあります. Use it after the specific thing you want to identify as being present or described.
書いて
書いて contributes the meaning “written” in 書いてあります, describing the return date as written on the slip. It connects with あります to describe an existing written state. Use this form in a pattern such as 紙に名前が書いてあります when information is written on paper.
あります
あります says that the written information exists in the state described by 書いてあります. In this dialogue, it tells the listener that the return date is written on the slip. This pattern is useful when pointing out information that has been written somewhere.
もっと
もっと means “more” in もっと時間が必要なときは, indicating an amount greater than the time currently available. It is placed before the noun or phrase it increases, here 時間. Use it when asking for or describing an additional amount, such as もっと時間 for “more time.”
時間
時間 means “time” here, specifically the extra time needed before returning the book. In もっと時間が必要, it is the thing that is needed. Use 時間 with expressions of need or amount, such as 時間が必要 for “time is needed.”
必要
必要 means “necessary” or “needed” in 時間が必要なとき, describing the extra time as required. It is followed by な before とき because it modifies that noun. Use 必要 when explaining that something is required for an action.
な
な links 必要 to とき in 必要なとき, making 必要 describe the time when extra time is needed. It is part of the exact form 必要な before the noun とき. Use this linking pattern when a noun-like description comes directly before a noun.
とき
とき means “when” or “the time when” in 必要なときは, introducing the situation in which more time is needed. It follows 必要な to form “when it is necessary.” Use とき after a description to state when an action or situation applies.
どうすればいい
どうすればいい means “what should I do?” or “how should I handle it?” in どうすればいいですか？. どうすれば presents the question of what action to take, and いい adds the idea of what is appropriate or acceptable. Use the whole pattern when asking for guidance about the right way to deal with a situation.
です
です gives the question どうすればいいですか？ a polite sentence ending. The main meaning “what should I do?” comes from どうすればいい, while です helps present it politely. Use it at the end of a polite statement or question before か when appropriate.
ほか
ほか means “other” or “besides” in ほかにその本を待っている人. It indicates people other than the person currently discussing the book. Use it before に or another particle when referring to something additional or other than what is already in focus.
を
を marks その本 as the object of 待っている in その本を待っている人. It shows what the waiting people are waiting for. Use it after the thing directly affected by an action, such as 本を待つ for “wait for a book.”
待って
待って means “waiting” in 待っている人, describing people who are waiting for that book. It connects with いる to describe the ongoing situation. Use this form with いる when referring to an action that is in progress.
いる
いる in 待っている人 shows that the people are currently in the state of waiting. Together, 待っている人 means “people who are waiting.” Use いる after an action form when describing an ongoing action by a person or people.
人
人 means “person” or “people” here, referring to anyone waiting for the book. In 待っている人, it is modified by the preceding description. Use 人 after a phrase when identifying a person by what they are doing or what applies to them.
いなければ
いなければ means “if there is no one” in ほかにその本を待っている人がいなければ. It gives the condition under which the loan period can be extended: no other waiting person is present. Use it after a person-related expression when stating a condition that requires someone not to be there.
オンライン
オンライン means “online” in オンラインで貸出期間を延長できます, indicating that the extension is handled through an online service. It is followed by で to mark the means or setting. Use it when describing an action completed through an internet service.
で
で marks オンライン as the means or channel used for extending the loan period in オンラインで貸出期間を延長できます. It answers how or through what medium the action is done. Use it after a tool, place, or service when stating where or by what means an action occurs.
貸出期間
貸出期間 means “loan period,” the length of time the library allows the book to be borrowed. In 貸出期間を延長できます, it is the thing that can be extended. Use it when discussing the allowed borrowing time for a library item.
延長
延長 means “extension” and in 貸出期間を延長できます it refers to making the loan period longer. It names the action applied to 貸出期間. Use it with a period, deadline, or reservation when asking or explaining that the allowed time can be made longer.
できます
できます means “can do” or “is possible” in 貸出期間を延長できます. Here it says that extending the loan period is possible under the stated condition. Use it after an action or activity when saying that it can be done.
家
家 means “home” in 家からそれができますか？ and 家から図書館のアカウントにログインしてください. It identifies home as the place from which the action is carried out. Use 家 when talking about being at or acting from one’s home.
から
から means “from” in 家から, marking home as the starting place for the action. It is used with the place from which someone acts or moves. Use it after a place when saying that an action is done from there.
それ
それ means “that” or “it” in 家からそれができますか？, referring to the extension procedure just discussed. It lets the speaker refer back to that action without repeating it. Use it when pointing to something already mentioned or understood in the conversation.
図書館
図書館 means “library” in 図書館のアカウント, identifying the organization connected to the account. It is followed by の to describe the account’s relationship to the library. Use 図書館 when referring to the library as a place or service.
の
の links 図書館 and アカウント in 図書館のアカウント, meaning “the library’s account” or “library account.” It shows the relationship between the two nouns. Use の between nouns when the first noun identifies the owner, organization, or type of the second.
アカウント
アカウント means “account” in 図書館のアカウント, referring to the user account used for library services. It is the account the listener is told to access online. Use it with a service or organization when talking about an online account.
ログイン
ログイン means “log in” in ログインしてください, referring to entering the library account online. It is followed by して and ください to make a polite request. Use it when telling someone to access an online account.
して
して connects ログイン to ください in ログインしてください, forming a polite request to log in. It contributes the action that the listener is asked to perform. Use this form before ください when politely asking someone to carry out an action.
ください
ください makes ログインしてください a polite request meaning “please log in.” It follows the action form して. Use it after an action form when asking another person to do something politely.
では
では means “then” or “well then” in では、その紙を本と一緒に保管しておけばいいですね. It marks a conclusion or next understanding based on the previous explanation. Use it when moving from what was just said to a resulting action or conclusion.
と
と links 本 and 一緒 in 本と一緒に, meaning “together with the book.” It identifies the book as the thing kept together with the slip. Use it in the pattern Aと一緒に when saying that something is done together with A.
一緒
一緒 means “together” in 本と一緒に, describing the slip and the book as being kept together. With と and に, it forms the expression 本と一緒に. Use 一緒に when saying that an action is done together with someone or something.
保管
保管 means “store” or “keep safely” in その紙を本と一緒に保管しておけばいいですね. It describes keeping the slip together with the book for later use. Use it for storing documents or other items in a place where they can be kept.
おけば
おけば is the conditional part of 保管しておけばいい, expressing that keeping the slip in that state is the appropriate preparation. Together with いい, the phrase means “it is okay if I keep it.” Use this pattern when asking or confirming what preparation should be left in place.
いい
いい means “good,” “appropriate,” or “okay” in 保管しておけばいいですね. In this construction, it evaluates the suggested action as the right thing to do, rather than describing the slip itself. Use おけばいい when saying that leaving something done is the appropriate choice.
ね
ね seeks the listener’s agreement or confirmation at the end of 保管しておけばいいですね. It makes the statement sound like “then I should keep it, right?” Use it after a statement when checking that your understanding is shared.
あれば
あれば means “if there is” or “if one has” in その紙があれば, referring to having the slip available. It introduces the condition that allows the book to be returned on time. Use it after a thing when stating that an action is possible if that thing is present or available.
期限
期限 means “deadline” or “time limit” in 期限までに, referring to the latest time for returning the book. It is the time limit that the slip helps the learner remember. Use it when talking about a deadline for completing an action.
まで
まで marks 期限 as the endpoint in 期限までに, meaning “by the deadline” or “before the time limit.” It shows the limit that the return must meet. Use it after a time or place when marking an endpoint.
返却
返却 means “return” in 本を返却できます, referring to returning the borrowed book to the library. It is the action that can be completed by the deadline. Use it when talking about returning a borrowed item or other item that should be given back.
Grammar Points
〜てあります
返却日が紙に書いてあります。
hen-KYAH-koo-bee gah KAH-mee nee KAH-ee-teh ah-REE-mahs.The due date is written on the slip of paper.
This pattern describes a result or state caused by someone’s intentional action, such as information being written and left that way.
〜ておけば
紙を保管しておけば、後で返却できます。
KAH-mee oh hoh-KAHN sheh-teh oh-KEH-bah, ah-TOH deh hen-KYAH-koo deh-KEH-mahs.If you keep the slip of paper, you can return it later.
〜ておけば means “if you keep or do something in advance,” emphasizing preparation for a later situation.
Japanese Vocabulary
どうすればいいですか
phrase
doh-oo-soo-REH-bah EE dehs-kah
what should I do
どのくらい
adv
doh-noh KOO-rah-ee
how long
ほかに
adv
hoh-KAH-nee
else; other
もっと
adv
MOHT-toh
more
紙
noun
KAH-mee
slip; piece of paper
時間
noun
JEE-kahn
time
借りておけます
verb
kah-REE-teh oh-KEH-mahs
can keep borrowed
書いてあります
verb
KAH-ee-teh ah-REE-mahs
is written
待っている
verb
MAHT-teh ee-ROO
be waiting
必要な
adj
hee-tsoo-YOH-nah
necessary; needed
返却日
noun
hen-KYAH-koo-bee
due date; return date
本
noun
hohn
book
Quiz
Spelling
Tap the letters to spell the word.
can keep borrowed
Show Answer
借りておけますhow long
Show Answer
どのくらいis written
Show Answer
書いてありますbe waiting