About This Lesson
Use Finding a quiet place to work in a library to practice Japanese conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.
Dialogue
A
静かに作業できる場所はありますか。
shee-ZOO-kah nee sah-GYOH deh-KEE-roo bah-SHOH wah ah-ree-MAHS kah Is there a quiet area where I can work?
B
2階の左側に、静かに勉強できる机があります。
nee-KAI noh hee-dah-ree-GAH-wah nee, shee-ZOO-kah nee ben-KYOH deh-KEE-roo tsoo-KWEH gah ah-ree-MAHS There are desks for quiet study upstairs on the left.
A
そこで短い電話をしてもいいですか。
soh-KOH-deh mee-jee-KAI DEN-wah oh shee-teh-MOH EE deh-SOO kah Could I take a short call there?
B
その机は静かな勉強専用です。
SOH-noh tsoo-KWEH wah shee-ZOO-kah-nah ben-KYOH sen-YOH deh-SOO Those desks are only for silent study.
A
では、別の場所で電話します。
deh-WAH beh-TSOO noh bah-SHOH deh DEN-wah shee-MAHS I'll take phone calls somewhere else, then.
B
ロビーのほうが電話に向いています。
roh-BEE noh HOH-gah DEN-wah nee MOO-ee-teh ee-MAHS The lobby is better for calls.
A
2階の机で大丈夫です。
nee-KAI noh tsoo-KWEH deh dyee-JOH-boo deh-SOO An upstairs desk will work for me.
B
午後は、たいてい静かです。
goh-GOH wah TAI-teh-ee shee-ZOO-kah deh-SOO It is usually calm in the afternoon.Word by Word
静かに
静かに means “quietly” here and describes how the person can work or study. It is the adverb form used before an action such as 静かに作業できる or 静かに勉強できる. Use it when describing an action carried out without noise, especially in a library or study area.
作業
作業 means work or tasks here, referring to the learner’s work in 静かに作業できる場所. It commonly appears before する to describe doing work, or with できる to describe work that can be done. You would use it when explaining what you need a place or time to do.
できる
できる means “can” or “be able to” in 静かに作業できる場所, so it describes work that is possible in that place. Here it follows the action 静かに作業 and modifies 場所. Use this pattern when asking about a place where a particular activity is possible.
場所
場所 means place or location here, specifically a place where quiet work is possible. In 静かに作業できる場所, the phrase before it explains what kind of place it is. Use it when asking for or identifying a location for an activity.
は
は marks 場所 as the topic in 場所はありますか, making the question about whether such a place exists. It follows the topic and sets up the information being asked about. This pattern is useful when asking whether a particular thing or place is available.
あります
あります politely says that a place or desks exist or are available, as in 場所はありますか and 机があります. It is used here for non-living things such as a place or desk. Use it when asking or answering about the existence or availability of something.
か
か turns the polite statement ending あります into the question 場所はありますか. It signals that the speaker is asking for information. You would use it at the end of a polite question when asking a library worker or another person for help.
2階
2階 means the second floor in 2階の左側 and 2階の机. The number and 階 together identify a floor of a building. Use it when giving or asking for a location inside a building.
の
の links 2階 to 左側 and 2階 to 机, showing that the left side or desk is associated with the second floor. It connects a place or description to the noun that follows. This pattern is useful for giving locations such as 2階の左側.
左側
左側 means the left side here, identifying the direction of the quiet-study desks on the second floor. In 2階の左側, it specifies which part of that floor to look at. Use it when directing someone toward the left-hand side of a space.
に
に marks the location where the desks exist in 2階の左側に、机があります. It places something at a particular location. Use it with あります when saying that an object or facility is located somewhere.
勉強
勉強 means study here, referring to studying quietly at the desks in 静かに勉強できる机. It names the activity that the desks are suitable for. Use it when describing study as an activity, including in a library context.
机
机 means desk here, specifically a desk for quiet study and an upstairs desk that works for the speaker. It can be described by a phrase before it, as in 静かに勉強できる机. You would use it when asking about or choosing a desk for studying or working.
が
が marks 机 as the thing that exists in 机があります. It identifies the subject of the existence statement. Use it with あります when stating that a particular object or set of objects is present.
そこ
そこ means there, referring to the desks or place just mentioned in the question そこで短い電話をしてもいいですか. It points to a location already understood from the conversation. Use it when referring back to a nearby or previously mentioned place.
で
で marks the place where the action happens in そこで短い電話をしてもいいですか. It connects the location そこ with the action of making a call. Use it after a place when saying where an activity takes place.
短い
短い means short here and describes the phone call in 短い電話. It comes directly before 電話 to describe its length or limited duration. Use it before a noun when you need to describe something as short.
電話
電話 means a phone call or telephone here, as in 短い電話をしてもいいですか and 別の場所で電話します. In the first expression it is the object of して, while in the second it names the action of making a call. Use it when discussing phone calls or where calls may be made.
を
を marks 電話 as the object of して in 短い電話をしてもいいですか. It shows what action the speaker is doing. Use it after a noun that is acted on with a verb such as する.
して
して is the form used in 電話をして, meaning “do” as part of making a phone call. Together with 電話, it expresses the action of making a call. Use 電話をして when referring to making a phone call within a longer expression.
も
も is part of the permission expression 電話をしてもいいですか. It contributes the sense of “even” or “also” within that construction, while いい expresses that the action is acceptable. Use this pattern when politely asking whether an action is allowed.
いい
いい means “okay” or “acceptable” in 電話をしてもいいですか. Together with しても and ですか, it asks whether making a call is permitted. Use it in this construction when requesting permission politely.
です
です provides a polite ending in 電話をしてもいいですか and 静かな勉強専用です. In the question it makes the permission request polite, and in the statement it gives a polite description. Use it at the end of a polite sentence or description.
その
その means “those” or “that” here and points to the desks already mentioned in the conversation. It comes directly before 机 in その机. Use it before a noun when referring to a specific thing known from the context.
静かな
静かな means quiet here and describes 勉強 in 静かな勉強専用です. This is the form of 静か used directly before a noun. Use it before a noun when describing a quiet place, activity, or environment.
専用
専用 means designated exclusively for a particular use, here stating that the desks are for silent study only in 静かな勉強専用です. It identifies the permitted purpose of the desks. Use it when explaining that a place, item, or space is reserved for one specific purpose.
では
では means “then” or “in that case” in では、別の場所で電話します. The で sets the situation, and は brings that situation forward as the topic; together they introduce the speaker’s decision based on the previous information. Use it at the start of a response when choosing what to do next.
別
別 means different or another here, in 別の場所で電話します. With の, it describes a place different from the desks just discussed. Use 別の場所 when saying that an activity will happen somewhere else.
します
します means “will do” here and expresses the speaker’s decision to make a phone call in 別の場所で電話します. The noun 電話 supplies the action, and します makes it a polite verb expression. Use it when stating a polite intention or planned action.
ロビー
ロビー means lobby here, the area recommended as a better place for phone calls in ロビーのほうが電話に向いています. It identifies a specific area of the library. You would use it when directing someone to the entrance or a more suitable public area.
ほう
ほう means “side” or “option” in the comparison ロビーのほうが電話に向いています. With が, it marks the lobby as the option that is more suitable for calls. Use this pattern when comparing two places or choices and saying which one is better for a purpose.
向いて
向いて means “suited” or “suitable” here in 電話に向いています. The pattern に向いています describes something as appropriate for a particular activity or purpose. Use it when recommending a place or item for a specific use.
います
います completes 向いています and presents the lobby as being in a suitable state for phone calls. It is part of the polite expression 電話に向いています, rather than meaning “exists” by itself here. Use this expression when describing something as suitable for a purpose.
大丈夫
大丈夫 means “okay” or “fine” in 2階の机で大丈夫です, so the speaker says that an upstairs desk will work for them. With で, it identifies the chosen option as sufficient or acceptable. Use it when confirming that a place, choice, or arrangement is suitable for you.
午後
午後 means afternoon here, identifying the time when the library is usually calm in 午後は、たいてい静かです. It is followed by は because the sentence focuses on the afternoon. Use it when talking about an activity or condition during the afternoon.
たいてい
たいてい means usually or generally in 午後は、たいてい静かです. It indicates that the library is calm during the afternoon in most ordinary cases, without saying that it is always calm. Use it before a description or action when talking about what normally happens.
静か
静か means quiet or calm here, describing the usual condition of the library in 午後は、たいてい静かです. It functions as the main description after です. Use it when describing a place or environment with little noise or activity.
Grammar Points
〜できます
そこで静かに作業できます。
soh-KOH-deh shee-ZOO-kah nee sah-GYOH deh-KEE-MAHSYou can work quietly there.
「できます」は、何かをする能力や可能性を表します。動詞の前に置いて「can do」の意味になります。
〜に向いています
ここは勉強に向いています。
KOH-koh wah ben-KYOH nee MOO-ee-teh ee-MAHSThis place is suitable for studying.
「〜に向いています」は、人や場所が特定の目的に適していることを表します。
Japanese Vocabulary
2階
noun
nee-KAI
second floor
2階の左側に、静かに勉強できる机があります。
そこで
adv
soh-KOH-deh
there
そこで短い電話をしてもいいですか。
机
noun
tsoo-KWEH
desk
2階の左側に、静かに勉強できる机があります。
左側
noun
hee-dah-ree-GAH-wah
left side
2階の左側に、静かに勉強できる机があります。
作業できる
verb
sah-GYOH deh-KEE-roo
can work
静かに作業できる場所はありますか。
場所
noun
bah-SHOH
place
静かに作業できる場所はありますか。
静かに
adv
shee-ZOO-kah nee
quietly
静かに作業できる場所はありますか。
専用
noun
sen-YOH
exclusively for
その机は静かな勉強専用です。
短い
adj
mee-jee-KAI
short
そこで短い電話をしてもいいですか。
電話
noun
DEN-wah
phone call
そこで短い電話をしてもいいですか。
別の
adj
beh-TSOO noh
another
では、別の場所で電話します。
勉強できる
verb
ben-KYOH deh-KEE-roo
can study
2階の左側に、静かに勉強できる机があります。
Quiz
Spelling
Tap the letters to spell the word.
can study
Show Answer
勉強できるcan work
Show Answer
作業できるshort
Show Answer
短いexclusively for