Renewing a Library Book | Learn Japanese in English

Japanese lesson set in a contemporary Tokyo everyday setting: At a library desk, one person asks how to renew a borrowed book when their online account is not working..

EN → JA / Level: A2

About This Lesson

Use Renewing a Library Book to practice Japanese conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

A

借りた本の貸出期間を延長したいです。

kah-REE-tah HOHN noh kah-shee-DAH-shee kee-KAHN oh en-CHOH shee-TAI dess. I'd like to renew a book I borrowed.
B

オンラインアカウントから延長できます。

ohn-RAI-n ah-KOWN-toh kah-RAH en-CHOH deh-kee-MAHSS. You can renew it through your online account.
A

今日はアカウントにログインできません。

KYOO wah ah-KOWN-toh nee roh-GOO-een deh-kee-mah-SEN. I can't get into my account today.
B

カウンターでお手伝いできます。

KOWN-tah deh oh-teh-TSOO-dye deh-kee-MAHSS. We can help you at the desk.
A

図書館カードが必要ですか。

toh-shoh-KAHN KAH-doh gah hee-tsoo-YOH dess kah. Do I need my library card?
B

利用記録を確認するために、カードを持ってきてください。

ree-YOH kee-roh-KOO oh kah-KOO-neen soo-roo TAH-meh nee, KAH-doh oh MOHT-teh kee-teh koo-dah-SAI. Bring your card so we can find your record.
A

その後、今日中に本の貸出期間を延長できますか。

soh-noh AH-toh, KYOO-joo nee HOHN noh kah-shee-DAH-shee kee-KAHN oh en-CHOH deh-kee-MAHSS kah. Can I renew the book today after that?
B

ほかの人がその本を予約していなければ、できます。

HOH-kah noh HEE-toh gah soh-noh HOHN oh yoh-YAH-koo shee-teh ee-nah-keh-REH-bah, deh-kee-MAHSS. You can, unless someone else has requested it.

Word by Word

借りた 借りた means “borrowed” in 借りた本の貸出期間を延長したいです。. It describes the book the speaker borrowed and is useful before a noun when identifying something by an earlier action.
本 本 means “book” in 借りた本の貸出期間を延長したいです。. It is used as the object whose loan period the speaker wants to extend, and it is useful after a description such as 借りた.
の の links 借りた本 to 貸出期間 in 借りた本の貸出期間を延長したいです。, showing that the loan period is connected with the borrowed book. This linking pattern is useful between two noun phrases.
貸出 貸出 refers to lending or a loan in 借りた本の貸出期間を延長したいです。. Together with 期間, it identifies the period for which the library lends the book, so the full noun phrase is used when discussing library loans.
期間 期間 means “period” in 借りた本の貸出期間を延長したいです。. Here it refers to the length of the book loan, and it is useful after a noun that specifies what kind of period is meant.
を を marks 貸出期間 as the thing being extended in 貸出期間を延長したいです。. This particle is useful after the object of an action.
延長 延長 means “extend” or “renew” in 貸出期間を延長したいです。. Here it refers specifically to extending the lending period, and the pattern 延長したいです is useful for politely saying that you want to extend something.
したい したい expresses the speaker’s wish to do the action in 貸出期間を延長したいです。. It follows 延長 to mean “want to extend,” and this form is useful when politely stating a desired action.
です です gives the ending したいです a polite tone in 貸出期間を延長したいです。. It is useful when expressing a wish in a polite conversation, such as a request at a library desk.
オンライン オンライン means “online” in オンラインアカウントから延長できます。. It specifies that the account is accessed through the internet, and it is useful before a noun to describe an online service or account.
アカウント アカウント means “account” in オンラインアカウントから延長できます。. Here it is the account used to renew the book, and it is useful with a service or system that stores a user’s information.
から から means “from” or “via” in オンラインアカウントから延長できます。. It shows that the renewal is done through the online account, and this use is helpful for identifying the source or route of an action.
できます できます means “can” or “is possible” in オンラインアカウントから延長できます。. It states that renewal is possible through the account, and it is useful after an action to say that someone can do it.
今日 今日 means “today” in 今日はアカウントにログインできません。. It identifies the current day as the time when the account cannot be accessed, and it is useful with は when setting the time as the topic.
は は makes 今日 the topic in 今日はアカウントにログインできません。. The sentence is therefore about what is possible today, and this particle is useful after a time expression when setting a time frame.
に に marks アカウント as the place or destination of access in アカウントにログインできません。. It shows where the speaker is trying to log in, and this use is helpful with an account or system being accessed.
ログイン ログイン means “log in” in アカウントにログインできません。. It names the action the speaker is unable to complete, and it is useful with an account or online service.
できません できません means “cannot” or “is unable to” in アカウントにログインできません。. It expresses that logging in is not possible today, and it is useful after an action when politely reporting inability.
カウンター カウンター means “service desk” or “counter” in カウンターでお手伝いできます。. It identifies the place where the library staff can help, and it is useful for referring to a service point in a public facility.
で で marks カウンター as the place where help can be provided in カウンターでお手伝いできます。. This place-marking use is useful for saying where an action or service takes place.
お手伝い お手伝い means “help” or “assistance” in カウンターでお手伝いできます。. Together with できます, it describes the staff’s offer to assist the visitor, and it is useful when offering support in a service setting.
図書館 図書館 means “library” in 図書館カードが必要ですか。. It identifies the institution associated with the card, and it is useful before a noun when specifying a library-related item.
カード カード means “card” in 図書館カードが必要ですか。. Here it refers to the card the visitor may need for the library service, and it is useful after a noun that identifies the card’s purpose.
が が marks 図書館カード as the item that may be necessary in 図書館カードが必要ですか。. This pattern is useful when asking whether a particular item is needed.
必要 必要 means “necessary” or “needed” in 図書館カードが必要ですか。. It asks whether the visitor must have the library card, and the pattern Xが必要ですか is useful when checking what is required.
か か turns 図書館カードが必要ですか into a polite question。. It is useful at the end of a sentence when asking whether something is necessary.
利用 利用 means “use” in 利用記録を確認するために、カードを持ってきてください。. Together with 記録, it refers to records of a person’s use of the library, and this compound is useful in service or account-related contexts.
記録 記録 means “record” in 利用記録を確認するために、カードを持ってきてください。. Here it refers to the library user’s usage record, and it is useful after a noun that identifies what the record concerns.
確認 確認 means “check” or “confirm” in 利用記録を確認するために、カードを持ってきてください。. It describes checking the library usage record, and the pattern 確認するために is useful for stating the purpose of an action.
する する supplies the action “do” in 確認するために, meaning “in order to check” the usage record. This form is useful before ために when explaining the purpose of an action.
ため ため contributes the purpose meaning “in order to” in 利用記録を確認するために、カードを持ってきてください。. The pattern verb + ために is useful when explaining why someone should do the following action.
持って 持って means “bringing or carrying” as part of 持ってきてください in 利用記録を確認するために、カードを持ってきてください。. Together with きてください, it tells the visitor to bring the card to the desk, and this connected form is useful in instructions involving an object.
きて きて adds movement toward the library desk in 持ってきてください, so the whole expression means “please bring” the card. It is useful after another action when asking someone to come with something.
ください ください makes 持ってきてください a polite request in 利用記録を確認するために、カードを持ってきてください。. It is useful after an action form when asking someone courteously to do something.
その その means “that” in その後, referring to the action of bringing the card that was just mentioned. It is useful before a noun when pointing back to something already known in the conversation.
後 後 means “after” or “afterward” in その後、今日中に本の貸出期間を延長できますか。. It places the renewal after the card-related action, and it is useful for ordering one action after another.
中 中 contributes “within” or “by the end of” in 今日中に本の貸出期間を延長できますか。. Together with 今日 and に, it sets today as the deadline for renewal, and this pattern is useful when stating a time limit.
ほか ほか means “other” in ほかの人がその本を予約していなければ、できます。. It identifies people other than the current speaker, and the pattern ほかの + noun is useful when referring to another person or group.
人 人 means “person” in ほかの人がその本を予約していなければ、できます。. Here it refers to another library user who might have requested the book, and it is useful after a modifier such as ほかの.
予約 予約 means “reservation” or “request” in ほかの人がその本を予約していなければ、できます。. Here it means that another person has reserved the book, and it is useful for describing a prior request for a book or service.
して して connects 予約 with the condition in 予約していなければ, describing the action of making a reservation. This connected form is useful before another expression that states a condition or result.
いなければ いなければ expresses the condition “if someone has not done so” in ほかの人がその本を予約していなければ、できます。. With 予約して, it means that renewal is possible if nobody else has reserved the book, and this conditional pattern is useful when stating an exception or requirement.

Grammar Points

動詞の辞書形＋ために

利用記録を確認するために

ree-YOH kee-roh-KOO oh kah-KOO-neen soo-roo TAH-meh nee

in order to check the borrowing record

「ために」は目的を表します。前には動詞の辞書形を使います。

動詞ていなければ

予約していなければ

yoh-YAH-koo shee-teh ee-nah-keh-REH-bah

if you have not made a reservation

「なければ」は「if not／unless」を表します。「ていなければ」は、まだしていない場合を示します。

Japanese Vocabulary

オンラインアカウント noun
ohn-RAI-n ah-KOWN-toh online account
お手伝い noun
oh-teh-TSOO-dye help; assistance
カウンター noun
KOWN-tah service desk; counter
ログインする verb
roh-GOO-een soo-roo to log in ログインできません
延長する verb
en-CHOH soo-roo to extend; to renew 延長したいです
今日 noun
KYOO today
持ってくる verb
MOHT-teh koo-ROO to bring 持ってきてください
借りる verb
kah-REE-roo to borrow 借りた

借りた本

図書館カード noun
toh-shoh-KAHN KAH-doh library card
貸出期間 noun
kah-shee-DAH-shee kee-KAHN lending period; loan period
必要 adj
hee-tsoo-YOH necessary; needed 必要ですか
本 noun
HOHN book

Quiz

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

online account

Show Answerオンラインアカウント

help; assistance

Show Answerお手伝い

to extend; to renew

Show Answer延長したいです

lending period; loan period

Show Answer貸出期間