About This Lesson
Use Borrowing a screwdriver and returning it clean to practice Japanese conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.
Dialogue
A
ちょっとした修理のために、あなたのドライバーを借りてもいいですか？
CHOHT-toh shee-TAH shoo-REE noh TAH-meh nee, ah-NAH-tah noh doh-RAI-baa oh kah-REE-teh moh EE dess kah? Could I borrow your screwdriver for a small repair?
B
青い工具箱の中にあります。
AH-oh-ee KOH-goo bah-KOH noh NAH-kah nee ah-ree-MAHSS. It is in the blue toolbox.
A
棚の金具を締める必要があります。
TAH-nah noh kah-NAH-goo oh shee-MEH-roo hee-TSOO-yoh gah ah-ree-MAHSS. I need to tighten the shelf brackets.
B
中サイズのドライバーを使ってください。
NAH-kah SAI-zoo noh doh-RAI-baa oh TSOO-kaht-teh koo-DAH-sai. Use the medium screwdriver.
B
その金具には、そのドライバーのほうがよく合います。
SOH-noh kah-NAH-goo nee wah, SOH-noh doh-RAI-baa noh HOH gah YOH-koo ah-ee-MAHSS. It fits those brackets better.
A
いつ返せばいいですか？
EE-tsoo kah-EH-seh-bah EE dess kah? When should I return it?
B
夕食前に返してください。
YOO-shoh-koo MAH-eh nee kah-EH-shee-teh koo-DAH-sai. Please bring it back before dinner.
A
ほこりが付いたら、先に拭きます。
HOH-koh-ree gah TSOO-ee-tah-rah, SAH-kee nee foo-KEE-mahss. If it gets dusty, I'll wipe it off first.
B
それで、道具を良い状態に保てます。
SOH-reh-deh, DOH-goo oh EE JOH-tai nee tah-moh-TEH-mahss. That helps keep the tools in good shape.Word by Word
ちょっとした
In 「ちょっとした修理」, this means small or minor and describes the repair as limited in size or importance. It is placed before a noun, as in this phrase. You could use this form when describing a small task or problem.
修理
「修理」 means a repair, here the small repair for which the speaker wants to borrow a screwdriver. In 「修理のために」, it is a noun followed by a purpose expression. It is useful when talking about fixing an object or equipment.
の
In 「修理のために」, 「の」 connects 「修理」 with 「ため」 to form a purpose-related noun phrase. In 「あなたのドライバー」, it connects 「あなた」 with 「ドライバー」 to show whose screwdriver it is. This particle commonly links nouns in these kinds of relationships.
ため
In 「ちょっとした修理のために」, 「ため」 expresses the purpose or reason: for the small repair. The complete purpose expression is 「修理のために」, with 「に」 completing it. This pattern is useful when stating what an action is for.
に
In 「修理のために」, 「に」 marks the purpose of borrowing the screwdriver. In 「工具箱の中にあります」, it marks the location where the screwdriver is, and in 「その金具には」 it marks what the screwdriver fits. Its exact function is determined by the phrase around it.
あなた
「あなた」 means you, and in 「あなたのドライバー」 it identifies the person who owns or is associated with the screwdriver. The form appears before 「の」 to connect the person with the noun. It can be used when directly referring to the other person.
ドライバー
「ドライバー」 means screwdriver in this dialogue. It appears as the object being borrowed in 「ドライバーを借りてもいいですか」 and as the tool to use in 「中サイズのドライバーを使ってください」. Use it when referring to this type of repair tool.
を
「を」 marks the object affected by an action. In this dialogue, it marks objects such as 「ドライバー」 in 「ドライバーを借りて」, 「金具」 in 「金具を締める」, and 「道具」 in 「道具を良い状態に保てます」. It commonly comes directly after the thing being borrowed, used, cleaned, or maintained.
借りて
In 「借りてもいいですか」, 「借りて」 expresses borrowing and connects that action to a request for permission. It is the form used before 「もいいですか」 in this permission pattern. You can use this construction when politely asking whether you may borrow something.
も
In 「借りてもいいですか」, 「も」 is part of the permission expression meaning “is it okay to borrow?” rather than simply meaning “even.” Together with 「いいですか」, it asks for permission to perform the action. This pattern is useful for politely asking whether an action is allowed.
いい
In 「借りてもいいですか」, 「いい」 means okay or acceptable. It contributes to the complete permission expression 「借りてもいいですか」, which asks whether borrowing is allowed. The same meaning is useful when checking whether an action is acceptable.
です
In 「いいですか」, 「です」 gives the phrase a polite tone before the question marker 「か」. It helps make the permission question courteous. This form appears in polite questions and statements.
か
The final 「か」 in 「借りてもいいですか」 marks the sentence as a question. Here it turns the polite permission expression into a request for an answer. It is commonly placed at the end of a polite question.
青い
「青い」 means blue and describes the toolbox in 「青い工具箱」. It comes directly before the noun it describes. You can use this form when identifying an object by its blue color.
工具箱
「工具箱」 means toolbox, and in 「青い工具箱の中」 it is the container where the screwdriver is located. It is followed by 「の中」 to specify the inside of the toolbox. This word is useful when referring to a box for storing tools.
中
In 「工具箱の中にあります」, 「中」 means the inside or interior of the toolbox. The phrase 「工具箱の中」 identifies the place, and 「に」 marks that place as the location. This pattern is useful when saying that something is inside a container.
あります
In 「工具箱の中にあります」, 「あります」 says that the screwdriver is located there. It is used here for the existence or location of the tool in the toolbox. This polite form is useful when telling someone where an object is.
棚
「棚」 means shelf, here the shelf whose brackets need tightening. In 「棚の金具」, it is linked to 「金具」 to identify the fittings belonging to or attached to the shelf. Use it when referring to a shelf or shelving unit.
金具
「金具」 means a metal fitting or bracket, here the brackets on the shelf. It is the object of tightening in 「金具を締める」 and the item that the screwdriver fits in 「その金具には」. This word is useful for referring to hardware fittings.
締める
「締める」 means to tighten, and in 「棚の金具を締める」 it describes tightening the shelf brackets. It is followed by the object marker 「を」 before the thing being tightened. You can use this form when describing tightening a fitting or fastener.
必要
「必要」 means necessity or need. In 「締める必要があります」, the complete expression says that tightening the brackets is necessary, or that the speaker needs to tighten them. This pattern is useful for explaining that an action needs to be done.
が
In 「締める必要があります」, 「が」 marks 「必要」 as the thing that exists, producing the expression “there is a need to tighten.” In 「ほこりが付いたら」, it marks 「ほこり」 as what becomes attached. Its function depends on the surrounding construction.
使って
In 「使ってください」, 「使って」 means use and connects the action to a polite request. It is the form used before 「ください」 when asking someone to use the medium screwdriver. This pattern is useful for making a courteous request about an action.
ください
In 「使ってください」, 「ください」 makes the preceding action into a polite request: please use it. It follows 「使って」 as part of the complete request expression. You can use this pattern when asking someone courteously to do something.
その
「その」 means that or the one already identified in the situation. In 「その金具」 and 「そのドライバー」, it points to a particular fitting and screwdriver known from the conversation. It is placed directly before the noun it identifies.
ほう
In 「そのドライバーのほうが」, 「ほう」 presents that screwdriver as one option or side in a comparison. Together with 「よく合います」, the phrase means that this screwdriver fits the brackets better. This construction is useful when choosing one option over another.
よく
In 「よく合います」, 「よく」 describes how well the screwdriver fits the brackets. The comparison with 「そのドライバーのほうが」 makes the full statement mean that it fits better. It can be used before an action or description to indicate a high degree or good result.
合います
In 「その金具には、そのドライバーのほうがよく合います」, 「合います」 means fits or suits the brackets. The pattern connects the item that fits with the thing it fits, as in 「金具には」. Use it when saying that a tool, size, or choice is suitable for something.
いつ
「いつ」 means when, and in 「いつ返せばいいですか」 it asks for the time by which the screwdriver should be returned. It appears at the beginning of the question about the return time. This form is useful for asking when an action should happen.
返せば
In 「いつ返せばいいですか」, 「返せば」 is the conditional form of returning and is part of the expression asking what time would be appropriate for returning the screwdriver. The complete pattern 「返せばいい」 means that returning it is the proper action. This pattern is useful for asking what one should do.
夕食前
「夕食前」 means before dinner, and in 「夕食前に返してください」 it gives the deadline for returning the screwdriver. It combines the noun for dinner with 「前」 to mean the time before it. This form is useful for setting a time limit connected to a meal or event.
返して
In 「返してください」, 「返して」 means return it and connects the action to a polite request. The object is understood from the conversation as the borrowed screwdriver. This pattern is useful when asking someone to return or give something back.
ほこり
「ほこり」 means dust, here the material that might get onto the screwdriver. In 「ほこりが付いたら」, it is the thing that becomes attached to the tool. You can use this word when talking about dust on an object or surface.
付いたら
In 「ほこりが付いたら」, 「付いたら」 means if or when something has become attached, here when dust gets onto the screwdriver. It introduces the condition for the following action 「拭きます」. This pattern is useful when describing what to do if something gets onto an object.
先
In 「先に拭きます」, 「先」 means first or beforehand. It shows that wiping the screwdriver happens before returning it. The pattern 「先に」 is useful for stating which action should happen first.
拭きます
In 「先に拭きます」, 「拭きます」 means wipe, referring to wiping dust off the screwdriver. It is a polite form used for the speaker’s intended action after 「ほこりが付いたら」. This form is useful when describing cleaning an object with a wiping action.
それ
In 「それで、道具を良い状態に保てます」, 「それ」 refers to the preceding action of wiping the tool first. It does not point to a newly named object here; it refers back to what was just said. This form is useful for referring to an already mentioned thing or action.
で
In 「それで」, 「で」 expresses the means or result of the preceding action: by doing that, the tools can be kept in good condition. The complete expression connects the earlier wiping action with its helpful effect. This use differs from the location use of 「で」.
道具
「道具」 means tool or tools, and in 「道具を良い状態に保てます」 it refers to the tools whose condition is being maintained. It is followed by 「を」 because it is the object of maintaining. This word is useful when speaking generally about equipment used for a task.
良い
「良い」 means good, and in 「良い状態」 it describes the condition in which the tools should remain. It comes directly before 「状態」 as a description. This form is useful for describing a favorable condition or quality.
状態
「状態」 means condition or state, and in 「良い状態」 it refers to the tools being clean and properly maintained. The phrase 「良い状態に保てます」 describes keeping them in that condition. This word is useful when discussing the condition of an object.
保てます
In 「道具を良い状態に保てます」, 「保てます」 means can keep or maintain. It says that wiping the tool helps maintain the tools in good condition. The pattern places the thing being maintained before 「を」 and the desired condition before 「に」.
Grammar Points
〜たら
ほこりが付いたら、先に拭きます。
HOH-koh-ree gah TSOO-ee-tah-rah, SAH-kee nee foo-KEE-mahss.If dust gets on it, I wipe it first.
「〜たら」は、ある条件が起きた後にすることを表します。
〜ば
夕食前に返せば、道具を保てます。
YOO-shoh-koo MAH-eh nee kah-EH-seh-bah, DOH-goo oh tah-moh-TEH-mahss.If you return it before dinner, you can keep the tool in good condition.
「〜ば」は、条件を示します。「返せば」は「返す」の条件形です。
Japanese Vocabulary
ドライバー
noun
doh-RAI-baa
screwdriver
金具
noun
kah-NAH-goo
bracket; metal fitting
工具箱
noun
KOH-goo bah-KOH
toolbox
合う
verb
AH-oo
to fit; to suit
合います
使う
verb
TSOO-kah-oo
to use
使って
借りる
verb
kah-REE-roo
to borrow
借りても
ドライバーを借りてもいいですか?
修理
noun
shoo-REE
repair
青い
adj
AH-oh-ee
blue
棚
noun
TAH-nah
shelf
中サイズ
adj
NAH-kah SAI-zoo
medium size
締める
verb
shee-MEH-roo
to tighten
必要
noun
hee-TSOO-yoh
need; necessity
Quiz
Spelling
Tap the letters to spell the word.
screwdriver
Show Answer
ドライバーto borrow
Show Answer
借りてもto fit; to suit
Show Answer
合いますmedium size