About This Lesson
Use Borrowing a Cable for a Phone Battery Problem to practice Japanese conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.
Dialogue
A
スマホのバッテリーがほとんど切れています。
soo-mah-HOH noh baht-teh-REE gah hoh-TOHN-doh kee-reh-TEH-ee-mahs My phone battery is almost dead.
B
充電器かモバイルバッテリーを持っていますか。
joo-DEN-kee kah moh-bah-ee-roo baht-teh-REE oh mot-teh-EE-mahs kah Do you have a charger or power bank with you?
A
両方とも家に置いてきました。
ryoh-HOH toh-moh ee-eh nee oh-EE-teh-kee-mah-shee-tah I left both at home.
A
急ぎの電話をかける必要があります。
ee-soo-GEE noh den-wah oh kah-KEH-roo nee-SOO gah ah-ree-mahs I need to make an urgent call.
B
窓のそばにコンセントがあります。
mah-DOH noh soh-bah nee kohn-SEHN-toh gah ah-ree-mahs There is an outlet beside the window.
A
数分間、あなたのケーブルを使ってもいいですか。
soo-FOON-kahn ah-nah-tah noh keh-boo-roo oh tsoo-KAHT-teh-moh EE-dehs kah Could I use your cable for a few minutes?
B
電話をかけるのに十分な時間、使っていいですよ。
den-wah oh kah-KEH-roo noh nee joo-BOON nah JEE-kahn, tsoo-KAHT-teh EE-dehs yoh You can use it long enough to make the call.
A
スマホの電源が入ったら、すぐに返します。
soo-mah-HOH noh den-gen gah high-TAHT-tah-rah, soo-goo-nee kah-eh-SHEE-mahs I will return it as soon as my phone turns on.
B
バッテリーが十分になるまで、つないだままにしてください。
baht-teh-REE gah joo-BOON nee nah-ROO mah-deh, tsoo-nah-EE-dah mah-mah nee sheh-TEH koo-dah-sah-ee Keep it plugged in until you have enough battery.Word by Word
スマホ
「スマホ」 means a smartphone, the device whose battery is nearly empty in this dialogue. It is commonly used before の, as in 「スマホのバッテリー」, to describe something related to a smartphone. Use it when talking about a smartphone in everyday conversation.
の
In 「スマホのバッテリー」, 「の」 links 「スマホ」 to 「バッテリー」 and means that the battery belongs to or is associated with the smartphone. A reusable pattern is 「AのB」 for “B of or related to A.” Use it to connect a device with one of its parts or features.
バッテリー
「バッテリー」 means the battery of the smartphone, which is almost out of power here. It appears in 「スマホのバッテリー」 and later in 「十分なバッテリー」. Use it when discussing how much power a device has.
が
In 「バッテリーがほとんど切れています」, 「が」 marks 「バッテリー」 as the thing being described as nearly out of power. A reusable pattern is 「Nが状態です」 when stating the condition of something. Use it to identify the subject of a condition or change.
ほとんど
「ほとんど」 means “almost” here: the battery is nearly, but not completely, out of power. It is placed before 「切れています」 to show that the state is close to being complete. Use it when something is nearly finished, empty, or complete.
切れて
In 「バッテリーがほとんど切れています」, 「切れて」 describes the battery as having run out or being out of power. It is followed by 「います」 to describe the resulting state politely. Use this expression when a battery, supply, or connection has run out or been cut off.
います
In 「切れています」, 「います」 helps describe the battery's current resulting state: it is nearly out of power. The form 「Vています」 is useful for describing an ongoing or currently resulting condition. Use it when reporting the present state of something.
充電器
「充電器」 means a charger, one of the two items being asked about in this dialogue. It appears in the choice 「充電器かモバイルバッテリー」. Use it when asking whether someone has a charger or when identifying charging equipment.
か
In 「充電器かモバイルバッテリー」, 「か」 means “or” and presents two possible items. A reusable pattern is 「AかB」 when offering or asking about a choice between A and B. In this dialogue, the question continues through 「持っていますか」.
モバイルバッテリー
「モバイルバッテリー」 means a portable power bank, offered as the second possible source of power. It is paired with 「充電器」 in 「充電器かモバイルバッテリー」. Use it when discussing a portable battery for charging a phone.
を
In 「モバイルバッテリーを持っていますか」, 「を」 marks the charger or power bank as the thing the listener has with them. A reusable pattern is 「物を持つ」 for “have or carry an item.” Use it before the object of an action.
持って
In 「持っていますか」, 「持って」 expresses having or carrying the charger or power bank with the listener. Together with 「いますか」, it asks whether the person currently has it with them. Use 「物を持っていますか」 to ask if someone has an item.
両方
「両方」 means “both” and refers to the charger and the power bank mentioned just before. In 「両方とも家に置いてきました」, it identifies the two items together. Use it when referring to two previously mentioned choices or objects.
とも
In 「両方とも」, 「とも」 adds the meaning “both” to 「両方」 and emphasizes that the statement applies to the two items. The reusable pattern 「両方とも」 means “both of them.” Use it when saying that the same action or condition applies to two things.
家
「家」 means home in 「家に置いてきました」, the place where both items were left. With 「に」, it identifies the place connected with leaving or placing something. Use it when explaining where an item was left or where someone went.
に
In 「家に置いてきました」, 「に」 marks 「家」 as the place where the items were left. A reusable pattern is 「場所に置く」 for putting or leaving something in a place. Use it to mark a destination or location associated with an action.
置いて
In 「置いてきました」, 「置いて」 means leaving or placing the charger and power bank at home. Together with 「きました」, the expression says the speaker came away after leaving them there. Use 「場所に置いてくる」 when something is left at a place before coming away.
きました
In 「置いてきました」, 「きました」 completes the expression meaning that the speaker left the items at home and then came here. It shows that the earlier action has been completed before the current conversation. Use 「Vてきました」 when describing something done before coming to the current place.
急ぎ
In 「急ぎの電話」, 「急ぎ」 means an urgent matter or something that needs prompt attention. It modifies 「電話」 to describe the call the speaker needs to make. Use the pattern 「急ぎのN」 for an urgent item, request, or matter.
電話
「電話」 means a phone call in 「急ぎの電話をかける」 and 「電話をかけるのに」. The reusable expression 「電話をかける」 means to make a phone call. Use it when explaining that you need to call someone.
かける
In 「電話をかける」, 「かける」 means to make or place a phone call. The object 「電話」 is required in this reusable expression: 「電話をかける」. Use it when you want to call someone, especially to explain the purpose of borrowing the cable.
必要
In 「電話をかける必要があります」, 「必要」 expresses necessity: making the urgent call is necessary for the speaker. The pattern 「Vる必要があります」 states that someone needs to do an action. Use it when explaining a required action or obligation.
あります
In 「必要があります」, 「あります」 completes the polite expression that a need exists. In 「コンセントがあります」, it states that an outlet exists beside the window. Use it for the existence of things and in expressions such as 「必要があります」 for stating a need.
窓
「窓」 means window in 「窓のそば」, which identifies the location of the outlet. A reusable pattern is 「窓のそば」 for “beside the window.” Use it when giving directions or describing where something is located.
そば
In 「窓のそばに」, 「そば」 means beside or near the window. The pattern 「Nのそばにあります」 is useful for saying that something is located near N. Use it when pointing out a nearby place or object.
コンセント
「コンセント」 means an electrical outlet, the place where the cable can be plugged in. It appears in 「窓のそばにコンセントがあります」. Use it when identifying an outlet or telling someone where they can charge a device.
数分間
「数分間」 means “for a few minutes” and describes how long the speaker wants to use the cable. It appears before 「使ってもいいですか」 to give the requested duration. Use it with an action to specify a short period of time.
あなた
In 「あなたのケーブル」, 「あなた」 means “you” and 「あなたの」 means “your.” It identifies the cable as belonging to or being associated with the person being asked. Use the pattern 「あなたのN」 when referring to something connected with the listener.
ケーブル
「ケーブル」 means the cable that the speaker asks to borrow for a few minutes. It is the object of 「使ってもいいですか」 in 「あなたのケーブルを使ってもいいですか」. Use it when asking to use a cable for charging or another device connection.
使って
In 「使ってもいいですか」, 「使って」 means “use” and introduces a request for permission to use the cable. The reusable pattern 「Nを使ってもいいですか」 asks whether it is okay to use N. Use it when politely requesting permission to use someone else's item.
も
In 「使ってもいいですか」, 「も」 is part of the permission pattern meaning “may I use it?” rather than simply “also.” The full pattern 「Vてもいいですか」 asks whether an action is permitted. Use it when making a polite request for permission.
いい
In 「使ってもいいですか」, 「いい」 means acceptable or okay, so the speaker asks whether using the cable is acceptable. The pattern 「Vてもいいですか」 is a common way to ask permission. Use it for polite requests involving another person's space or belongings.
です
In 「いいですか」, 「です」 makes the permission question polite. Together with 「使ってもいいですか」, it gives the request a respectful everyday tone. Use it in polite questions about whether something is acceptable.
よ
In 「使っていいですよ」, 「よ」 adds informative and reassuring emphasis to the permission: the listener is being told that using the cable is okay. It appears at the end of a statement that gives information or reassurance. Use it when clearly informing someone of permission or a helpful fact.
十分
「十分」 means enough or sufficient in 「十分な時間」 and 「十分になるまで」. Here it refers to having enough time for the call or enough battery power. Use it when saying that an amount or level is sufficient for a purpose.
な
In 「十分な時間」, 「な」 links the na-adjective-like form 「十分」 to the noun 「時間」. The pattern 「十分なN」 means “enough or sufficient N.” Use it before a noun when describing the amount needed for a purpose.
時間
In 「十分な時間」, 「時間」 means time, specifically enough time to make the call. The reusable pattern 「Nに十分な時間」 describes time sufficient for an activity. Use it when discussing how long an action can continue.
電源
「電源」 refers to the phone's power state in 「スマホの電源が入ったら」. It is used with 「入る」 to describe the phone powering on. Use it when talking about turning a device on or whether its power is available.
入ったら
In 「電源が入ったら」, 「入ったら」 means “when the power comes on” and sets the condition for returning the cable. The pattern 「Vたら、N」 is useful for saying what will happen when an action or change occurs. Use it to connect a condition with a later action.
すぐ
In 「すぐに返します」, 「すぐ」 means immediately or without delay. It tells the listener that the cable will be returned promptly after the phone powers on. Use 「すぐにV」 when promising or describing an action that will happen right away.
返します
「返します」 means “will return it” in the speaker's promise to give the cable back. The object is understood from the conversation, namely the cable. Use it when promising to return a borrowed item to its owner.
なる
In 「十分になるまで」, 「なる」 means to become or reach a state, here becoming sufficient in battery level. The pattern 「Nになる」 describes a change into a new state. Use it when something reaches a required condition or level.
まで
In 「十分になるまで」, 「まで」 means “until” and marks the point up to which the cable should remain connected. The reusable pattern 「Vるまで」 or 「Vたまで」 can mark an endpoint in time, depending on the expression. Use it to say how long an action or state should continue.
つないだ
In 「つないだまま」, 「つないだ」 describes the cable as connected or plugged in. Together with 「まま」, it refers to keeping that connected state unchanged. Use 「つないだまま」 when telling someone to leave a cable or device connected.
まま
In 「つないだまま」, 「まま」 means remaining in the same state, so the cable should stay connected. The pattern 「Vたまま」 describes leaving something as it is after an action. Use it when an object should remain in its current condition.
して
In 「つないだままにしてください」, 「して」 is part of the polite request to keep the cable in the connected state. The pattern 「Nのままにする」 means to leave or keep something in a particular state. Use it when asking someone to maintain a condition.
ください
At the end of 「つないだままにしてください」, 「ください」 makes the instruction a polite request: please keep it connected. The pattern 「Vてください」 is commonly used to ask someone to do something. Use it for clear, polite requests in everyday situations.
Grammar Points
〜たら
電源が入ったら、すぐに返します。
den-gen gah high-TAHT-tah-rah, soo-goo-nee kah-eh-SHEE-mahsWhen the power turns on, I will return it immediately.
「〜たら」は、あることが起きた後の条件やタイミングを表します。
〜たまま
つないだままにします。
tsoo-nah-EE-dah mah-mah nee shee-MAHSI will leave it connected.
「〜たまま」は、ある状態を変えずに保つことを表します。
Japanese Vocabulary
かける
verb
kah-KEH-roo
make a phone call
スマホ
noun
soo-mah-HOH
smartphone
バッテリー
noun
baht-teh-REE
battery
ほとんど
adv
hoh-TOHN-doh
almost
モバイルバッテリー
noun
moh-bah-ee-roo baht-teh-REE
power bank
急ぎの電話
phrase
ee-soo-GEE noh den-wah
urgent call
充電器
noun
joo-DEN-kee
charger
切れています
verb
kee-reh-TEH-ee-mahs
is almost dead; has run out
窓
noun
mah-DOH
window
置いてきました
verb
oh-EE-teh-kee-mah-shee-tah
left behind
必要があります
phrase
hee-tsoo-YOH gah ah-ree-mahs
need to
両方
pron
ryoh-HOH
both
Quiz
Spelling
Tap the letters to spell the word.
is almost dead; has run out
Show Answer
切れていますpower bank
Show Answer
モバイルバッテリーleft behind
Show Answer
置いてきましたalmost