Choosing an Activity Based on the Weather | Learn Japanese in English

Japanese lesson set in a contemporary Tokyo everyday setting: During daily planning, two adults check the forecast and choose a morning walk with an indoor backup..

EN → JA / Level: A2

About This Lesson

Use Choosing an Activity Based on the Weather to practice Japanese conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

A

明日は屋内と屋外のどちらで何かしましょうか。

ah-shee-TAH wa oh-koo-NAI toh oh-koo-GAI noh doh-chee-rah deh NAN-kah shi-ma-SHOH kah Should we do something indoors or outdoors tomorrow?
B

決める前に天気予報を確認しましょう。

kee-MEH-roo MAH-eh nee TEN-kee yoo-HOH oh kah-koo-NIN shi-ma-SHOH Check the forecast before we decide.
A

午前中は晴れるそうです。

goh-ZEN-choo wa hah-REH-roo soh-DEHSS It says the morning will be sunny.
B

それなら、昼食の前に散歩に行けます。

soh-reh-NAH-rah, CHOO-shoh-koo noh MAH-eh nee SAN-poh nee ee-KEH-mahss Then we could take a walk before lunch.
A

後で雨が降ったら、カフェに行けます。

AH-toh deh AH-meh gah FOOT-tah-rah, kah-FEH nee ee-KEH-mahss If it rains later, we can visit a cafe.
B

それなら、予定を柔軟に変えられます。

soh-reh-NAH-rah, yoh-TEH-ee oh joo-NAN nee kah-eh-rah-REH-mahss That keeps the plan flexible.
A

午前中に散歩をする予定にしましょう。

goh-ZEN-choo nee SAN-poh oh soo-roo yoh-TEH-ee nee shi-ma-SHOH Let's plan on a morning walk.
B

天気が変わったら、屋内の活動に変えられます。

TEN-kee gah kah-WAHT-tah-rah, oh-koo-NAI noh kah-TSOO-doh-koo nee kah-eh-rah-REH-mahss We can move indoors if the weather changes.

Word by Word

明日 “明日” means tomorrow and sets the time of the proposed activity in “明日は”. It is useful when discussing plans for the next day, such as “明日の予定” for tomorrow’s schedule.
は In “明日は”, “は” marks 明日 as the topic, meaning “as for tomorrow”. It commonly follows a time, person, or thing that the sentence is about.
屋内 “屋内” means indoors or inside a building. In “屋内と屋外のどちら”, it names one of the two possible settings for the activity; it can be used when choosing between indoor and outdoor plans.
と In “屋内と屋外”, “と” connects the two alternatives indoors and outdoors. A common pattern is “AとBのどちら” when asking which of two options to choose.
屋外 “屋外” means outdoors or outside. In “屋内と屋外のどちら”, it names the outdoor option being compared with 屋内.
の In “屋外のどちら”, “の” links 屋外 to どちら, making the meaning “which of indoors and outdoors”. This linking use commonly connects a noun with the question word that follows it.
どちら “どちら” means which one here and asks the listener to choose between the two settings already mentioned. In “屋内と屋外のどちらで”, it is followed by で because the question concerns where the activity will take place.
で In “どちらで何かしましょうか”, “で” marks the setting where the activity will happen. It follows the chosen place or setting before the action.
何か “何か” means something in “何かしましょうか”. It keeps the activity unspecified while politely asking whether they should do something.
しましょう “しましょう” is a polite suggestion meaning let’s do or shall we do. In “何かしましょうか”, it proposes an activity, and the following か turns the suggestion into a question.
か At the end of “しましょうか”, “か” marks the sentence as a question. Here it makes the suggestion open for the other person’s agreement or choice.
決める “決める” means decide in “決める前に”. Its exact form is used before 前に to refer to the action that has not happened yet: before deciding.
前 In “決める前に”, “前” means before and identifies an earlier time relative to deciding. The reusable pattern “動詞の前に” expresses doing something before an action.
に In “決める前に”, “に” marks the time relation before deciding. The same time use appears in “昼食の前に”, meaning before lunch.
天気予報 “天気予報” means weather forecast. In “天気予報を確認しましょう”, it is the information that the speakers want to check before deciding on an activity.
を In “天気予報を確認しましょう”, “を” marks 天気予報 as what is checked. It commonly follows the direct object of an action.
確認 “確認” means checking or confirming here, as in “天気予報を確認しましょう”. It is used with を for the information or object being checked.
午前中 “午前中” means during the morning. In “午前中は晴れるそうです”, it identifies the part of the day for which the forecast is being reported.
晴れる “晴れる” means to be sunny or clear in “晴れるそうです”. The form “晴れるそうです” reports that the morning is expected or said to be sunny.
そう In “晴れるそうです”, “そう” shows that the speaker is reporting information or an expectation rather than stating a directly observed fact. It follows the weather information being reported here.
です In “晴れるそうです”, “です” gives the statement a polite ending. It is commonly used to make an explanation or report sound polite.
それ “それ” refers to the preceding information about the sunny morning. In “それなら”, it points back to that idea as the basis for the next suggestion.
なら In “それなら”, “なら” means if so or then, responding to the preceding information. This expression is useful when making a decision based on something just mentioned.
昼食 “昼食” means lunch. In “昼食の前に”, it provides the time reference for taking the walk.
散歩 “散歩” means a walk or stroll. In “散歩に行けます”, it names the activity the speakers can do before lunch; the common pattern is “散歩に行く” for going for a walk.
行けます “行けます” means can go in “散歩に行けます”. It expresses that going for the walk is possible, and a common pattern is “場所に行けます” when stating that someone can go to a place.
後 In “後で雨が降ったら”, “後” means later or afterward. Together with で, “後で” places the possible rain later in the day or plan.
雨 “雨” means rain. In “雨が降ったら”, it is the weather event that forms the condition for choosing the cafe.
が In “雨が降ったら”, “が” marks 雨 as the subject of 降る. It identifies what is falling in this weather condition.
降ったら “降ったら” means if it rains in “後で雨が降ったら”. This form presents rain as the condition for the next action, and it commonly appears with “雨が” in weather-related plans.
カフェ “カフェ” means cafe. In “カフェに行けます”, it is the destination of the backup plan if it rains later.
予定 “予定” means plan or schedule. In “予定を柔軟に変えられます”, it is the plan that can be changed, while in “散歩をする予定にしましょう” it is the plan they agree to adopt.
柔軟 “柔軟” means flexible in the phrase “柔軟に変えられます”. The following に makes this describe how the plan can be changed: flexibly.
変えられます “変えられます” means can change something in “予定を柔軟に変えられます”. It commonly appears with an object marked by を, as in “予定を変えられます”, when someone has the ability or option to alter a plan.
する In “散歩をする予定にしましょう”, “する” makes 散歩 into the activity “take a walk”. A common reusable pattern is “名詞をする” for carrying out an activity expressed by a noun.
活動 “活動” means activity. In “屋内の活動”, it refers to an indoor activity that can replace the outdoor plan if the weather changes.
変わったら “変わったら” means if it changes in “天気が変わったら”. It presents a change in the weather as the condition for moving the activity indoors.

Grammar Points

〜たら

雨が降ったら、予定を変えられます。

AH-meh gah FOOT-tah-rah, yoh-TEH-ee oh kah-eh-rah-REH-mahss

If it rains, we can change the plan.

Attach たら to express a condition: “if” or “when.” It can be followed by a plan or result.

〜ましょう

天気予報を確認しましょう。

TEN-kee yoh-HOH oh kah-koo-NIN shi-ma-SHOH

Let's check the weather forecast.

The polite ending ましょう suggests doing something together: “let's …”.

Japanese Vocabulary

それなら conj
soh-reh-NAH-rah then; in that case

それなら、昼食の前に散歩に行けます。

どちら pron
doh-chee-rah which one; which of the two

明日は屋内と屋外のどちらで何かしましょうか。

屋外 noun
oh-koo-GAI outdoors; outdoor

明日は屋内と屋外のどちらで何かしましょうか。

屋内 noun
oh-koo-NAI indoors; indoor

明日は屋内と屋外のどちらで何かしましょうか。

何か pron
NAN-kah something; anything

明日は屋内と屋外のどちらで何かしましょうか。

確認しましょう verb
kah-koo-NIN shi-ma-SHOH let's check; let's confirm

決める前に天気予報を確認しましょう。

決める verb
kee-MEH-roo to decide

決める前に天気予報を確認しましょう。

午前中 noun
goh-ZEN-choo morning; during the morning

午前中は晴れるそうです。

散歩 noun
SAN-poh walk; stroll

それなら、昼食の前に散歩に行けます。

晴れる verb
hah-REH-roo to become sunny; to clear up

午前中は晴れるそうです。

昼食 noun
CHOO-shoh-koo lunch

それなら、昼食の前に散歩に行けます。

天気予報 noun
TEN-kee yoh-HOH weather forecast

決める前に天気予報を確認しましょう。

Quiz

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

let's check; let's confirm

Show Answer確認しましょう

weather forecast

Show Answer天気予報

then; in that case

Show Answerそれなら

morning; during the morning

Show Answer午前中