About This Lesson
Use Checking in and waiting at a clinic to practice Japanese conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.
Dialogue
A
すみません、待合室はどこですか？
soo-mee-mah-SEN, mah-chee-ah-ee-SHIT-soo wah doh-KOH dess-kah? Excuse me, where is the waiting room?
B
受付カウンターを通り過ぎてください。
oo-keh-tsoo-keh KAH-oon-tah-ah oh toh-ree-soo-GEE-teh koo-dah-SAH-ee. Go past the front desk.
B
左手にあります。
hee-dah-ree-TEH nee ah-ree-MAHS. It will be on your left.
A
座る前に受付をする必要がありますか？
sah-ROO mah-eh nee oo-keh-tsoo-keh oh soo-ROO hee-tsoo-YOH ah-ree-MAHS-kah? Do I need to check in before I sit down?
B
先にこの用紙に記入してください。
SAH-kee nee KOH-noh YOH-shee nee kee-NYOO shee-teh koo-dah-SAH-ee. Fill out this form first.
B
それから、受付に渡してください。
soh-reh-kah-RAH, oo-keh-tsoo-keh nee wah-TAH-shee-teh koo-dah-SAH-ee. Then hand it to the desk.
A
私の番になったら、誰かが呼んでくれますか？
wah-TAH-shee noh BAHN nee nah-TAH-rah, dah-reh-KAH gah YOHN-deh koo-reh-MAHS-kah? Will someone call me when it's my turn?
B
すぐに看護師があなたの名前を呼ぶはずです。
SOO-goo nee kahn-GOH-shee gah ah-nah-TAH noh nah-MAH-eh oh YOH-boo hah-zoo dess. A nurse should call your name shortly.
A
保険証をすぐ出せるようにしておいたほうがいいですか？
hoh-KEN-shoh oh SOO-goo dah-SEH-roo yoh-oo nee shee-teh oh-ee-TAH hoh-oh gah EE dess-kah? Should I keep my insurance card ready?
B
また受付で必要になるかもしれないので、すぐ出せるところに置いておいてください。
mah-TAH oo-keh-tsoo-keh deh hee-tsoo-YOH nee nah-ROO kah-moh-shee-reh-NAH-ee noh-deh, SOO-goo dah-SEH-roo toh-KOH-roh nee OH-ee-teh oh-EE-teh koo-dah-SAH-ee. Keep it handy in case the desk needs it again.Word by Word
すみません
「すみません」 politely gets someone’s attention here, meaning “excuse me.” Use it when approaching a receptionist or asking a stranger for help. New example: 「すみません、駅はどこですか？」
待合室
「待合室」 means the waiting room at the clinic. It refers to the room where visitors wait before their appointment or turn. New example: 「待合室で待ってください。」
は
「は」 marks 「待合室」 as the topic of the question. In 「待合室はどこですか」, the sentence asks where the waiting room is. Use the pattern 「Aはどこですか」 to ask where A is.
どこ
「どこ」 asks “where,” referring to a place. Here it asks for the location of 「待合室」. Use it in the reusable pattern 「Aはどこですか」.
です
「です」 gives the sentence a polite form and functions as the polite ending in 「待合室はどこですか」. It is commonly used at the end of polite statements and questions. New example: 「受付はあそこです。」
か
「か」 marks 「待合室はどこですか」 as a question. It is placed at the end of a polite question. New example: 「これは必要ですか？」
受付
「受付」 refers to the reception desk and, in 「受付をする」, the check-in procedure. Here the visitor needs to complete check-in before sitting down. Use 「受付で」 for the reception desk as a place and 「受付をする」 for checking in.
カウンター
「カウンター」 means the counter, specifically the front desk counter in 「受付カウンター」. It identifies the physical place the visitor should pass. New example: 「カウンターで名前を伝えてください。」
を
「を」 marks 「受付カウンター」 as what the movement goes past in 「受付カウンターを通り過ぎてください」. It commonly marks the object or route affected by an action. New example: 「駅を通り過ぎました。」
通り過ぎて
「通り過ぎて」 means “go past” or “pass by” in this direction. Its て-form connects the action to 「ください」, making a polite request. Use the pattern 「場所を通り過ぎる」 when saying that someone passes a place.
ください
「ください」 makes the preceding action a polite request: 「通り過ぎてください」 means “please go past.” It follows a て-form when asking someone to do something. New example: 「ここで待ってください。」
左手
「左手」 means the left-hand side, as in 「左手にあります」. It tells the visitor where the waiting room is located relative to their direction. Use 「左手に」 to point out something on the left.
に
「に」 marks the location in 「左手にあります」. It connects the place 「左手」 with the thing located there. Use 「場所にあります」 when saying that an inanimate thing is located somewhere.
あります
「あります」 politely says that something is located somewhere, here meaning “is on the left.” It is used with the location marked by 「に」 in 「左手にあります」. New example: 「受付は一階にあります。」
座る
「座る」 means “sit down,” referring to the visitor taking a seat. In 「座る前に」, the action is used as the reference point for “before sitting down.” Use 「座る前に」 for something that should happen before taking a seat.
前
「前」 means “before” in the time expression 「座る前に」. It places the required check-in before the action of sitting down. Use the pattern 「動詞の前に」 to say “before doing something.”
する
「する」 means “do” or “carry out”; in 「受付をする」, it means to complete the check-in procedure. The object 「受付」 is marked by 「を」. New example: 「予約をします。」
必要
「必要」 means “necessary” or “a necessity” in 「受付をする必要がありますか」. Together with 「必要がありますか」, it asks whether the check-in is required. Use the pattern 「動詞の辞書形＋必要がある」 for something that is necessary to do.
が
「が」 marks 「必要」 in 「必要がありますか」, the thing whose existence is being asked about. This construction asks whether a need exists. Use 「必要があります」 to say that something is necessary.
先に
「先に」 means “first” or “beforehand” and tells the visitor to fill out the form before the next step. It sets the order of actions in 「先にこの用紙に記入してください」. Use it before an action that should happen first.
この
「この」 means “this” and points to a form near the speaker or listener in 「この用紙」. It must come directly before the noun it describes. New example: 「このカードを見せてください。」
用紙
「用紙」 means a form or sheet of paper, here the document the visitor must complete. It is the object used with 「記入する」. New example: 「用紙に住所を記入してください。」
記入
「記入」 refers to filling in or entering information on the form. In 「用紙に記入してください」, it describes writing the required information on 「用紙」. Use the pattern 「用紙に記入する」 for filling out a form.
して
「して」 is the て-form of 「する」 in 「記入してください」. It connects the action of filling in the form to the polite request 「ください」. Use a verb in the て-form before 「ください」 when politely asking someone to do it.
それから
「それから」 means “then” or “after that” and introduces the next step after filling out the form. It makes the order of the instructions clear. Use it to connect two sequential actions.
渡して
「渡して」 means “hand over” in 「受付に渡してください」. Its て-form connects the action to 「ください」 and makes a polite request to hand something over. Use the pattern 「人・場所に物を渡す」 when giving an item to someone or a place.
私
「私」 means “I” or “me”; in 「私の番」, it identifies whose turn it is. It is followed by 「の」 to show the relation between the speaker and 「番」. New example: 「私はここで待ちます。」
の
「の」 links 「私」 and 「番」 in 「私の番」, giving the meaning “my turn.” It marks possession or another close relationship between two nouns. Use the pattern 「AのB」 for “A’s B” or “B related to A.”
番
「番」 means a turn in 「私の番」. It identifies the point when the visitor will be called. Use 「次の番」 for the next turn and 「私の番」 for my turn.
なったら
「なったら」 means “when it becomes” in 「私の番になったら」, referring to the time when it becomes the visitor’s turn. The form 「なったら」 connects that condition or time to the following action. Use 「Aになったら」 for “when it becomes A.”
誰か
「誰か」 means “someone,” without specifying who the person is. Here it refers to an unspecified member of the clinic staff who may call the visitor. Use 「誰かが」 when an unspecified person performs an action.
呼んで
「呼んで」 means “call” in 「呼んでくれますか」. Its て-form connects the calling action to 「くれます」, which presents the action as being done for the speaker. Use a て-form before 「くれる」 when someone does something for you.
くれます
「くれます」 shows that someone does an action for the speaker or the speaker’s side. In 「呼んでくれますか」, the whole expression asks whether someone will call the visitor. Use the pattern 「人が私に〜てくれる」 when another person does something for you.
すぐに
「すぐに」 means “soon” or “shortly” in 「すぐに看護師があなたの名前を呼ぶはずです」. It says that the nurse is expected to call without much delay. Use it before an action that will happen soon.
看護師
「看護師」 means nurse, the staff member expected to call the visitor’s name. It is marked by 「が」 as the person performing the calling action. New example: 「看護師に確認してください。」
あなた
「あなた」 means “you”; in 「あなたの名前」, it identifies whose name will be called. It is followed by 「の」 to form “your name.” In everyday Japanese, the person may often be understood without saying 「あなた」, but this dialogue uses it explicitly.
名前
「名前」 means “name,” here the name that the nurse will call. In 「あなたの名前を呼ぶ」, it is the object marked by 「を」. Use the pattern 「名前を呼ぶ」 for calling someone’s name.
呼ぶ
「呼ぶ」 means “call,” specifically call out the visitor’s name in this dialogue. It is in the plain form before 「はずです」. Use the pattern 「名前を呼ぶ」 when saying that someone calls a name.
はず
「はず」 expresses an expectation in 「呼ぶはずです」: the nurse is expected to call the visitor’s name. With 「です」, it becomes a polite statement about what should happen. Use the pattern 「動詞の普通形＋はずです」 for something expected to happen.
保険証
「保険証」 means insurance card, the document the visitor may need to show at the clinic. It is the object marked by 「を」 in the question. New example: 「保険証を見せてください。」
すぐ
「すぐ」 means “right away” or “readily” in 「すぐ出せる」. Here it describes being able to take out the insurance card without delay. Use it before a verb to describe an action happening immediately or easily.
出せる
「出せる」 means “can take out” or “can present,” referring to the insurance card. It expresses that the card can be produced when needed in 「すぐ出せるように」. Use the pattern 「物を出せる」 when saying that an item can be taken out or presented.
よう
「よう」 helps form 「出せるようにしておいた」, meaning “arranged things so that it can be taken out.” It connects a desired or useful state with an action taken to prepare for it. Use 「〜ようにする」 when arranging things so that a condition will be possible.
おいた
「おいた」 in 「しておいた」 shows that something was done or kept prepared in advance. Here the card should be kept ready before the desk needs it again. Use 「〜ておく」 for preparing something beforehand; 「しておいた」 describes that prior preparation.
ほう
「ほう」 means “the better option” in 「しておいたほうがいいですか」. Together with 「ほうがいい」, it asks whether the suggested action is advisable. Use the pattern 「動詞のほうがいい」 to say that one action is better or preferable.
いい
「いい」 means “good” or “advisable” in 「しておいたほうがいいですか」. The whole expression asks whether keeping the card ready is the better choice. Use 「〜たほうがいい」 to give or ask about advice.
また
「また」 means “again” in 「また受付で必要になるかもしれない」. It indicates that the insurance card may be needed at the reception desk another time. Use it before an action or situation that happens again.
で
「で」 marks 「受付」 as the place where the card may be needed in 「受付で必要になる」. It commonly identifies the location where an action or situation occurs. New example: 「病院で待っています。」
なる
「なる」 means “become”; in 「必要になる」, it describes something coming to be needed. The card may become necessary again at the reception desk. Use the pattern 「必要になる」 for something that comes to be needed.
かもしれない
「かもしれない」 expresses possibility, meaning “might” or “may” in 「必要になるかもしれない」. The components 「かも」 contribute the possibility, 「しれ」 comes from the expression related to knowing, and 「ない」 completes the negative form; together they form the conventional expression for uncertainty. Use 「普通形＋かもしれない」 when saying that something may happen.
ので
「ので」 means “because” or “since” and gives the reason for keeping the insurance card handy. Here the possible future need at reception explains the instruction. Use 「理由ので、結果」 to connect a reason with a result in a relatively soft explanatory way.
ところ
「ところ」 means “place” in 「すぐ出せるところ」. It refers to a place where the insurance card can be taken out easily. Use 「動詞の普通形＋ところ」 to describe a place or situation connected with an action.
置いて
「置いて」 means “put” or “place” and introduces the action of putting the card somewhere. In 「置いておいてください」, it connects the placement to the instruction to leave it there. Use 「物を場所に置く」 for placing an item somewhere.
おいて
「おいて」 means “leave or keep it that way” in 「置いておいてください」. After 「置いて」, it shows that the card should remain placed and ready for later use. Use 「〜ておく」 when doing something in advance or leaving the result prepared.
Grammar Points
Vて、Vて
用紙に記入して、それから受付に渡して。
YOH-shee nee kee-NYOO shee-teh, soh-reh-kah-RAH oo-keh-tsoo-keh nee wah-TAH-shee-teh.Fill out the form, then hand it to reception.
The て-form connects actions in sequence. それから means “then” and makes the order clear.
Vる＋はずです
看護師がすぐに呼ぶはずです。
kahn-GOH-shee gah SOO-goo nee YOH-boo hah-zoo dess.The nurse should call soon.
はずです expresses an expectation based on what is known or scheduled.
Japanese Vocabulary
すみません
intj
soo-mee-mah-SEN
excuse me
すみません、待合室はどこですか?
記入する
verb
kee-NYOO soo-ROO
to fill out; to write in
記入して
この用紙に記入してください。
左手
noun
hee-dah-ree-TEH
left side
左手にあります。
座る
verb
sah-ROO
to sit down
座る前に受付をする必要がありますか?
受付
noun
oo-keh-tsoo-keh
check-in; reception
座る前に受付をする必要がありますか?
受付カウンター
noun
oo-keh-tsoo-keh KAH-oon-tah-ah
front desk; reception counter
受付カウンターを通り過ぎてください。
先に
adv
SAH-kee nee
first; beforehand
先にこの用紙に記入してください。
前に
phrase
mah-eh nee
before
座る前に受付をする必要がありますか?
待合室
noun
mah-chee-ah-ee-SHIT-soo
waiting room
待合室はどこですか?
通り過ぎる
verb
toh-ree-soo-GEE-roo
to go past; to pass by
通り過ぎて
受付カウンターを通り過ぎてください。
必要
adj
hee-tsoo-YOH
necessary; need
受付をする必要がありますか?
用紙
noun
YOH-shee
form; sheet of paper
この用紙に記入してください。
Quiz
Spelling
Tap the letters to spell the word.
to go past; to pass by
Show Answer
通り過ぎてexcuse me
Show Answer
すみませんfront desk; reception counter
Show Answer
受付カウンターto fill out; to write in