About This Lesson
Use Troubleshooting an Unstable Internet Connection to practice Japanese conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.
Dialogue
A
インターネット接続は今朝から不安定です。
een-tah-NEHT-toh seht-SOO-zoh-koo wa keh-SAH kah-rah foo-ahn-TEH dehs. The internet connection has been unstable since this morning.
A
私のビデオ通話はもうすぐ始まります。
wa-TAH-shee no bee-deh-oh TSOO-wah wa moh-ooh-SOO-goo hah-jee-mah-ree-MAHS. My video call starts soon.
B
今、別の機器が帯域幅を使いすぎていないか確認してください。
ee-MAH, BEH-tsu no kee-kee gah tie-EE-kee HAH-bah oh tsoo-kah-ee-soo-GEE-teh ee-NAI kah kah-koo-NEEN sheh-teh koo-dah-SAI. See if another device is using too much bandwidth right now.
A
タブレットが更新をダウンロードしているので、すべてが遅く感じる理由はそれかもしれません。
tah-boo-REHT-toh gah KOH-sheen oh dah-oon-ROH-doh sheh-teh ee-roo noh-deh, soo-BEH-teh gah oh-SOH-koo KAHN-jee-roo ree-YOO wa soh-reh kah moh-shee-reh-MAH-sehn. The tablet is downloading updates, so that might explain why everything feels slow.
B
更新を一時停止して、それでも接続が途切れるならルーターを再起動してください。
KOH-sheen oh EE-chee-jee TAY-shee sheh-teh, soh-reh-deh-moh seht-SOO-zoh-koo gah toh-KEE-reh-roo nah-rah ROO-tah oh SAI-kee-doh sheh-teh koo-dah-SAI. Pause the update, then restart the router if the signal still drops.
A
速度は遅いですが、予備として私のスマートフォンのテザリングも使えます。
SOH-koo-doh wa oh-SOH-ee deh-soo-gah, yoh-BEE toh-shee-teh wa-TAH-shee no soo-MAH-toh-fohn no teh-zah-REEN-goo moh tsoo-kah-eh-MAHS. I also have my phone's hotspot as a backup, although it is slower.
B
会議中にテザリングが不安定になったら、音声だけに切り替えてください。
KAI-gee-choo nee teh-zah-REEN-goo gah foo-ahn-TEH nee nah-tah-rah, ohn-SEH-ee dah-keh nee kee-ree-KAH-eh-teh koo-dah-SAI. If the hotspot gets shaky during the meeting, switch to audio only.
A
通話が始まる前に、チームに知らせたほうがいいですか。
TSOO-wah gah hah-jee-MAH-roo MAH-eh nee, CHEE-moo nee shee-rah-SEH-tah HOH gah EE dehs-kah. Should I warn the team before the call begins?
B
短いメッセージがあれば、チームの人たちは何が起きているか理解しやすくなります。
tahn-KAI mehs-SEH-jee gah ah-reh-bah, CHEE-moo no HEE-toh-tah-chee wa nah-nee gah oh-KEE-teh ee-roo kah ree-KAI shee-YAH-soo-koo nah-ree-MAHS. A short message would help them understand what is happening.
A
通話が固まったら、ネットワークを切り替えるかもしれないと伝えられます。
TSOO-wah gah koh-TAH-mah-tah-rah, NEHT-toh-WAH-koo oh kee-ree-KAH-eh-roo kah moh-shee-reh-NAI toh tsoo-tah-eh-rah-reh-MAHS. I can say I may switch networks if the call freezes.
B
そうすれば、みんなはあなたが突然通話を抜けたと思わずに済むでしょう。
soh-oh soo-reh-bah, MEEN-nah wa ah-nah-TAH gah too-ZEN TSOO-wah oh noo-KEH-tah toh oh-MOH-wah-zoo nee soo-MOO deh-SHOH. That should keep people from thinking you suddenly left.Word by Word
インターネット
「インターネット」means the internet, the online network referred to in 「インターネット接続」. It is commonly used before words about access or services, such as a connection or service.
接続
「接続」means a connection, here the internet connection. It is commonly used in compounds such as 「インターネット接続」 and with words describing whether access is working.
は
「は」marks 「インターネット接続」as the topic of the sentence. It sets up what the speaker is describing, and it is commonly used after a noun when giving information about that topic.
今朝
「今朝」means this morning, the starting time referred to in the dialogue. It can be followed by 「から」 to say that a situation has continued from this morning.
から
「から」means from or since after 「今朝」, showing when the unstable connection began. It commonly follows a time expression to mark the starting point of an ongoing situation.
不安定
「不安定」describes the internet connection as unstable or unreliable in 「インターネット接続は今朝から不安定です」. It is useful when reporting a connection, condition, or situation that does not remain steady.
です
「です」makes the statement polite in 「不安定です」. It is used after a description or noun phrase when giving information politely, including when reporting a problem.
私
「私」means I or my in this dialogue, as shown by 「私のビデオ通話」. It identifies the speaker or something belonging to the speaker and is useful when clarifying whose device, call, or plan is involved.
の
「の」links 「私」to 「ビデオ通話」 and shows that the video call belongs to or concerns the speaker. It commonly connects an owner or related noun to the noun that follows.
ビデオ
「ビデオ」means video in 「ビデオ通話」. It specifies that the call involves video and commonly appears before another noun to describe a video-related item or activity.
通話
「通話」means a call, specifically the call that is about to begin in 「ビデオ通話」. It is useful when discussing phone or online calls, especially together with a word describing the type of call.
もうすぐ
「もうすぐ」means soon, indicating that the video call will begin in a short time. It is commonly placed before an action or event that is expected shortly.
始まります
「始まります」means starts or begins in the polite statement 「ビデオ通話はもうすぐ始まります」. It describes an event beginning and is useful for announcing when a meeting, call, or program will start.
今
「今」means now, referring to the present moment in 「今、別の機器が」. It is commonly placed near the beginning of a sentence when checking or describing what is happening at this moment.
別
「別」means another or different in 「別の機器」. With 「の」, it identifies a device other than the one already being considered, and the same pattern can distinguish another person, place, or option.
機器
「機器」means device or equipment, here a device using bandwidth. It is a practical term for electronic equipment and can be followed by 「が」 when the device is the subject of an action.
が
「が」marks 「別の機器」as the subject of 「使いすぎていない」. It is commonly used when identifying which device, person, or thing is performing an action or meeting a condition.
帯域幅
「帯域幅」means bandwidth, the network capacity that another device may be using too much of. It is used in technical discussions about network speed, capacity, and connection problems.
を
「を」marks 「帯域幅」as the object being used in 「帯域幅を使いすぎていない」. It commonly follows the thing that an action directly affects or uses.
使いすぎていない
「使いすぎていない」means is not using too much, asking whether the device is exceeding a reasonable amount of bandwidth use. The form combines excessive use with a negative ongoing condition and is useful when checking whether something is consuming too many resources.
か
Here 「か」helps turn the preceding clause into an embedded whether-question in 「使いすぎていないか確認してください」. It is useful when asking someone to check whether a condition is true rather than asking a direct question.
確認して
「確認して」means check or confirm in the request 「確認してください」. This form links the checking action to the polite request that follows, and it is useful when asking someone to verify a setting, condition, or fact.
ください
「ください」makes 「確認して」 a polite request: please check. It commonly follows a verb in the connecting form when asking another person to do something.
タブレット
「タブレット」means tablet, the device downloading updates in the dialogue. It is commonly used for a tablet computer and can be followed by 「が」 when it is the subject of an action.
更新
「更新」means an update in 「更新をダウンロードしている」. It refers to new software or system data and commonly appears as the object of downloading, installing, or pausing.
ダウンロード
「ダウンロード」means download in 「ダウンロードしている」. It names the action of receiving data onto a device and is commonly followed by 「する」 or 「している」.
している
「している」shows that the tablet is currently carrying out the action named before it, here downloading updates. It is useful for describing an action in progress or a current ongoing activity.
ので
「ので」connects the tablet's downloading updates with the explanation that follows, giving the reason or cause. It is commonly used after a clause when explaining why a situation may be happening.
すべて
「すべて」means everything, referring to all the things that feel slow. It is useful before a description when the speaker means the whole set rather than only one item.
遅く
「遅く」means slowly or slow in the form 「遅く感じる」, describing how everything seems to the speaker. It is the form used before 「感じる」 and other verbs when describing something as slow in manner or effect.
感じる
「感じる」means feel or perceive in 「すべてが遅く感じる」. It describes the speaker's experience of the system seeming slow and is useful with an adjective-like description of how something seems.
理由
「理由」means reason in 「理由はそれかもしれません」. It identifies the cause being considered and is commonly used when explaining why a problem or result occurred.
それ
「それ」means that or it, referring here to the tablet downloading updates. It points back to information already mentioned and is useful when referring to a previously stated cause, object, or situation.
かもしれません
The whole 「かもしれません」marks a polite possibility: it may or might be so. In this fixed expression, 「か」starts the possibility pattern, while 「も」「しれ」「ません」complete it; together they show that the speaker is not certain. Use it when offering a possible explanation without presenting it as a fact.
一時停止して
「一時停止して」means pause temporarily, here telling someone to pause the update. It links the pause action to the next instruction and is useful for temporarily stopping a download, playback, or process.
それでも
「それでも」means even so or still, introducing the condition that the connection may continue to drop after the update is paused. It is useful when the next situation remains possible despite the preceding action or fact.
途切れる
「途切れる」means become interrupted or disconnected, here describing the signal dropping. It is useful for calls, signals, audio, or connections that stop briefly or fail to continue smoothly.
なら
「なら」means if or if that is the case in 「それでも接続が途切れるなら」. It sets a condition for the router instruction and is useful when responding to a possible situation with advice or an action.
ルーター
「ルーター」means router, the network device to restart if the connection still drops. It is commonly used in home or office internet troubleshooting.
再起動して
「再起動して」means restart and is used here as an instruction to restart the router. It links the restart action to the polite request ending and is useful for devices or software that may recover after restarting.
速度
「速度」means speed, here the speed of the phone's hotspot connection. It is useful when comparing how fast an internet connection, download, or other process is.
遅い
「遅い」means slow in 「速度は遅い」. It describes the backup hotspot's speed and is commonly used when evaluating a connection, response, movement, or process.
ですが
「ですが」means but or although, contrasting the hotspot's availability with its slower speed. It is useful for adding a limitation or contrast politely after a statement.
予備
「予備」means backup or reserve in 「予備として」. It identifies something kept for use if the main option fails and is useful when discussing backup equipment, plans, or resources.
として
「として」means as or for use as, showing that the tethering is available in the role of a backup in 「予備として」. It commonly follows a noun when describing a role, purpose, or status.
スマートフォン
「スマートフォン」means smartphone, the phone providing the backup tethering. It is useful when identifying a mobile device in discussions about calls, apps, settings, or internet access.
テザリング
「テザリング」means phone hotspot tethering, the backup connection available from the smartphone. It is used when a phone shares its internet connection with another device and is especially relevant to backup connectivity.
も
「も」means also or too in 「テザリングも使えます」, adding tethering to the available connection options. It commonly follows the noun for an additional person, thing, or possibility.
使えます
「使えます」means can use or is available for use in this context, referring to the tethering. It expresses that an option is usable and is useful when offering an alternative tool, method, or resource.
会議
「会議」means meeting in 「会議中」. It refers to the meeting during which the hotspot may become unstable and is useful for workplace or group discussions.
中
「中」means during or in the middle of in 「会議中」. After an activity noun, it marks the time while that activity is taking place, such as during a meeting or call.
に
Here 「に」marks the time or situation in which the hotspot becomes unstable, in 「会議中に」. It is commonly used after a time expression or event when saying that something happens during it.
なったら
「なったら」means if it becomes or when it becomes, referring to the hotspot becoming shaky in 「テザリングが不安定になったら」. It sets a condition for the following instruction and is useful for planning what to do when a state changes.
音声
「音声」means audio or voice, referring to the audio-only mode. It is useful when distinguishing sound from video in calls, recordings, or device settings.
だけ
「だけ」means only in 「音声だけ」, limiting the call to audio. It commonly follows the thing that remains or is included when excluding other parts.
切り替えて
「切り替えて」means switch or change over to another mode, here switching to audio only. It links the requested switch to the polite request and is useful for changing networks, settings, channels, or modes.
始まる
「始まる」means begin in 「通話が始まる前に」. It describes an event starting and is useful when placing an action before a meeting, call, class, or other event.
前
「前」means before in 「通話が始まる前に」. It places the action of informing the team earlier than the call and is commonly used after a clause or noun to express an earlier time.
チーム
「チーム」means team, the group that may need to be warned before the call. It is useful for referring to a work or activity group when communicating shared information.
知らせた
「知らせた」means informed or told in the question 「チームに知らせたほうがいいですか」. It refers to giving the team information and is useful when discussing whether someone should notify another person or group.
ほうがいい
The whole 「ほうがいい」means it would be better to or should, giving advice; in 「知らせたほうがいいですか」 it asks whether informing the team is advisable. Here 「ほう」 presents the option, 「が」 marks it, and 「いい」 describes it as better. Use this pattern when asking for or giving practical advice about an action.
ですか
The whole 「ですか」forms a polite question ending, turning the advice question into a polite request for guidance. 「です」provides the polite sentence frame and 「か」marks the sentence as a question. It is useful when asking politely whether something is the case or advisable.
短い
「短い」means short, describing the length of the message in 「短いメッセージ」. It is useful for describing something with limited length or duration, such as a message, meeting, or explanation.
メッセージ
「メッセージ」means message, the short communication that would help the team understand the problem. It is useful for written or spoken information sent to another person or group.
あれば
「あれば」means if there is one or if it is available, referring to having a short message in 「短いメッセージがあれば」. It sets a condition for the helpful result that follows and is useful when discussing whether a resource or option exists.
人たち
「人たち」means people, here the members of the team who need to understand what is happening. The ending 「たち」marks a group of people and is useful when referring to several people together.
何
「何」means what in 「何が起きているか」. It asks about the unspecified situation or event and is useful inside an embedded question about what is happening.
起きている
「起きている」means is happening in 「何が起きているか」. It describes a current event or situation in progress and is useful when asking or explaining what is going on now.
理解しやすく
「理解しやすく」means easy to understand in 「理解しやすくなります」. The form links the idea of being easy to understand to a change of state and is useful when describing information that becomes clearer for someone.
なります
「なります」means becomes in 「理解しやすくなります」. It shows a change into the state described before it and is useful for explaining how an action or condition makes something different.
ネットワーク
「ネットワーク」means network, the connection that may be changed if the call freezes. It is useful when discussing internet access, connected systems, or switching between connection options.
固まったら
「固まったら」means if it freezes or becomes unresponsive, referring to the call in 「通話が固まったら」. It sets a condition for switching networks and is useful when describing software, screens, or calls that stop responding.
切り替える
「切り替える」means switch to another option, here switching networks. It is the plain form used after 「かもしれない」 and is useful when changing from one network, mode, setting, or choice to another.
かもしれない
The whole 「かもしれない」marks a plain-style possibility: may or might, as in possibly switching networks. In this fixed expression, 「か」starts the possibility pattern, while 「も」「しれ」「ない」complete it. Use it when stating an uncertain future action or possibility in a less formal form.
と
「と」marks the preceding words as what the speaker can say in 「切り替えるかもしれないと伝えられます」. It is a quotative marker and commonly follows a statement, thought, or message before a verb such as telling or reporting.
伝えられます
「伝えられます」means can tell or can convey, referring to informing the team about a possible network switch. It expresses the ability or possibility of communicating information and is useful when explaining what message can be given to others.
そう
「そう」means that way or so, referring to the action of warning the team. It points back to the preceding plan and is useful when describing the result of carrying out an already mentioned action.
すれば
「すれば」means if one does that or by doing that, linking the warning message to its expected result in 「そうすれば」. It is useful for explaining what will happen if a proposed action is taken.
みんな
「みんな」means everyone or everybody, referring to the people who might otherwise misunderstand the sudden disappearance. It is useful for referring to all members of a group in an everyday way.
あなた
「あなた」means you, identifying the person whom others might think left. It can be used when the listener's identity needs to be made explicit, although Japanese often leaves this pronoun unstated when the context is clear.
突然
「突然」means suddenly, describing how the person might appear to have left. It is useful for emphasizing that an event happened unexpectedly or without warning.
抜けた
「抜けた」means left or dropped out in the context of leaving the call. It describes a completed departure and is useful for saying that someone left a meeting, group, or online session.
思わずに済む
The whole 「思わずに済む」means can avoid thinking that something happened or need not come to that conclusion. Here 「思わずに」means without thinking it, while 「済む」expresses that the undesirable situation can be avoided. Use it when an action prevents someone from reaching a mistaken or unwanted conclusion.
でしょう
「でしょう」means probably or should in 「思わずに済むでしょう」, presenting the expected result with some qualification. It is useful when making a polite prediction or indicating that an outcome is likely rather than certain.
Grammar Points
～たら
ネットワークが固まったら、再起動してください。
NEHT-toh-WAH-koo gah koh-TAH-maht-tah-rah, SAI-kee-doh sheh-teh koo-dah-SAI.If the network freezes, please restart it.
～たら expresses a condition: “if” or “when” something happens. It introduces the action to take afterward.
～ている
更新をダウンロードしている。
KOH-sheen oh dah-oon-ROH-doh sheh-teh ee-roo.I am downloading the update.
～ている describes an action in progress, similar to “be doing” in English.
Japanese Vocabulary
インターネット接続
noun
een-tah-NEHT-toh seht-SOO-zoh-koo
internet connection
ダウンロードする
verb
dah-oon-ROH-doh soo-roo
to download
ダウンロードしている
ビデオ通話
noun
bee-deh-oh TSOO-wah
video call
もうすぐ
adv
moh-ooh-SOO-goo
soon
確認する
verb
kah-koo-NEEN soo-roo
to check; to confirm
確認してください
機器
noun
kee-kee
device
更新
noun
KOH-sheen
update
今朝
noun
keh-SAH
this morning
使いすぎる
verb
tsoo-kah-ee-soo-GEE-roo
to use too much
使いすぎていない
始まる
verb
hah-jee-MAH-roo
to begin; to start
始まります
帯域幅
noun
tie-EE-kee HAH-bah
bandwidth
不安定
adj
foo-ahn-TEH
unstable
Quiz
Spelling
Tap the letters to spell the word.
to begin; to start
Show Answer
始まりますinternet connection
Show Answer
インターネット接続soon
Show Answer
もうすぐvideo call