About This Lesson
Use Comparing an Online Listing with an In-Store Backpack Check to practice Japanese conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.
Dialogue
A
オンラインの商品情報は役に立ちます。
ohn-RAH-een no SHOH-hin joh-HOH wa yah-koo nee tee-MAHS. The online listing is helpful.
A
でも、実際にバックパックを試してみたいです。
deh-MOH, jiss-EYE nee BAH-koo-PAH-koo oh TAH-shee-teh mee-TAH-ee dehss. But I want to try the backpack in person.
B
店では、肩ひも、ファスナー、素材をよく確認できます。
MEE-seh deh-WAH, kah-tah-HEE-moh, fah-soo-NAH, soh-ZAI oh YOH-koo kah-koo-NEEN deh-kee-MAHS. In the shop, you can check the straps, zipper, and material closely.
A
いくつかのレビューでファスナーが弱いと書かれているので、その部分を注意して試したいです。
ee-KOOT-soo-kah no ree-BYOO deh, fah-soo-NAH gah yoh-WAH-ee toh KAH-kah-reh-teh ee-ROO no deh, soh-noh BOO-boon oh CHOO-ee sheh-teh TAH-shee-TAH-ee dehss. Several reviews mention weak zippers, so I want to test that part carefully.
B
では、何回か開けてみてください。
deh-WAH, nahn-KAI kah ah-KEH-teh mee-TEH koo-DAH-sigh. Then try opening it a few times.
B
決める前に、交換についてのルールを聞いてください。
kee-MEH-roo maeh nee, koh-KAHN nee tsoo-EE-teh noh ROO-roo oh KEE-teh koo-DAH-sigh. Ask about the exchange policy before you decide.
A
ここにあるもののほうが丈夫そうに感じますが、ウェブサイトのほうが色の選択肢をもっとはっきり見せています。
koh-KOH nee ah-ROO moh-noh noh hoh gah JOH-boo-soh nee kahn-JEE-MAHS gah, weh-boo-SAI-toh noh hoh gah ee-ROH noh sen-TAH-koo-shee oh MOHT-toh HAHK-kee-ree mee-SEH-teh ee-MAHS. The one here feels stronger, though the website shows the color options more clearly.
B
選択肢はウェブサイトで確認してください。
sen-TAH-koo-shee wah weh-boo-SAI-toh deh kah-koo-NEEN sheh-teh koo-DAH-sigh. Use the website for the options.
B
店に行って、品質を判断してください。
MEE-seh nee EET-teh, HEEN-shee-tsoo oh HAHN-dahn sheh-teh koo-DAH-sigh. Use the shop visit to judge the quality.
A
それなら、二つをもっとはっきり比べられます。
soh-reh NAH-rah, foo-TAH-tsoo oh MOHT-toh HAHK-kee-ree koo-RAH-beh-rah-reh-MAHS. That gives me a clearer way to compare them.
B
信頼できそうで、欲しいスタイルもあるものを選んでください。
sheen-RAH-ee deh-kee-SOH deh, hoh-SHEE-ee stah-EE-roo moh ah-ROO moh-noh oh eh-RAHN-deh koo-DAH-sigh. Choose the one that feels reliable and still has the style you want.Word by Word
オンライン
オンライン means “online” here and describes where the 商品情報 is available. A common reuse pattern is オンラインで確認する, “check online.” You would use it when talking about information or services accessed through the internet.
の
の links オンライン to 商品情報, making オンラインの商品情報 mean “online product information.” It connects a describing word or phrase to the noun that follows. A common reuse pattern is 店の情報, “information about the shop.”
商品
商品 means “product” in 商品情報, referring to the item being sold. It combines with a noun such as 情報 to specify what kind of information it is. You would use it when discussing goods in a shop or online listing.
情報
情報 means “information” here, specifically the product details available online. In オンラインの商品情報, it is the main noun modified by the preceding words. A common reuse pattern is 商品情報を確認する, “check the product information.”
は
は marks 商品情報 as the topic of オンラインの商品情報は役に立ちます. The sentence says that, as for the product information, it is helpful. A common reuse pattern is Xは便利です, “X is convenient.”
役に立ちます
役に立ちます means “is helpful” or “is useful” in オンラインの商品情報は役に立ちます. The whole expression combines 役, a useful role, に, which links that role to a state, and 立ちます, the polite form used in the expression. You can reuse it with a resource or action, such as この情報は役に立ちます, “this information is useful.”
でも
でも means “but” here and introduces a preference that differs from the usefulness just mentioned. It connects the next sentence to the previous idea. You would use it to make a simple contrast in conversation.
実際
実際 means “in reality” or “actually” in 実際にバックパックを試してみたいです. It emphasizes trying the backpack firsthand rather than relying only on online information. A common reuse pattern is 実際に見る, “see it in person.”
に
に makes 実際に function adverbially, so 実際にバックパックを試してみたいです means wanting to try the backpack in person. Here it connects 実際 to the action that follows. A common reuse pattern is 実際に確認する, “check in person.”
バックパック
バックパック means “backpack” here, the product being tested in the shop. It is followed by を because it is the object of 試して. You would use it when discussing a backpack as an item to buy, carry, or inspect.
を
を marks バックパック as the object of 試してみたいです. It shows what the speaker wants to try. A common reuse pattern is 商品を試す, “try a product.”
試して
試して means “try” or “test” here and begins the expression 試してみたいです. It presents the action of testing the backpack firsthand. A common reuse pattern is 実物を試してみる, “try the actual item.”
みたい
みたい in 試してみたいです means “want to try doing” the action of 試して. Together, 試してみたいです expresses the speaker’s wish to test the backpack. A common reuse pattern is 見てみたい, “want to take a look.”
です
です gives the sentence a polite ending in 実際にバックパックを試してみたいです. It makes the statement suitable for a polite conversation. It follows the desire expressed by 試してみたい.
店
店 means “shop” or “store” here, the place where the backpack can be checked. It appears in 店では to set the shop as the location for the following action. A common reuse pattern is 店で確認する, “check at the shop.”
では
では means “at the shop” in 店では、肩ひも、ファスナー、素材をよく確認できます. The whole form combines で, which marks the place of the action, with は, which presents that place as the topic or setting. You can reuse the pattern 店ではXできます, “at the shop, you can do X.”
肩ひも
肩ひも means “shoulder strap” here, one part of the backpack being checked. It is listed together with ファスナー and 素材 as objects of inspection. You would use it when discussing the straps that rest on the shoulders.
ファスナー
ファスナー means “zipper” here, a backpack part that the speakers want to inspect and test. It is also the subject of 弱いと書かれている in the later sentence. You would use it when discussing whether a bag or item opens and closes reliably.
素材
素材 means “material” here, referring to what the backpack is made from. It is one of the things that can be checked closely in the shop. A common reuse pattern is 素材を確認する, “check the material.”
よく
よく means “closely” or “carefully” in 肩ひも、ファスナー、素材をよく確認できます. It modifies 確認できます and indicates thorough checking. You would use it before an action when telling someone to inspect something carefully.
確認
確認 means “checking” or “confirmation” here. In 確認できます, it refers to inspecting the straps, zipper, and material. A common reuse pattern is 情報を確認する, “check the information.”
できます
できます means “can do” here, so 確認できます means “can check.” It expresses that the shop visit makes this inspection possible. A common reuse pattern is 店で試すことができます, “you can try it at the shop.”
いくつか
いくつか means “several” or “some” in いくつかのレビュー. It gives an indefinite but more-than-one quantity for the reviews. A common reuse pattern is いくつかの例, “several examples.”
レビュー
レビュー means “review” here, referring to customer comments about the backpack. It is followed by で because the reviews are the source in which the information is written. You would use it when discussing customer feedback about a product.
で
で marks いくつかのレビュー as the place or source where the statement is written in いくつかのレビューでファスナーが弱いと書かれている. Here it indicates “in the reviews” rather than the location of a physical action. A common reuse pattern is 説明で確認する, “confirm in the explanation.”
が
が marks ファスナー as the subject of 弱いと書かれている. The reviews say that the zipper is weak. A common reuse pattern is Xが弱い, “X is weak.”
弱い
弱い means “weak” here and describes the zipper in the reviews. It is the content reported by 弱いと書かれている. You would use it when a product part does not seem strong or durable.
と
と marks 弱い as the quoted content in 弱いと書かれている. It links the statement “the zipper is weak” to the verb meaning “is written.” A common reuse pattern is Xと書いてある, “it says X in writing.”
書かれて
書かれて means “written” here as part of 弱いと書かれている. It presents the review content as something recorded in writing. A common reuse pattern is 説明に書かれている, “it is written in the explanation.”
いる
いる in 弱いと書かれている shows that the written statement is currently present in the reviews. Together with 書かれて, it describes an existing written state. You would use this pattern when information remains written in a notice, review, or document.
ので
ので means “because” or “so” here and connects the written warning about weak zippers with the speaker’s wish to test that part. It gives the reason for the following action. A common reuse pattern is 心配なので確認します, “because I am concerned, I will check.”
その
その means “that” or “the mentioned” here and points back to the zipper issue just discussed. In その部分, it identifies the particular part to be tested. A common reuse pattern is その問題, “that problem.”
部分
部分 means “part” here, specifically the part of the backpack associated with the possible zipper problem. その部分 refers back to the zipper-related part without naming it again. You would use it when focusing on one section of an object.
注意して
注意して means “carefully” or “while paying attention” here and modifies the action of testing the part. It tells the listener that the test should be done with care. A common reuse pattern is 注意して見る, “look carefully.”
試したい
試したい means “want to test” here, referring to the speaker’s wish to test the part carefully. It expresses a desire to perform the action 試す. A common reuse pattern is 実際に試したい, “want to try it in person.”
何回か
何回か means “a few times” in 何回か開けてみてください. 何回 asks about the number of times, and か makes the number indefinite, giving the meaning “several” or “a few.” You can reuse it with an action such as 何回か確認する, “check a few times.”
開けて
開けて means “open” here and introduces the action in 開けてみてください. The listener is asked to open the zipper a few times as a test. A common reuse pattern is ドアを開けてみる, “try opening the door.”
みて
みて means “try doing” in 開けてみてください. Together with 開けて, it asks the listener to try opening the item. A common reuse pattern is 使ってみてください, “please try using it.”
ください
ください makes 開けてみてください a polite request: “please try opening it.” It follows the action phrase and softens the instruction for the listener. You would use it when politely asking someone to perform an action.
決める
決める means “decide” here, referring to deciding which product to choose. In 決める前に, it names the action that should happen after asking about the exchange policy. A common reuse pattern is 買うと決める, “decide to buy.”
前
前 means “before” in 決める前に. It places the request to ask about the policy before the decision is made. A common reuse pattern is 出かける前に確認する, “check before going out.”
交換
交換 means “exchange” or “replacement” here, referring to changing the purchased item under the shop’s policy. It is followed by についてのルール to specify the subject of the rules. You would use it when discussing replacing an item with another one.
について
について means “about” or “concerning” in 交換についてのルール. The whole expression combines に, which marks the topic, with ついて, forming the phrase “about.” A common reuse pattern is 商品について聞く, “ask about the product.”
ルール
ルール means “rule” or “policy” here, specifically the shop’s rules about exchanges. It is the thing the listener is asked to ask about. You would use it when discussing conditions that govern an action.
聞いて
聞いて means “ask” here in 聞いてください, referring to asking about the exchange rules. In this context, it does not mean simply listening; the object of the question is 交換についてのルール. A common reuse pattern is 店員に聞いてください, “please ask the shop staff.”
ここ
ここ means “here” and points to the item located at the current shop or place. In ここにあるもの, it helps identify the item being compared with the website information. You would use it to refer to something near the speaker.
ある
ある means “is located” or “exists” here in ここにあるもの. It describes the item’s presence at the place indicated by ここ. A common reuse pattern is 机の上にある本, “the book on the desk.”
もの
もの means “thing,” “item,” or “one” here, referring to the backpack item located here. In ここにあるもの, it allows the speaker to refer to the product without repeating its name. You would use it when choosing or comparing an item.
のほうが
のほうが marks the item or side that is comparatively stronger in ここにあるもののほうが丈夫そうに感じます. The whole construction combines の, which lets the preceding phrase identify the item, ほう, meaning the side or one under comparison, and が, which marks that compared side. A common reuse pattern is Aのほうが安い, “A is cheaper.”
丈夫そう
丈夫そう means “seems sturdy” here and describes the item in ここにあるもののほうが丈夫そうに感じます. そう adds an appearance-based meaning, so the speaker is reporting an impression rather than a confirmed fact. You would use it when judging apparent durability from what you can see or feel.
感じます
感じます means “feel” or “sense” here, expressing the speaker’s impression that the item seems sturdy. It makes the judgment personal and based on the speaker’s experience. A common reuse pattern is 使いやすいと感じます, “I feel that it is easy to use.”
ウェブサイト
ウェブサイト means “website” here, the online source that displays the color choices clearly. It is contrasted with the item available at the shop. You would use it when referring to a site used to view product information.
色
色 means “color” here and specifies what kind of choices the website displays. It combines with 選択肢 in 色の選択肢, “color options.” A common reuse pattern is 色を選ぶ, “choose a color.”
選択肢
選択肢 means “option” or “choice” here, specifically the available colors. In 色の選択肢, it refers to the alternatives shown on the website. You would use it when discussing different possibilities from which someone can choose.
もっと
もっと means “more” here and indicates that the website shows the color choices more clearly than the shop item does. It increases the degree expressed by はっきり. A common reuse pattern is もっと詳しく見る, “look in more detail.”
はっきり
はっきり means “clearly” here and describes how the website shows the color options. With もっと, it means “more clearly.” You would use it when information, an image, or an explanation is easy to distinguish.
見せて
見せて means “show” here in 色の選択肢をもっとはっきり見せています. It describes the website as presenting the color options visibly. A common reuse pattern is 写真を見せてください, “please show me the photo.”
います
います in 見せています helps describe the website as currently showing the color options. Together with 見せて, it presents the showing as an ongoing state. You would use this pattern when something is presently displaying or doing something.
確認して
確認して means “check” or “confirm” here in 選択肢はウェブサイトで確認してください. It asks the listener to check the available options on the website. A common reuse pattern is 予定を確認してください, “please check the schedule.”
行って
行って means “go and” here in 店に行って、品質を判断してください. It links going to the shop with the following action of judging the quality. A common reuse pattern is 店に行って確認する, “go to the shop and check.”
品質
品質 means “quality” here, referring to how well-made or reliable the backpack seems. It is the object of 判断してください. You would use it when assessing a product’s standard or condition.
判断して
判断して means “judge” or “assess” here, referring to assessing the backpack’s quality during the shop visit. It follows the action of going to the shop. A common reuse pattern is 状況を判断する, “assess the situation.”
それなら
それなら means “then” or “in that case” here and responds to the proposed use of the website and shop visit. It introduces the speaker’s conclusion that comparison will become clearer. You would use it when drawing a conclusion from information just mentioned.
比べられます
比べられます means “can compare” here, referring to comparing the two product information sources or items. It expresses that the suggested approach makes comparison possible. A common reuse pattern is 二つを比べられます, “you can compare the two.”
信頼
信頼 means “trust” or “reliability” here as the first part of 信頼できそう. It identifies the quality the chosen item should appear to have. You would use it when discussing whether a product, person, or source can be trusted.
できそう
できそう means “seems possible” or “seems able” here in 信頼できそう. Together with 信頼, it means “seems reliable,” indicating an appearance or impression rather than certainty. A common reuse pattern is 使えそう, “seems usable.”
欲しい
欲しい means “wanted” or “desired” here and describes the style the listener wants to have. In 欲しいスタイル, it modifies the following noun. A common reuse pattern is 欲しいもの, “the thing I want.”
スタイル
スタイル means “style” here, referring to the design or appearance the shopper wants. It is modified by 欲しい in 欲しいスタイル. You would use it when discussing a product’s look or design.
も
も means “also” or “too” in 欲しいスタイルもあるもの. It adds having the desired style to the other requirement of seeming reliable. A common reuse pattern is 色も形もいい, “both the color and shape are good.”
選んで
選んで means “choose” here in 選んでください, a polite instruction to select the item that seems reliable and has the desired style. It is followed by ください to make the request polite. A common reuse pattern is 好きなものを選んでください, “please choose the one you like.”
Grammar Points
～てみたいです
実際に試してみたいです。
jiss-EYE nee TAH-shee-teh mee-TAH-ee dehss.I want to try it in person.
Attach ～てみたいです to a verb to say that you want to try doing something.
～そうです
信頼できそうです。
sheen-RAH-ee deh-kee-SOH dehss.It seems reliable.
Attach ～そうです to express an impression based on appearance or evidence.
Japanese Vocabulary
いくつか
det
ee-KOOT-soo-kah
several; some
ファスナー
noun
fah-soo-NAH
zipper
レビュー
noun
ree-BYOO
review
確認できます
phrase
kah-koo-NEEN deh-kee-MAHS
can check
肩ひも
noun
kah-tah-HEE-moh
strap
試してみたいです
phrase
TAH-shee-teh mee-TAH-ee dehss
want to try
実際に
adv
jiss-EYE nee
in person; actually
弱い
adj
yoh-WAH-ee
weak
商品情報
noun
SHOH-hin joh-HOH
product information
素材
noun
soh-ZAI
material
部分
noun
BOO-boon
part
役に立ちます
verb
yah-koo nee tee-MAHS
is helpful
Quiz
Spelling
Tap the letters to spell the word.
want to try
Show Answer
試してみたいですzipper
Show Answer
ファスナーseveral; some
Show Answer
いくつかis helpful