About This Lesson
Use Reporting a Lost Umbrella on a Bus to practice Japanese conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.
Dialogue
A
今朝、バスに傘を置き忘れました。
KEH-sah, bah-soo nee kah-sah oh oh-kee-wah-soo-reh-mah-SHEE-tah. I left my umbrella on the bus this morning.
B
乗車情報を添えて、遺失物届を出してください。
JOH-shah joh-HOH oh soh-eh-teh, ee-shee-tsoo-boo-toh-deh oh dah-shi-teh koo-dah-SIGH. You should file a lost item report with the trip details.
A
朝のラッシュ時にここに停まったバスにありました。
ah-SAH no rah-shoo-jee nee KOH-koh nee toh-mah-tah bah-soo nee ah-ree-mah-SHEE-tah. It was on the bus that stopped here during the morning rush.
B
傘の特徴を詳しく説明できますか。
kah-SAH no toh-koo-CHOH oh koo-wah-SHEE-koo seh-tsu-meh dee-kee-mah-SOO kah? Can you describe the umbrella clearly?
A
濃紺色で折りたたんであり、木製の持ち手が付いています。
noh-kon-SHOH-koo deh oh-ree-tah-tahn-deh ah-ree, moh-koo-SEH no moh-chee-teh gah tsoo-ee-teh ee-MAH-soo. It's navy blue and folded, with a wooden handle.
B
見つかった場合に職員から連絡できるよう、電話番号を記入してください。
mee-tsoo-kah-tah bah-EYE nee shoh-koo-EEN kah-rah reh-NRAH-koo deh-kee-roo yoh, dehn-wah bahn-GOH oh kee-NYOO shih-teh koo-dah-SIGH. Add a phone number so staff can contact you if it turns up.
A
通常、連絡が来るまでどのくらいかかりますか。
tsoo-JOH, reh-NRAH-koo gah KOO-roo mah-deh doh-noh koo-rah-ee kah-kah-ree-mah-SOO kah? How long does it usually take to hear back?
B
場合によりますが、見つかった物は夕方までに引き取られることが多いです。
bah-EYE nee yoh-ree-mah-soo gah, mee-tsoo-kah-tah moh-noh wah yoo-GAH-tah mah-deh nee hee-kee-toh-rah-reh-roo koh-toh gah oh-OH-ee deh-soo. It depends, but found items are often collected by evening.
A
今、用紙を提出して、明日もう一度確認します。
ee-MAH, yoh-shee oh teh-ee-shoo-teh, ah-shee-tah moh-oo ee-chee-doh kah-koo-NIN shih-mah-soo. I'll submit the form now and check again tomorrow.
B
詳しい特徴があると、職員が照合しやすくなります。
koo-wah-SHEE toh-koo-CHOH gah ah-roo toh, shoh-koo-EEN gah shoh-GOH shih-yah-soo-koo nah-ree-mah-soo. A specific description will make it easier for staff to match it.Word by Word
今朝
「今朝」 means this morning, the time when the umbrella was left on the bus. It commonly appears before the action or event it dates. Use it when describing something that happened during the current morning.
バス
「バス」 means bus, the vehicle where the umbrella was left. In this dialogue it appears with 「に」 to identify the place where the item was left. Use it when talking about bus travel or something located on a bus.
に
In 「バスに傘を置き忘れました」, 「に」 marks the bus as the place where the umbrella was left. This use identifies a location associated with leaving or placing something. A place followed by 「に」 can show where an item is located or left.
傘
「傘」 means umbrella, the lost item being reported. It is followed by 「を」 because it is the item affected by 「置き忘れました」. Use it when identifying an umbrella or describing its features.
を
In 「傘を置き忘れました」, 「を」 marks 「傘」 as the item that was accidentally left behind. It commonly follows the object of an action. Here it connects the item directly to the action of leaving it.
置き忘れました
「置き忘れました」 means accidentally left behind, as in leaving the umbrella on the bus. It is the polite past form related to 置き忘れる, and the completed action is reported politely here. Use it when an item was unintentionally left somewhere.
乗車情報
「乗車情報」 means trip or boarding information, such as details that identify the bus journey. In 「乗車情報を添えて」, it is the information added to the lost-item report. Use it when giving transport details needed to identify a trip.
添えて
「添えて」 means adding or attaching information together with something else. In 「乗車情報を添えて」, the trip details are supplied along with the lost-item report. It is the connected form related to 添える and commonly links accompanying information to an application or report.
遺失物届
「遺失物届」 means a lost-property report, the formal report being submitted for the umbrella. It is the object of 「出して」 in 「遺失物届を出してください」. Use it when reporting an item that has been lost.
出して
In 「遺失物届を出してください」, 「出して」 means submit or file the report. It is the connected form related to 出す and combines with 「ください」 to make a polite request. Use it when asking someone to submit a document or report.
ください
「ください」 makes 「出してください」 a polite request to submit the lost-property report. It follows the connected form of an action and asks the listener to carry it out. Use this pattern when politely requesting an action.
朝
「朝」 means morning in 「朝のラッシュ時」. It specifies which rush period is meant. It commonly appears before 「の」 to describe a time or period connected with another noun.
の
In 「朝のラッシュ時」, 「の」 links 「朝」 with 「ラッシュ時」 and gives the meaning morning rush period. It commonly connects one noun to another to show their relationship. Here the first noun identifies the time of the rush.
ラッシュ
「ラッシュ」 refers to a rush or busy travel period in 「ラッシュ時」. Together with 「時」, it identifies the crowded period when the bus stopped. Use it when discussing a particularly busy travel time.
時
「時」 means time or period in 「ラッシュ時」. Here it turns the preceding description into a time period: the rush period. It commonly follows a noun to identify a particular time or occasion.
ここ
「ここ」 means here, referring to the transport service point where the bus stopped. It identifies the location in 「ここに停まった」. Use it when pointing to the place where the speaker and listener are.
停まった
「停まった」 means stopped, describing the bus that stopped here during the morning rush. It is the past form related to 停まる, and it describes an earlier stop. Use it when referring to where a vehicle stopped.
ありました
「ありました」 means was located or was there, reporting where the umbrella was found to have been. It is the polite past form related to ある and is used here for an inanimate item. A place followed by 「に」 can be used with it to report an item's location.
特徴
「特徴」 means a distinguishing feature, such as the umbrella's color, folded condition, or handle. In 「傘の特徴」, it identifies the details used to recognize the item. Use it when describing identifying characteristics of an object.
詳しく
「詳しく」 means in detail, describing how the umbrella's features should be explained. It is the adverbial form related to 詳しい and modifies the act of explaining in 「特徴を詳しく説明」. Use it when asking for or giving detailed information.
説明
「説明」 means a description or explanation; here it is the act of describing the umbrella's features. It follows the details being described in 「特徴を詳しく説明できますか」. Use it when giving information that helps someone understand or identify something.
できます
In 「説明できますか」, 「できます」 means can or be able to, asking whether the listener can describe the umbrella. It is the polite form related to できる and combines with 「か」 to form a question. Use it to ask about someone's ability to perform an action.
か
At the end of 「説明できますか」, 「か」 marks the sentence as a question. It turns the ability statement into a polite request for information. Use it at the end of a polite question.
濃紺色
「濃紺色」 means dark navy blue, giving a specific color detail about the umbrella. In 「濃紺色で折りたたんであり」, it is one description connected to the umbrella's other features. Use it when identifying an item by its dark navy color.
で
In 「濃紺色で折りたたんであり」, 「で」 connects the color description to the next description of the umbrella's state. Here it has the sense of being dark navy blue while also being folded. It is useful for linking multiple descriptions of the same item.
折りたたんで
「折りたたんで」 means folded, describing the umbrella's current arrangement in 「折りたたんであり」. It is the connected form related to 折りたたむ and links the folded state to 「あり」. Use it when describing something kept in a folded condition.
あり
In 「折りたたんであり」, 「あり」 indicates that the folded state exists or is being maintained. It is a connected form related to ある and joins the state description to the rest of the sentence. This pattern describes an object as being left or kept in a particular state.
木製
「木製」 means made of wood or wooden. In 「木製の持ち手」, it describes the material of the umbrella's handle. A material word followed by 「の」 can directly modify the component it is made of.
持ち手
「持ち手」 means handle or grip, here the part used to hold the umbrella. In 「木製の持ち手」, it is the component whose material is described. Use it when identifying the handle of an object.
が
In 「持ち手が付いています」, 「が」 marks the handle as the component that is attached. It identifies the feature being described as present on the umbrella. Use it before a feature or component in a description of what an item has.
付いて
「付いて」 means attached or fitted in 「持ち手が付いています」. It is the connected form related to 付く and links the attached state to 「います」. Use it when describing a component that is attached to an object.
います
In 「持ち手が付いています」, 「います」 helps express that the attached-handle state currently remains. The full expression is a polite description of the umbrella's present condition. Use this pattern to report a current resulting state.
見つかった
「見つかった」 means was found in 「見つかった場合」. It is the past form related to 見つかる and describes the event that would allow staff to contact the passenger. Use it when referring to an item that has been found.
場合
「場合」 means case or situation in 「見つかった場合」. Together with the preceding event, it identifies the situation in which staff can contact the passenger. Use it after an event or condition when discussing what happens in that situation.
職員
「職員」 means staff member or staff, referring to the transport service employees. In 「職員から連絡」, the staff are the source of the contact. Use it when referring to staff working for an institution or service.
から
In 「職員から連絡」, 「から」 means from and marks the staff as the source of the contact. It commonly follows a person or organization that sends information or performs an action toward the listener. Here it identifies who will contact the passenger.
連絡
「連絡」 means contact or communication, referring to the message staff may send about the umbrella. In 「職員から連絡できるよう」, it is the action that staff need to be able to make. Use it when discussing contact from a person or organization.
できる
In 「連絡できるよう」, 「できる」 means can or be able to contact someone. It expresses the possibility of staff making contact and is followed by 「よう」 to show the intended result. Use it after an action to describe whether that action is possible.
よう
In 「連絡できるよう」, 「よう」 means so that and introduces the purpose of writing down a phone number. It connects the desired ability to the action taken to make it possible. Use the pattern 「できるよう」 when arranging something so an action can be performed.
電話番号
「電話番号」 means phone number, the contact information to be written on the form. In 「電話番号を記入してください」, it is the information being entered. Use it when providing a number for telephone contact.
記入して
In 「電話番号を記入してください」, 「記入して」 means fill in or enter the phone number. It is the connected form related to 記入する and combines with 「ください」 to make a polite request. Use it when asking someone to write information in a form.
通常
「通常」 means usually or normally, setting the general expectation for how long contact takes. It appears at the beginning of 「通常、連絡が来るまで」 and modifies the whole question. Use it when asking about or describing a normal process.
来る
In 「連絡が来るまで」, 「来る」 means come or arrive, referring to contact arriving from the service point. It describes the arrival of the expected communication. Use it with information or messages when saying that they arrive.
まで
In 「連絡が来るまで」, 「まで」 means until or up to the point when contact arrives. It marks the endpoint of the waiting period. Use it after an event or time when describing how long something continues.
どのくらい
「どのくらい」 asks how long or how much, here asking about the duration until a reply arrives. In this construction, 「どの」 asks which degree or amount, while 「くらい」 indicates an approximate extent. Use the whole expression when asking about an amount or duration.
かかります
In 「どのくらいかかりますか」, 「かかります」 means takes or requires time. It is the polite form related to かかる and asks how much time the process requires. Use it when asking about the duration needed for an action or process.
よります
In 「場合によりますが」, 「よります」 means depends on. It is the polite form related to よる and says that the answer varies according to the situation. Use it after a factor such as a case or circumstance when an outcome is not fixed.
物
「物」 means thing or item, referring here to items that have been found. In 「見つかった物」, it is modified by the preceding description. Use it when referring generally to a physical object.
は
In 「見つかった物は」, 「は」 marks the found items as the topic of the statement. It tells the listener what the following information is about. Use it after the topic you want to describe or discuss.
夕方
「夕方」 means evening or late afternoon, the expected deadline in 「夕方までに」. It identifies the time by which found items are often collected. Use it with time expressions when referring to the evening period.
引き取られる
「引き取られる」 means be collected or be picked up, describing what happens to found items. It is the passive form related to 引き取る and presents the items as the things being collected. Use it when an item is received or picked up by someone else.
こと
In 「引き取られることが多いです」, 「こと」 turns the event of items being collected into a matter or fact that can be described. The full pattern expresses how frequently that event happens; 「こと」 alone does not mean often. Use a verb followed by 「こと」 when treating an action as an event or fact.
多い
In 「引き取られることが多いです」, 「多い」 means frequent or often, saying that collection by evening happens in many cases. It describes the frequency of the event expressed before 「こと」. Use the pattern event + 「ことが多い」 to describe something that happens often.
です
「です」 is the polite ending in 「多いです」. It presents the statement about frequency in a polite manner. Use it at the end of a polite description or statement.
今
「今」 means now, referring to the present moment when the passenger will submit the form. It appears before the action in 「今、用紙を提出して」. Use it to identify an action happening at the current time.
用紙
「用紙」 means form or sheet of paper, specifically the document being submitted. In 「用紙を提出して」, it is the item handed in to the service point. Use it when referring to a paper form used to provide information.
提出して
In 「用紙を提出して」, 「提出して」 means submit or hand in the form. It is the connected form related to 提出する and links this action to the following action of checking again. Use it when describing the submission of a document.
明日
「明日」 means tomorrow, the planned time for checking again. It appears before 「もう一度確認します」 to set the time of that action. Use it when referring to the day after today.
もう一度
「もう一度」 means again or one more time, referring here to checking the report another time tomorrow. In this expression, 「もう」 adds the sense of another occurrence and 「一度」 means one time. Use the whole expression when repeating an action.
確認します
「確認します」 means check or confirm, referring to checking the lost-item situation again. It is the polite form related to 確認する and follows 「もう一度」 in the dialogue. Use it when verifying information or checking a situation.
詳しい
「詳しい」 means detailed or specific in 「詳しい特徴」. It describes the identifying information about the umbrella. Use it before a noun when emphasizing that information contains useful detail.
ある
In 「詳しい特徴があると」, 「ある」 means there are or are available, referring to the presence of detailed features. It is used with an inanimate noun such as 「特徴」. Use the pattern noun + 「がある」 to say that something exists or is available.
と
In 「詳しい特徴があると」, 「と」 means when or if and connects the condition to the result that follows. It says that having detailed features leads to easier matching by staff. Use it after a condition when introducing a resulting situation.
照合しやすく
「照合しやすく」 means easy to match or compare, describing the staff's task in 「職員が照合しやすくなります」. The ending 「しやすく」 connects the idea of ease to 「なります」. Use it when explaining that a feature or arrangement makes a task easier to perform.
なります
In 「照合しやすくなります」, 「なります」 means becomes or comes to be. It describes a change into an easier state because detailed features are provided. It is the polite form related to なる and commonly follows a description of the resulting state.
Grammar Points
〜てください
乗車情報を添えて、遺失物届を出してください。
JOH-shah joh-HOH oh soh-eh-teh, ee-shee-tsoo-boo-toh-deh oh dah-shi-teh koo-dah-SIGH.Please attach the trip details and submit a lost item report.
て-form＋ください is a polite way to ask someone to do something.
〜られる（受け身）
傘が見つかった場合、夕方に引き取られる。
kah-SAH gah mee-tsoo-kah-tah bah-EYE, yoo-GAH-tah nee hee-kee-toh-rah-reh-roo.If the umbrella is found, it will be collected in the evening.
The passive form shows that the subject receives an action or is handled by someone.
Japanese Vocabulary
ラッシュ時
noun
rah-SHOO-jee
rush hour
遺失物届
noun
ee-shee-tsoo-boo-toh-DEH
lost item report
今朝
noun
KEH-sah
this morning
傘
noun
kah-SAH
umbrella
出す
verb
DAH-soo
to submit; to file
出してください
詳しく
adv
koo-wah-SHEE-koo
in detail; clearly
乗車情報
noun
JOH-shah joh-HOH
trip details
置き忘れる
verb
oh-kee-wah-soo-reh-ROO
to leave behind by mistake
置き忘れました
停まる
verb
toh-MAH-roo
to stop
停まった
添える
verb
soh-EH-roo
to attach; to add
添えて
特徴
noun
toh-koo-CHOH
feature; distinguishing characteristic
濃紺色
noun
noh-kon-SHOH-koo
navy blue
Quiz
Spelling
Tap the letters to spell the word.
trip details
Show Answer
乗車情報to submit; to file
Show Answer
出してくださいlost item report
Show Answer
遺失物届to stop