About This Lesson
Use Getting help with a broken heater to practice Japanese conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.
Dialogue
A
暖房が動かないので、部屋から電話しています。
DAHN-boh gah oo-goh-kah-NAI no-deh, heh-YAH kah-rah dehn-WAH shee-teh-MASS. I am calling from my room because the heating is not working.
B
申し訳ありません。到着してから、部屋はずっと寒いですか。
moh-SHEE-wah-keh ah-ree-mah-SEHN. toh-CHAH-koo shee-teh kah-RAH, heh-YAH wah ZOO-toh sah-MOO-ee dehss-kah. I am sorry about that. Has the room been cold since you arrived?
A
今日の午後にチェックインしてから、ずっと寒いです。
KYOO noh GOH-goh-nee CHEK-koo-EEN shee-teh kah-RAH, ZOO-toh sah-MOO-ee dehss. It has been cold since I checked in this afternoon.
B
すぐに修理担当者を向かわせて、点検できます。
soo-GOO-nee shew-REE tahn-toh-SHAH oh moo-kah-wah-SEH-teh, TEHN-kehn deh-KEE-mass. I can send maintenance to inspect it right away.
A
今夜直せない場合、別の部屋は空いていますか。
KOHN-yah nah-oh-seh-NAI bah-AI, BEH-tsoo noh heh-YAH wah ah-EE-teh ee-MASS-kah. If it cannot be fixed tonight, is another room available?
B
空室を確認して、あれば同じような部屋を確保しておきます。
KOO-shee-tsoo oh kah-koo-NEEN shee-teh, ah-reh-BAH oh-nah-jee-YOO-nah heh-YAH oh kah-koo-HOH shee-teh oh-kee-MASS. I will check availability and hold a similar room if we have one.
A
部屋のグレードアップは必要ありません。寝るための暖かい部屋があれば十分です。
heh-YAH noh guh-RAY-doh UP-pu wah hee-tsoo-YOO ah-ree-mah-SEHN. neh-roo tah-meh noh ah-tah-tah-KAI heh-YAH gah ah-reh-BAH JOO-boon dehss. I do not need an upgrade, just a warm room for sleeping.
B
まず修理を試して、必要なら別の部屋を用意しておきます。
MAH-zoo shew-REE oh tah-MEH-shee-teh, hee-tsoo-YOO nah-rah BEH-tsoo noh heh-YAH oh YOO-ee shee-teh oh-kee-MASS. We will try the repair first and keep another room ready if needed.
A
修理担当者が部屋に来る前に、電話してください。
shew-REE tahn-toh-SHAH gah heh-YAH nee KOO-roo mah-EH nee, dehn-WAH shee-teh KOO-dah-sai. Please call before maintenance comes up.
B
修理担当者が部屋に来る前と、進展があったときに、もう一度お電話します。
shew-REE tahn-toh-SHAH gah heh-YAH nee KOO-roo mah-EH toh, SHEEN-tehn gah ah-TAH toh-kee nee, MOH ee-chee-DOH oh dehn-WAH shee-MASS. I will call you before they come up and again when I have an update.Word by Word
暖房
「暖房」 means heating. In 「暖房が動かない」, it is the heating system that is not working. It is useful when describing a hotel, home, or other place’s heating.
が
「が」 marks 「暖房」 as the subject of 「動かない」. The sentence focuses on the heating as the thing that is not working. It commonly follows the specific thing being described before an adjective or verb.
動かない
「動かない」 says that the heating does not work or is not operating. In 「暖房が動かない」, it reports the problem directly to the front desk. This form is useful when a machine or system fails to operate.
ので
「ので」 connects 「暖房が動かない」 with the reason for calling. Here it means “because the heating does not work” and gives a relatively polite explanation. It commonly follows a reason before the resulting action or request.
部屋
「部屋」 means room. In 「部屋から電話しています」, it identifies the place from which the guest is calling. It is commonly used with a location particle such as 「から」 or 「で」.
から
「から」 marks 「部屋」 as the starting location in 「部屋から電話しています」. Here it means “from,” not “since.” It commonly follows a place when describing where an action begins.
電話
「電話」 means a phone call or telephone. In 「電話しています」, it refers to the call the guest is making to the front desk. It is commonly used in expressions about making or receiving a call.
して
In 「電話しています」, 「して」 expresses the action of making a call and connects it to 「います」. Together, the phrase says that the speaker is currently calling. The て-form commonly links an action to a following auxiliary expression.
います
In 「電話しています」, 「います」 shows that the calling action is ongoing. It follows the て-form 「して」 to describe an action in progress. This pattern is useful when reporting what someone is doing now.
申し訳ありません
「申し訳ありません」 is a formal apology used here by the front-desk worker. In this expression, 「申し訳」 conveys an apology or lack of excuse, 「あり」 supplies the existence part, and 「ません」 makes it politely negative. Together, the whole expression is a respectful way to say “I am sorry.”
到着
「到着」 means arrival. In 「到着してから」, it refers to the guest’s arrival at the hotel and starts the period being discussed. It is useful when describing when someone reaches a place.
は
「は」 marks 「部屋」 as the topic in 「部屋はずっと寒いですか」. The question asks about the room’s condition over the relevant period. It commonly follows the main topic of a sentence.
ずっと
「ずっと」 means continuously or all along. In 「ずっと寒い」, it says that the room has remained cold without improving. It is useful for describing a condition that continues over a period of time.
寒い
「寒い」 means cold. In 「部屋はずっと寒いですか」, it describes the room’s temperature. It is used when asking or saying that a place, person, or environment feels cold.
です
「です」 makes 「寒いです」 a polite statement. Here it keeps the question about the room’s condition polite when combined with 「か」. It commonly follows a polite description or noun-based statement.
か
「か」 marks the sentence as a question in 「寒いですか」. It turns the polite statement into a request for confirmation about the room’s condition. It is commonly placed at the end of a polite question.
今日
「今日」 means today. In 「今日の午後」, it identifies which afternoon is meant. It is commonly combined with a time expression to specify the day.
の
「の」 links 「今日」 and 「午後」 in 「今日の午後」. It gives the meaning “this afternoon” or “today’s afternoon.” It commonly connects a date or time period to a more specific time expression.
午後
「午後」 means afternoon. In 「今日の午後にチェックインしてから」, it specifies when the guest checked in. It is commonly followed by 「に」 when marking a time.
に
In 「今日の午後に」, 「に」 marks the time of checking in. It identifies the afternoon as the point when the action happened. It commonly follows a specific time expression.
チェックイン
「チェックイン」 means check-in. In 「チェックインしてから」, it refers to the guest completing hotel check-in. It is useful in hotel situations when describing the time before or after entering a room.
すぐ
「すぐ」 means immediately or without delay. In 「すぐに修理担当者を向かわせて」, it shows that the front desk will act right away. It commonly appears as 「すぐに」 before an action.
修理
「修理」 means repair or repair work. In the dialogue it appears in 「修理担当者」 and 「修理を試して」, referring to fixing the heating problem. It is useful when discussing damaged equipment or services.
担当者
「担当者」 means the person responsible for a task or matter. In 「修理担当者」, it identifies the staff member responsible for the repair. It commonly follows the area of responsibility, such as a repair or service role.
を
「を」 marks the object of an action. In 「修理を試して」, it marks 「修理」 as the action being tried first. It commonly follows the thing that a verb acts on.
向かわせて
「向かわせて」 means arranging for someone to head toward a place or sending someone over. In 「修理担当者を向かわせて、点検できます」, it describes sending the repair staff member so the inspection can be done. The て-form links this arrangement with the following action.
点検
「点検」 means inspection or checking equipment. In 「点検できます」, it refers to checking the heating to find the problem. It is useful when a staff member examines a machine or facility.
できます
「できます」 says that something can be done or arranged. In 「点検できます」, the front desk says it can arrange or carry out an inspection. This polite form is useful when offering an available service.
今夜
「今夜」 means tonight. In 「今夜直せない場合」, it sets the time limit for repairing the problem. It is useful when discussing plans or deadlines for the same night.
直せない
「直せない」 says that something cannot be fixed. In 「今夜直せない場合」, it introduces the possibility that the heating will remain unrepaired tonight. It is useful when explaining that a repair may not be possible.
場合
「場合」 means a case or situation. In 「直せない場合」, it refers to the situation in which the heating cannot be fixed. It commonly follows a condition before explaining what will happen in that situation.
別
「別」 means different or another. In 「別の部屋」, it identifies a room different from the guest’s current room. It commonly comes before 「の」 and a noun to specify an alternative.
空いて
「空いて」 means vacant or available in 「別の部屋は空いていますか」. With 「います」, it describes the room as being in an available state. It is useful when asking whether a room, seat, or other place is unoccupied.
空室
「空室」 means a vacant or available room. In 「空室を確認して」, it refers to rooms that can potentially be offered to the guest. It is commonly used in hotels and other accommodation settings.
確認
「確認」 means checking or confirming. In 「空室を確認して」, the staff member will check whether an available room exists. It commonly takes the thing being checked before 「を」.
あれば
「あれば」 means “if there is one” or “if it is available.” In 「同じような部屋を確保しておきます」 after the availability condition, it refers to having a similar room available. It is useful for stating what will happen if something exists or can be obtained.
同じ
「同じ」 means same. In 「同じような部屋」, it contributes the idea that the alternative room should be similar to the current one, while 「ような」 completes the comparison. It is useful when requesting or describing something matching an existing example.
ような
「ような」 gives the meaning “like” or “of a similar kind” before a noun. In 「同じような部屋」, it connects 「同じ」 to 「部屋」 and describes a similar kind of room. It is useful for describing something that resembles another thing.
確保
「確保」 means securing or reserving something. In 「部屋を確保しておきます」, the staff member will reserve a similar room so it remains available. It is useful when keeping a room, place, or resource ready for later use.
しておきます
In 「確保しておきます」, 「して」 links the action to what follows, 「おき」 adds the idea of doing it in advance and leaving the result ready, and 「ます」 makes the expression polite. Together, the phrase means that the staff member will reserve the room ahead of time. It is useful when promising preparation for a possible later need.
グレードアップ
「グレードアップ」 means an upgrade to a higher room or service level. In 「部屋のグレードアップ」, the guest says that a higher room category is not necessary. It is useful in hotel conversations about moving to a more expensive or better-equipped option.
必要
「必要」 means necessary or needed. In 「必要ありません」, it describes the upgrade as something the guest does not need. It commonly appears before a polite statement about whether something is required.
ありません
「ありません」 is a polite negative form meaning that something is not present or is not needed. In 「必要ありません」, the whole phrase says that the upgrade is unnecessary; in 「申し訳ありません」, it forms part of a formal apology. Its exact meaning depends on the expression it completes.
寝る
「寝る」 means to sleep. In 「寝るための暖かい部屋」, it identifies sleeping as the purpose of the room. The plain form can come before 「ため」 to state a purpose.
ため
「ため」 expresses purpose in 「寝るための暖かい部屋」. The phrase means a warm room for the purpose of sleeping. A reusable pattern is 「VためのN」 for a noun intended for a particular purpose.
暖かい
「暖かい」 means warm. In 「暖かい部屋」, it describes the kind of room the guest wants for sleeping. Here it contrasts with the cold condition already reported in the dialogue.
十分
「十分」 means enough or sufficient. In 「暖かい部屋があれば十分です」, the guest says that having a warm room would meet the need. It is useful when saying that no additional feature or amount is required.
まず
「まず」 means first or as the first step. In 「まず修理を試して」, it establishes repair as the action to try before changing rooms. It is useful for describing the order of steps in a plan.
試して
「試して」 means try and is the て-form used in 「修理を試して」. It says that the staff will try the repair first and then consider the next action. The て-form links this step to the following part of the plan.
なら
「なら」 means “if” or “when” in 「必要なら別の部屋を用意しておきます」. It sets the condition that another room will be prepared if it is needed. It is useful for making a conditional plan based on a stated situation.
用意
「用意」 means preparation or arranging something so it is ready. In 「別の部屋を用意しておきます」, it refers to preparing another room in case the repair is not enough. It is useful when arranging something in advance for a later need.
ください
「ください」 makes 「電話してください」 a polite request meaning “please call.” It follows the て-form 「電話して」 to ask the front desk to make the call before maintenance arrives. The pattern 「Vてください」 is commonly used for polite requests.
来る
「来る」 means to come. In 「 maintenance comes up」 is expressed in the dialogue as 「修理担当者が部屋に来る前」, where it describes the repair staff member arriving at the room. The plain form is used before 「前」 to say “before coming.”
前
「前」 means before in 「来る前に」. It places the requested phone call earlier than the repair staff member’s arrival. The pattern 「V前に」 is useful for saying that one action happens before another.
進展
「進展」 means progress or development. In 「進展があったとき」, it refers to new progress in dealing with the heating problem. It is useful when reporting that a situation has moved forward.
あった
「あった」 says that something occurred or existed. In 「進展があったとき」, it means that progress has occurred. It commonly follows a noun with 「が」 when reporting that an event or development took place.
とき
「とき」 means when or the time when something happens. In 「進展があったとき」, it introduces the time for another call. It is commonly placed after a clause to specify when an action will occur.
もう一度
「もう一度」 means once again or one more time. In 「もう一度お電話します」, 「もう」 adds the idea of again and 「一度」 means one time, so the whole expression promises another call. It is useful when repeating an action after it has already happened once.
お電話
「お電話」 is a polite form of “phone call,” with 「お」 adding respectful politeness to 「電話」. In 「お電話します」, it is used for the front desk’s courteous promise to call the guest. This expression is common in formal service conversations.
します
「します」 is the polite form used for doing an action. In 「お電話します」, it completes the expression and means “I will call you.” It is useful for politely stating an intended action or service.
Grammar Points
～てから
到着してから、ずっと寒いです。
toh-CHAH-koo shee-teh kah-RAH, ZOO-toh sah-MOO-ee dehss.It has been cold continuously since arriving.
～てから means “since doing something.” ずっと emphasizes that the situation has continued without stopping.
～ておく
別の部屋を確保しておきます。
BEH-tsoo noh heh-YAH oh kah-koo-HOH shee-teh oh-kee-MASS.I will hold another room in reserve.
～ておく describes doing something in advance or keeping it ready for a possible need.
Japanese Vocabulary
すぐに
adv
soo-GOO-nee
right away
ずっと
adv
ZOO-toh
continuously; all the time
チェックイン
noun
CHEK-koo-EEN
check-in
寒い
adj
sah-MOO-ee
cold
修理担当者
noun
shew-REE tahn-toh-SHAH
maintenance staff
申し訳ありません
phrase
moh-SHEE-wah-keh ah-ree-mah-SEHN
I am sorry
暖房
noun
DAHN-boh
heating
点検
noun
TEHN-kehn
inspection
電話しています
verb
dehn-WAH shee-teh-ee-MASS
am calling
到着してから
phrase
toh-CHAH-koo shee-teh kah-RAH
since arriving
動かない
verb
oo-goh-kah-NAI
does not work
部屋
noun
heh-YAH
room
Quiz
Spelling
Tap the letters to spell the word.
since arriving
Show Answer
到着してからcheck-in
Show Answer
チェックインam calling
Show Answer
電話していますdoes not work