Getting help with a broken heater | Learn Japanese in English

Sentence explanations

1. 暖房が動かないので、部屋から電話しています。

   I am calling from my room because the heating is not working.

   暖房

   heating

   動かない

   not working

   ので

   because

   部屋

   room

   から

   from

   電話しています

   am calling

   More detail

   暖房 means “heating” here. It is a noun; a useful related word is 冷房 (“air conditioning for cooling”). In this sentence, 暖房が marks the heating as what is or is not operating. 動かない means “does not work” in this context. Its base form is 動く (“to move” or, for equipment, “to operate”); 動かない is its negative form. For equipment, this form describes a failure to operate, not necessarily physical movement. Example: エアコンが動かない。 — “The air conditioner does not work.” ので connects a reason to a result: ...ので、... means “because ...” or “since ...”. Here it follows the negative clause 暖房が動かないので, giving the reason for the call. It is a reusable reason-linking pattern; から can also express “because,” but it appears later in this sentence with a location meaning. 部屋 means “room.” It is a noun and can combine with a possessive or other modifier, as in 私の部屋 (“my room”). The fixed translation renders this room as “my room,” while the Japanese sentence itself says simply 部屋. から means “from” here. Following 部屋, it marks the place from which the calling is being made: 部屋から — “from the room.” Japanese から also has other uses, including “because” and “from” for a starting point, so its meaning comes from the construction and context. 電話しています means “am calling” here. The verb is 電話する, literally “to make a phone call”; しています is the polite form of している, which presents the action as ongoing. Example: 今、電話しています。 — “I am calling now.” Together, 暖房が動かないので gives the reason, “because the heating is not working.” 部屋から電話しています gives the main situation, “I am calling from the room.” Thus the whole utterance means: “I am calling from my room because the heating is not working.”

2. 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。

   I am sorry about that. Has the room been cold since you arrived?

   申し訳ありません

   I’m sorry

   到着してから

   since arriving

   部屋

   room

   ずっと

   continuously; all along

   寒い

   cold

   ですか

   is it? / are they?

   More detail

   申し訳ありません is a formal apology, literally expressing that one has no excuse. It is a set polite expression, useful when acknowledging inconvenience or trouble. A less formal apology is すみません. 到着してから means “since arriving” here. 到着する is the verb “to arrive”; its て-form is 到着して, and から after that form marks the starting point of a time period: “after/since arriving.” In this sentence, the fixed translation identifies the omitted subject of arriving as “you.” The same てから pattern can describe an event that happens after another: 食べてから寝ます means “I eat and then sleep.” 部屋 is the noun “room.” It is the room being described as cold; the sentence does not need an explicit Japanese subject pronoun because the context makes the topic clear. 部屋の中 means “inside the room,” while 部屋から means “from the room,” as in the preceding context. ずっと marks continuity over the relevant period: “continuously” or “all along.” With a state such as being cold, it indicates that the state has continued from the time marked by 到着してから until now. It can also describe uninterrupted continuation in other sentences, for example, ずっと待っています means “I have been waiting the whole time.” 寒い is the i-adjective “cold,” describing the room’s temperature here. Its base form is 寒い; the past form is 寒かった (“was cold”), and the negative form is 寒くない (“is not cold”). The adjective itself carries the descriptive meaning; 部屋 is the noun being described. ですか makes the utterance a polite question. After the adjective 寒い, です adds polite style and か marks the question: 寒いですか means “is it cold?” Here, the question asks whether the room has remained cold since the arrival point, rather than merely asking about the temperature at one moment. Together, 到着してから sets the starting time, 部屋 identifies what is being described, and ずっと寒い expresses an ongoing cold state. ですか turns that description into a polite question, while 申し訳ありません is a separate apology before it. The whole utterance therefore means: “I am sorry about that. Has the room been cold since you arrived?”

3. 今日の午後にチェックインしてから、ずっと寒いです。

   It has been cold since I checked in this afternoon.

   今日の午後

   this afternoon

   チェックインしてから

   after checking in

   ずっと

   continuously; all along

   寒いです

   is cold

   More detail

   今日の午後 means “this afternoon.” 今日 is “today,” and 午後 is “afternoon”; の links the first noun to the second in a modifying relationship. The following に marks this time expression as the time when the check-in occurred. Example: 今日の午後に電話します。 — “I will call this afternoon.” チェックインしてから means “since checking in” here. チェックイン is the loanword “check-in,” and して is the te-form of する (“to do”), used here to connect the action to から. In the pattern verb-te-form + から, から can mean “after” or “since”; with an ongoing state such as ずっと寒いです, the intended meaning is “since.” The omitted subject is understood from the situation and is rendered as “I” in the fixed translation. Example: 食べてから、薬を飲みます。 — “I take my medicine after eating.” ずっと adds the idea that the state has continued without interruption, or has held throughout the relevant period. Here it emphasizes that the cold condition has continued from the check-in until now. Example: 朝からずっと忙しいです。 — “I have been busy since this morning.” 寒いです means “is cold” here. 寒い is an i-adjective meaning “cold” for weather or surroundings; です makes the statement polite. The adjective itself carries the present-state form: 寒いです is polite affirmative, while 寒くないです is polite negative and 寒かったです is polite past. Japanese does not use a separate perfect-tense form here; the continuing meaning comes from チェックインしてから together with ずっと. Together, 今日の午後に sets the time, チェックインしてから establishes the starting point, ずっと emphasizes continuation, and 寒いです states the condition. The complete meaning is: “It has been cold since I checked in this afternoon.” In this exchange, the omitted subject is understood from the situation and is represented by “it” in the translation.

4. すぐに修理担当者を向かわせて、点検できます。

   I can send maintenance to inspect it right away.

   すぐに

   right away

   修理担当者

   repair or maintenance staff member

   向かわせて

   send someone over

   点検

   inspection; checking

   できます

   can do; be able to

   More detail

   すぐに means “immediately” or “right away.” It is an adverb, so it modifies the action that follows. Example: すぐに来ます。 — “I’ll come right away.” 修理担当者 means “the person responsible for repairs” or “repair staff.” It is a noun compound: 修理 means repair, and 担当者 means the person in charge. The phrase does not by itself specify how many people there are. 向かわせて is the connective form of the causative 向かわせる, “to make or have someone head toward a place.” Here, 修理担当者を marks the person being sent, so the intended meaning is “send the repair staff over.” The て ending connects this action with the following clause. Example: 担当者を現場に向かわせます。 — “I’ll send the person in charge to the site.” 点検 is a noun meaning “inspection” or “checking.” With できる, a verbal noun such as 点検 expresses the ability or possibility of carrying out that action: 点検できる means “can inspect” or “can check.” Example: 機械を点検できます。 — “We can inspect the machine.” できます is the polite nonpast form of できる, “can do” or “be able to.” In this sentence it combines with 点検 to give 点検できます, “can inspect it.” The object of the inspection is not stated in the Japanese sentence, but the fixed translation identifies it as “it.” Together, すぐに修理担当者を向かわせて gives “send the repair staff over right away,” and 点検できます gives “can inspect it.” The full intended meaning is: “I can send maintenance to inspect it right away.”

5. 今夜直せない場合、別の部屋は空いていますか。

   If it cannot be fixed tonight, is another room available?

   今夜

   tonight

   直せない

   cannot be fixed

   場合

   case; if

   別の

   another

   部屋

   room

   空いていますか

   is it available?

   More detail

   今夜 means “tonight” here. It is a time expression and can be placed before an event: 今夜行きます means “I will go tonight.” 直せない is the negative potential form of 直す (“to repair/fix”): 直す → 直せる (“can fix”) → 直せない (“cannot fix”). In this sentence, the fixed translation supports the reading “cannot be fixed”; Japanese leaves the relevant subject or agent unspoken, and 直せない itself is not a passive form. The potential negative can also mean that someone is unable to fix something in another context. 場合 means “case” or “situation.” After a plain-form clause, ～場合 creates a conditional pattern meaning “if …” or “in the event that …”: 雨の場合 means “in case of rain.” Thus 直せない場合 means “if it cannot be fixed.” 別の means “another” or “different” and normally modifies a noun: 別の方法 means “another method.” It does not itself state a numerical count; here it identifies a room different from the one already under discussion. 部屋 means “room.” It can combine with modifiers such as 別の部屋 (“another room”) and 大きい部屋 (“a large room”). 空いていますか asks whether something is available or vacant. The verb 空く is intransitive: 空いている describes a space that is open or unoccupied, while 空ける is transitive and means “to empty or make space.” ～ています presents the resulting state politely, and final か marks the sentence as a question. For example, この席は空いていますか means “Is this seat available?” Together, 今夜直せない場合 sets the condition “if it cannot be fixed tonight,” and 別の部屋は空いていますか asks whether another room is available. The complete utterance is: “If it cannot be fixed tonight, is another room available?”

6. 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。

   I will check availability and hold a similar room if we have one.

   空室

   available room

   確認して

   check, and

   あれば

   if there is one

   同じような

   similar

   部屋

   room

   確保しておきます

   will hold in reserve

   More detail

   空室 means an available or vacant room. It is a noun formed from 空 (“empty”) and 室 (“room”); here it refers to room availability, matching the translation’s “availability.” 確認して comes from 確認する, “to check” or “to confirm.” The form 確認して is the て-form, which links this action to the following action: “check ..., and then ...” or “check ..., and ...”. Example: 予定を確認して、連絡します。 — “I’ll check the schedule and contact you.” あれば is the conditional form of ある, used for the existence or availability of something nonliving. Here, in light of the fixed translation, it means “if there is an available room.” The condition is not a separate assertion that a room exists; it leaves that dependent on the check. A related negative conditional is なければ, “if there is not one.” 同じような means “similar” or “of a similar kind.” ような connects the resemblance expression to the noun that follows, so 同じような部屋 is “a similar room.” The phrase does not necessarily mean completely identical. 部屋 means “room.” In this sentence it is the room to be held, and the translation identifies it as the available similar room. Example: 静かな部屋を探しています。 — “I’m looking for a quiet room.” 確保しておきます expresses that the speaker will secure or hold something in advance. 確保する means “to secure” or “to reserve,” and 確保しておく combines its て-form with おく, which adds the idea of doing something beforehand or keeping the result ready. おきます is the polite nonpast form of おく; in this context, the planned action is naturally translated with “will.” Example: 席を確保しておきます。 — “I’ll hold a seat for you.” Together, 空室を確認して means “check for an available room,” あれば makes the next action conditional on finding one, and 同じような部屋を確保しておきます means “I will hold a similar room in advance.” The whole utterance therefore means: “I will check availability and hold a similar room if we have one.”

7. 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。

   I do not need an upgrade, just a warm room for sleeping.

   部屋

   room

   グレードアップ

   upgrade

   必要ありません

   not needed

   寝る

   sleep

   ための

   for; intended for

   暖かい

   warm

   あれば

   if there is; if available

   十分です

   is enough

   More detail

   部屋 means “room.” It is a noun and appears twice: first in 部屋のグレードアップ, where の links it to the following noun, and later in 暖かい部屋, where it is modified by 暖かい. Example: 部屋を予約します。 — “I will reserve a room.” グレードアップ is a noun meaning an upgrade or improvement in level. In 部屋のグレードアップ, it means upgrading the room. The pattern AのB can connect B with A in several ways; here it identifies the type of upgrade. The topic marker は makes this upgrade the thing being evaluated. 必要ありません means “is not necessary” or, with the omitted subject understood from the fixed translation, “I do not need it.” 必要 is a な-type descriptive word meaning “necessary,” and ありません is the polite negative form of ある (“exist” / “be available”) used here to say that something is not present or required. The full pattern Nは必要ありません means “N is not necessary.” Example: 予約は必要ありません。 — “A reservation is not necessary.” 寝る is the dictionary form of the verb meaning “to sleep.” The dictionary form can precede ための to describe purpose: 寝るための means “for sleeping” or “intended for sleeping.” Example: 休むための部屋 — “a room for resting.” ための marks purpose or intended use when it is followed by a noun. In 寝るための暖かい部屋, it connects the action of sleeping with the room intended for that purpose. This is different from simply placing two descriptions together: 寝る tells what the room is for, while 暖かい describes the room itself. 暖かい is an い-type adjective meaning “warm.” Its dictionary form can directly modify a noun: 暖かい部屋 — “a warm room.” Its negative form is 暖かくない (“not warm”), and its past form is 暖かかった (“was warm”). Example: 暖かいお茶 — “warm tea.” あれば is the conditional form of ある, meaning “if there is” or “if there is/are available” in this context. The relevant subject is the room described by 寝るための暖かい部屋, so the clause means “if there is a warm room for sleeping.” The -ば form presents a condition; it does not itself specify who provides or controls the room. Example: 時間があれば、行きます。 — “If I have time, I will go.” 十分です means “is enough” or “is sufficient.” 十分 is a な-type descriptive word, and です gives the statement a polite style. In this sentence, the existence of the suitable room is presented as sufficient for the speaker’s need. Example: これで十分です。 — “This is enough.” Together, 部屋のグレードアップは必要ありません says that an upgrade to the room is not necessary. 寝るための暖かい部屋があれば十分です says that having a warm room for sleeping is enough. The whole utterance therefore means: “I do not need an upgrade, just a warm room for sleeping.”

8. 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。

   We will try the repair first and keep another room ready if needed.

   まず

   first

   修理

   repair

   試して

   try

   必要なら

   if needed

   別の

   another

   部屋

   room

   用意しておきます

   keep ready

   More detail

   まず means “first” and sets the order of the actions. It is a reusable adverb placed before the action it prioritizes. Example: まず確認します。 — “I’ll check first.” 修理 is the noun “repair.” It can also combine with する to make the verb 修理する, “to repair.” In this sentence, 修理を marks repair as the object of the following verb. 試して is the te-form of 試す, “to try” or “to test.” The te-form links this action to what follows: 修理を試して means “try the repair, and then …” Example: この方法を試してみます。 — “I’ll try this method.” Here 試して itself does not mean “try and see”; the added みます supplies that nuance. 必要なら means “if needed” or “if necessary.” It is built from 必要 (“necessary”) plus なら, a conditional form meaning “if it is the case that …”. The condition applies to the need for the next action; it does not state that the action is definitely needed. Example: 必要なら連絡してください。 — “Please contact me if necessary.” 別の means “another” or “a different.” 別 indicates distinction, and の links it to the noun that follows. It does not by itself specify how many rooms there are; it only marks the room as different from one already under discussion. 部屋 means “room.” With 別の, the phrase 別の部屋 means “another room” in this context. Example: 別の部屋を見せてください。 — “Please show me another room.” 用意しておきます combines 用意する, “to prepare,” with おく, “to put/leave,” in the te-form construction 〜ておく. This construction expresses doing something in advance for a later need, so here it means “prepare and keep [it] ready.” おきます is the polite nonpast form; in this context it describes the planned result. The subject is omitted in Japanese and is understood here as “we” from the fixed translation. Example: 必要な書類を用意しておきます。 — “I’ll prepare the necessary documents in advance.” Together, まず修理を試して gives the first step: “first try the repair.” 必要なら introduces the condition “if needed,” and 別の部屋を用意しておきます gives the planned backup action: “we will prepare and keep another room ready.” The complete meaning is: “We will try the repair first and keep another room ready if needed.”

9. 修理担当者が部屋に来る前に、電話してください。

   Please call before maintenance comes up.

   修理担当者

   maintenance person; repair staff

   部屋

   room

   来る前に

   before coming

   電話してください

   please call

   More detail

   修理担当者 means “the person in charge of repairs” or “repair staff” here. It combines 修理 (“repair”) with 担当者 (“person responsible for a task”). 担当者 is a useful general word: for example, 受付担当者 means “the person responsible for reception.” The が after this noun marks it as the subject of the following clause: this is the person who comes. 部屋 means “room.” In this sentence, 部屋に uses に to mark the destination or place toward which someone comes. The noun itself does not include に; the particle belongs to the larger phrase 部屋に来る (“come to the room”). 来る前に expresses “before coming.” 来る is the base form of “to come”; its polite form is 来ます, and its negative form is 来ない. The pattern verb in base form + 前に means “before doing something,” as in 寝る前に水を飲みます。 (“I drink water before going to bed.”) Here, 来る has 修理担当者 as its subject, so the meaning is “before the repair person comes.” The に after 前 marks the time relation “before.” 電話してください is a polite request meaning “please call.” 電話する is the verb “to call,” and 電話してください is formed from its request pattern 〜てください. For example, もう一度電話してください。 means “Please call once more.” The person being asked to call is understood from the situation; Japanese does not need to state that subject here. Together, 修理担当者が部屋に来る means “the repair person comes to the room,” 前に means “before,” and 電話してください asks the listener to call. The whole utterance is therefore: “Please call before the repair person comes to the room.” The fixed translation’s “before maintenance comes up” conveys the same intended timing; 来る itself expresses coming, without separately stating “up.”

10. 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。

    I will call you before they come up and again when I have an update.

    修理担当者

    repair personnel

    部屋

    room

    来る

    come

    前と

    before ... and

    進展

    progress; update

    あった

    there was; occurred

    ときに

    when

    もう一度

    again

    お電話します

    call

    More detail

    修理担当者 means the person or personnel responsible for repairs: 修理 is “repair” and 担当者 is a person responsible for a task. The expression does not itself specify a personal name or a fixed number of people. In this sentence, it is the subject marked by が. 部屋 means “room.” With に, as in 部屋に, it marks the place the repair personnel come to: “to the room.” 来る is the dictionary form “come.” Japanese uses this non-past form before 前 to describe an event before it occurs at the relevant reference time: 来る前 = “before [someone] comes.” The subject of this clause is marked by 修理担当者が, so the clause means “before the repair personnel come to the room.” 前と is 前 (“before”) followed by と, which links this first timing condition with the later one. The pattern here is [event] 前と、[event] ときに: “before … and when …”. 進展 means “progress” or “development.” In this sentence it refers to an update or new development, matching the fixed translation. It is a noun and can combine with があった to say that progress occurred. あった is the past form of ある, “exist” or “occur” for non-living things and events. Here 進展があった means “there was progress” or, naturally in context, “there was an update.” The past form presents the progress as having occurred before the call made at that time. ときに means “when” or “at the time when.” とき is a noun meaning “time,” and に marks the relevant time. Thus 進展があったときに means “when there has been progress/an update.” もう一度 means “again” or “once more.” It indicates that the calling action is repeated; it does not itself specify how many earlier calls there were. お電話します means “will call” in the fixed sentence. 電話する is the verb “to call by telephone”; します is its polite non-past form. お電話します is a polite expression using お with the noun-based expression 電話する. The Japanese does not state the object “you” inside this phrase, but the fixed translation supplies that intended meaning. Putting the parts together: 修理担当者が部屋に来る前と gives “before the repair personnel come to the room and,” while 進展があったときに gives “when there is an update.” These two timing conditions modify もう一度お電話します, producing: “I will call you before they come up and again when I have an update.” The caller and recipient are not explicitly expressed in the Japanese sentence; the fixed translation supplies those roles.