About This Lesson
Use Hike safety planning to practice Japanese conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.
Dialogue
A
山のトレイルはきれいに見えますが、初心者には難しすぎるかもしれません。
yah-ma no TOH-ray-roo wa kee-RAY-nee mee-eh-MASS gah, shoh-SHEEN-shah nee-wah moo-zoo-kah-SHEE-soo-gee-roo kah-moh-SHAY-mahn. The mountain trail looks beautiful, but it may be too difficult for beginners.
B
決める前に、距離と標高と天気予報を確認しましょう。
kee-MEH-roo mae nee, kyoh-ree toh hyoh-KOH toh TEN-kee yoh-HOH oh kah-koo-NEEN shee-ma-SHOH. Let's check the distance, elevation, and weather forecast before we decide.
A
かなり長いルートです。
kah-NAH-ree nah-GAH-ee ROO-toh dess. It is a fairly long route.
A
午後は小雨の予報です。
goh-GOH wa koh-SAH-meh no yoh-HOH dess. The forecast says light rain in the afternoon.
B
それなら、早めに出発して、予備の計画が必要です。
soh-reh-NAH-rah, hah-yah-MEH nee shoo-PAHT-soo she-TEH, yoo-BEE no kay-KAH-koo gah hee-TSOO-YOH dess. Then we need an early start and a backup plan.
A
同じ駅に戻る、もっと短いルートがあります。
oh-NAH-jee eh-kee nee moh-DOH-roo, MOHT-toh mee-jee-KAH-ee ROO-toh gah ah-ree-MASS. There is a shorter route that returns to the same station.
B
道が滑りやすくなったら、そのほうが安全そうです。
mee-chee gah soo-beh-ree-yah-soo-koo nah-TAH-rah, soh-noh hoh-GAH sahn-ZEN-soh dess. That sounds safer if the trail conditions become slippery.
A
みんなに歩きやすい靴と水を持ってくるように伝えましょうか。
MEEN-nah nee ah-roo-kee-yah-soo-ee koot-soo toh mee-tsoo oh MOHT-teh KOO-roo yoh-nee tsoo-tah-eh-ma-SHOH-kah. Should we tell everyone to bring proper shoes and water?
B
みんな両方持ってくるべきです。
MEEN-nah ryoh-HOH MOHT-teh KOO-roo BEH-kee dess. They should bring both.
B
必要なら私たちは引き返すと、はっきり伝えるべきです。
hee-TSOO-yoh nah-rah wah-tah-SHEE-tah-chee wa hee-kee-kah-eh-soo toh, hahk-kee-ree tsoo-tah-eh-roo BEH-kee dess. We should make it clear that we will turn back if needed.
A
今夜、ルートの地図と集合時間を共有します。
KOHN-yah, ROO-toh no CHEE-zoo toh SHOO-goh JEE-kahn oh kyoh-YOO shee-MASS. I will share the route map and meeting time tonight.
B
それで、みんなが準備をして、参加できるか決めるのに役立つはずです。
soh-REH-deh, MEEN-nah gah joon-BEE oh she-TEH, sahn-KAHN deh-KEE-roo kah kee-MEH-roo noh nee yah-koo-DAH-tsoo hah-zoo dess. That should help everyone prepare and decide if they can join.Word by Word
山
「山」 means mountain here and identifies the mountain associated with the trail. It is commonly used before 「の」 to describe something connected with a mountain, as in 「山のトレイル」.
の
In 「山のトレイル」, 「の」 links 「山」 to 「トレイル」 and shows their attributive relationship. A common reusable pattern is 「AのB」, meaning B associated with or described by A.
トレイル
「トレイル」 means trail here, the route being discussed for the hike. It can combine with descriptions such as 「山のトレイル」 to identify a particular trail.
は
In 「トレイルは」, 「は」 marks the trail as the topic of the statement. It sets up the description before the contrast introduced by 「が」.
きれい
「きれい」 describes the mountain trail as beautiful in this dialogue. Before 「に見えます」, it describes how the trail appears; the same pattern can describe how something looks.
に
In 「きれいに見えます」, 「に」 changes the description 「きれい」 into the manner in which the trail appears. This is a common pattern with an adjective-like description followed by 「見えます」.
見えます
「見えます」 means looks or appears here, describing the trail’s appearance to the speaker. It is the polite form used in 「きれいに見えます」, where the preceding description tells how something appears.
が
In 「見えますが」, 「が」 connects the beautiful appearance with a contrasting concern about difficulty. Here it means “but,” rather than marking the subject.
初心者
「初心者」 means beginners, the people for whom the trail may be too difficult. It is commonly used with 「には」 to identify the group affected by an evaluation or difficulty.
難しすぎる
「難しすぎる」 says that something is too difficult, beyond a suitable level for the people mentioned here. The form 「難しすぎる」 combines the difficulty description with 「すぎる」 to show an excessive degree.
かもしれません
「かもしれません」 expresses uncertainty, so the trail may be too difficult rather than certainly being so. In this fixed expression, 「かも」 introduces possibility, 「しれ」 completes the possibility expression, and 「ませ」 plus 「ん」 provide its polite ending.
決める
「決める」 means decide in 「決める前に」. The dictionary-form verb before 「前に」 identifies an action that has not yet been completed when the earlier action occurs.
前
「前」 means before in the time pattern 「決める前に」. A common reusable pattern is a verb in dictionary form followed by 「前に」 to mean before doing that action.
距離
「距離」 means distance here, one of the details the friends want to check. It can be listed with other items using 「と」 and followed by 「を確認する」 when checking it.
と
In 「距離と標高と天気予報」, each 「と」 connects items in a list and means “and.” This use is different from the quotation-marking use of 「と」.
標高
「標高」 means elevation here, referring to the height of the route or terrain. It is listed as another item to check before making the decision.
天気
「天気」 means weather here and forms the compound 「天気予報」 with 「予報」. In this dialogue, it refers to weather information relevant to the hike.
予報
「予報」 means forecast here, specifically as part of 「天気予報」, the weather forecast. It commonly follows the subject area being forecast, such as weather.
を
In 「天気予報を確認しましょう」, 「を」 marks the information being checked. The same object-marking pattern is used with a noun followed by 「確認する」.
確認
「確認」 means check or confirm here, as in checking the distance, elevation, and weather forecast. In 「確認しましょう」, it is used with 「する」 to propose checking those items.
しましょう
「しましょう」 is a polite suggestion to do the action expressed by 「確認」, so 「確認しましょう」 means let’s check. This form is commonly used after a noun plus 「する」 when proposing a shared action.
かなり
「かなり」 means fairly or considerably here and emphasizes that the route is long. It commonly comes before the adjective or description whose degree it modifies, as in 「かなり長い」.
長い
「長い」 means long here, describing the route’s distance or extent. It follows 「かなり」 in 「かなり長いルート」 to show that the route is considerably long.
ルート
「ルート」 means route here, the planned path for the hike. It can be modified by descriptions such as 「長い」 or 「短い」 and can be the subject of 「あります」.
です
In 「長いルートです」, 「です」 gives the statement a polite declarative ending. It is used here after the noun phrase describing the route.
午後
「午後」 means afternoon here, the time when the light rain is forecast. It commonly appears with 「は」 to set the time as the topic, as in 「午後は」.
小雨
「小雨」 means light rain here and describes the expected weather in the afternoon. It is the weather condition named in the forecast.
それ
In 「それなら」, 「それ」 refers to the situation just mentioned, especially the forecast of light rain. It points back to information already known in the conversation.
なら
In 「それなら」, 「なら」 means if that is the case or then, using the previous information as the basis for a response. This pattern is useful when drawing a conclusion from what someone has just said.
早め
「早め」 means earlier than usual here, as in starting the hike early. In 「早めに出発して」, 「に」 makes it describe how or when the departure should happen.
出発
「出発」 refers to setting out or departure here. In 「早めに出発して」, it names the action of leaving early and connects that action with the following requirement.
して
In 「出発して、予備の計画が必要です」, 「して」 connects the departure action with the next part of the statement. It is the connecting form used to link an action phrase to what follows.
予備
「予備」 means backup or spare here, describing a plan kept for a change in conditions. It commonly comes before a noun, as in 「予備の計画」.
計画
「計画」 means plan here, specifically the backup plan for the hike. It combines with 「予備の」 to identify an alternative arrangement.
必要
「必要」 means necessary here, saying that an early start and a backup plan are needed. In 「必要です」, it gives a polite statement about necessity.
同じ
「同じ」 means same here and describes the station reached by the shorter route. It directly modifies 「駅」 in 「同じ駅」.
駅
「駅」 means station here, the destination to which the shorter route returns. It appears with 「に」 in 「同じ駅に戻る」 to mark the destination.
戻る
「戻る」 means return or go back here, referring to returning to the same station. A common pattern is 「placeに戻る」, with 「に」 marking the place returned to.
もっと
「もっと」 means more here and makes the route shorter in comparison with the longer route already discussed. It commonly comes before a description when increasing the degree of comparison.
短い
「短い」 means short, and in 「もっと短いルート」 it describes a route that is shorter than the earlier option. It directly modifies 「ルート」.
あります
「あります」 says that the shorter route exists or is available. In 「ルートがあります」, it is used for the existence of a route or other non-living thing.
道
「道」 means path or road here and is the surface that may become easy to slip on. It is the subject of 「滑りやすくなったら」 in the condition being considered.
滑りやすく
「滑りやすく」 means easy to slip on or prone to becoming slippery here. The form leads into 「なったら」, describing a change in the path’s condition.
なったら
「なったら」 means if or when it becomes, referring here to the path becoming slippery. This conditional form connects the possible change in condition with the safety judgment that follows.
その
In 「そのほうが」, 「その」 means that and points to the shorter route just mentioned. It modifies 「ほう」 to identify that particular option.
ほう
In 「そのほうが安全そうです」, 「ほう」 means that option or choice, namely the shorter route. The pattern 「Aほうが」 is used when evaluating one option in relation to another.
安全
「安全」 means safe here and describes the shorter route as the safer option under slippery conditions. It appears before 「そうです」 to express an appearance or judgment about safety.
そう
In 「安全そうです」, 「そう」 means seems or appears, based on the speakers’ assessment. It follows 「安全」 to say that the option looks safe rather than stating absolute certainty.
みんな
「みんな」 means everyone here, referring to all the people joining the hike. It is used as the recipient group in 「みんなに」 and as the subject in 「みんなが」.
歩きやすい
「歩きやすい」 means easy or comfortable to walk in here and describes the recommended shoes. The form combines the walking action with 「やすい」 to describe something that makes that action easy.
靴
「靴」 means shoes here, one of the things everyone should bring. It is coordinated with 「水」 in 「靴と水」.
水
「水」 means water here, the second item everyone should bring for the hike. It is listed together with 「靴」 using 「と」.
持ってくる
「持ってくる」 means bring, with the item carried toward the relevant meeting or hiking location. In this construction, 「持って」 expresses carrying and 「くる」 adds movement toward the reference point; the whole expression is used in 「持ってくるように伝える」.
よう
In 「持ってくるように伝えましょうか」, 「ように」 introduces the action that someone is being told to do. The whole pattern means to tell someone to bring something, while 「持ってくる」 supplies the instructed action.
伝えましょう
「伝えましょう」 means let’s tell or communicate here, proposing that the speaker pass the instruction to everyone. It is a polite suggestion used with the content of the message before it.
か
The 「か」 in 「伝えましょうか」 turns the polite suggestion into a question. It asks whether the speakers should tell everyone to bring the shoes and water.
両方
「両方」 means both here and refers to the shoes and the water together. It is used before the action in 「両方持ってくるべきです」 to include both items.
べき
In 「持ってくるべきです」, 「べき」 expresses what is considered proper or recommended, so everyone ought to bring both items. A common reusable pattern is a verb in dictionary form followed by 「べきです」.
私たち
「私たち」 means we or us here and identifies the speakers as the people who will turn back if necessary. It is the explicit subject of 「引き返す」 in the message they want to communicate.
引き返す
「引き返す」 means turn back here, referring to returning along the route when conditions require it. It is the action presented in 「引き返すと伝える」 as part of the safety plan.
はっきり
「はっきり」 means clearly here and describes how the safety condition should be communicated. It commonly comes before 「伝える」 when the speaker wants a message to be explicit.
伝える
「伝える」 means tell or communicate here, specifically communicating that the group will turn back if needed. A common pattern is 「内容を伝える」, with the information being communicated marked by 「を」.
今夜
「今夜」 means tonight here, the time when the route map and meeting time will be shared. It can be placed at the beginning of a sentence to set the time for the action.
地図
「地図」 means map here and is part of the route information to be shared. In 「ルートの地図」, 「の」 links the map with the route it represents.
集合
「集合」 refers to gathering or meeting here, as part of 「集合時間」. The compound identifies the time when the group is supposed to meet.
時間
「時間」 means time here, specifically the meeting time in 「集合時間」. It combines with another noun before it to specify what kind of time is meant.
共有
「共有」 means share here, referring to sharing the route map and meeting time with the group. In 「共有します」, it is used with 「する」 as a polite action of sharing information.
で
In 「それで」, 「で」 connects the previously mentioned sharing with its expected result. Here the expression means with that or as a result, not a location marker.
準備
「準備」 means preparation here and refers to everyone getting ready for the hike. In 「準備をして」, it is used with 「する」 and 「を」 to express the action of preparing.
参加
「参加」 means participation or joining here, referring to joining the hike. In 「参加できるか」, it combines with 「できる」 to ask whether someone is able to join.
できる
「できる」 means can or be able to here, expressing whether each person is able to participate. In 「参加できる」, it follows 「参加」 to describe the ability to join.
役立つ
「役立つ」 means be useful or help here, referring to the shared information helping people prepare and decide. A common pattern is 「動詞のに役立つ」, meaning useful for doing the action expressed by the verb.
はず
In 「役立つはずです」, 「はず」 expresses an expected result based on the information just shared. The phrase says that the map and meeting time should be useful, while leaving the result as an expectation rather than a certainty.
Grammar Points
～やすい
この靴は歩きやすいです。
koh-noh KOO-tsoo wa ah-roo-kee-yah-soo-ee dess.These shoes are easy to walk in.
The suffix ～やすい means “easy to ...” and attaches to a verb stem.
～そうです
このルートは安全そうです。
koh-noh ROO-toh wa sahn-ZEN-soh dess.This route seems safer.
～そうです expresses an appearance or impression: “it seems ...”.
Japanese Vocabulary
かなり
adv
kah-NAH-ree
fairly; quite
きれいに
adv
kee-RAY-nee
beautifully; nicely
トレイル
noun
TOH-ray-roo
trail
確認しましょう
verb
kah-koo-NEEN shee-ma-SHOH
let's check; let's confirm
距離
noun
kyoh-ree
distance
決める
verb
kee-MEH-roo
to decide
見えます
verb
mee-eh-MASS
looks; appears
山
noun
yah-ma
mountain
初心者
noun
shoh-SHEEN-shah
beginner
天気予報
noun
TEN-kee yoh-HOH
weather forecast
難しすぎる
adj
moo-zoo-kah-SHEE-soo-gee-roo
too difficult
標高
noun
hyoh-KOH
elevation; altitude
Quiz
Spelling
Tap the letters to spell the word.
too difficult
Show Answer
難しすぎるtrail
Show Answer
トレイルlooks; appears
Show Answer
見えますbeautifully; nicely