About This Lesson
Use Reporting a Missing Wallet Safely to practice Japanese conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.
Dialogue
A
私の財布が見つかりません。最後に持っていた場所はカフェです。
wah-tah-SHEE noh SIGH-foo gah meet-soo-kah-ree-mah-SEN. SIGH-goh nee MOHT-teh ee-tah bah-SHOH wah kah-FEH dess. I can't find my wallet, and I last had it at the cafe.
B
電話をかける前に、その財布の見た目を説明する準備をしてください。
DEHN-wah oh kah-keh-roo MYEH nee, soh-noh SIGH-foo noh mee-tah-MEH oh sets-MAY soo-roo JOON-bee oh SHEE-teh koo-dah-SIGH. Before you call, prepare a description of what the wallet looks like.
A
小さな黒い財布で、角が一つすり減っています。
CHEE-sah-nah koo-ROY SIGH-foo deh, KAH-doh gah hee-TOHT-soo soo-ree-HEHT-teh ee-MAHS. It's a small black wallet with a worn corner.
B
それなら、スタッフは個人的な情報を聞かずに確認できるはずです。
soh-reh nah-RAH, soo-TAHF-foo wah koh-jeen-TEH-kee nah JOH-hoh oh kee-KAH-zoo nee kah-koo-NEEN deh-kee-roo hah-zoo dess. That should help the staff check without asking for private details.
A
電話をして、いつなくなったことに気づいたか説明します。
DEHN-wah oh SHEE-teh, EE-tsoo nah-koo-NAHT-tah koh-toh nee kee-ZOO-ee-tah kah sets-MAY shee-MAHS. I'll call and explain when I noticed it was missing.
B
中にある物をいくつか伝えてください。ただし、個人の書類の詳細は伝えないでください。
NAH-kah nee ah-roo MOH-noh oh ee-KOOT-soo-kah tsoo-tah-EH-teh koo-dah-SIGH. TAH-dah-shee, koh-JEEN noh shoh-ROO-ee noh shoh-SIGH wah tsoo-tah-EH-nah-ee-deh koo-dah-SIGH. Mention a few items inside, but don't share details from personal documents.
A
中に写真と折りたたんだメモが入っています。
NAH-kah nee shah-SHEEN toh oh-ree-tah-TAHN-dah MEH-moh gah HIGH-teh ee-MAHS. It has a photo and a folded note inside.
B
その情報があれば、安全に財布を特定できるはずです。
SOH-noh JOH-hoh gah ah-reh-BAH, ahn-ZEHN nee SIGH-foo oh toh-koo-TAY deh-kee-roo hah-zoo dess. Those details should be enough to identify it safely.
A
もしそれがあれば、受け取りに行く時間を決められます。
MOH-shee soh-reh gah ah-reh-BAH, oo-keh-toh-REE nee ee-KOO jee-KAHN oh kee-meh-rah-reh-MAHS. If they have it, I can arrange a time to pick it up.
B
今電話してください。あなたが待っている間に、私がバッグをもう一度確認します。
EE-mah DEHN-wah SHEE-teh koo-dah-SIGH. ah-NAH-tah gah MAHT-teh ee-roo EYE-dah nee, wah-tah-SHEE gah BAHG-goo oh MOH ee-chee-doh kah-koo-NEEN shee-MAHS. Call now, and I'll check your bag again while you wait.Word by Word
私
In this dialogue, 「私」 identifies the speaker as the owner in 「私の財布」, so it means “my” here. It is used before a noun to show who owns or is connected to it. A speaker can use it when reporting their own belongings or situation.
の
In 「私の財布」, 「の」 links the owner to the thing owned, meaning “my wallet.” It commonly connects a person or noun to another noun to show possession or a close relationship. Use it when identifying whose item is being discussed.
財布
「財布」 means “wallet,” the missing item in this dialogue. It is the noun marked by 「が」 in 「私の財布が見つかりません」. Use it when describing a wallet while asking about a lost item or identifying belongings.
が
In 「私の財布が見つかりません」, 「が」 marks the wallet as the thing that cannot be found. It presents the item whose existence or condition is being described. This is useful when reporting that a particular item is missing.
見つかりません
「見つかりません」 means “cannot be found” in the polite negative expression 「私の財布が見つかりません」. It describes an item that the speaker has searched for but has not located. Use it when reporting a missing object politely.
最後
In 「最後に持っていた」, 「最後」 means “last” or “most recently,” referring to the latest time the speaker had the wallet. It helps identify the last known location or moment connected with an item. Use it before a time-related description when explaining where something was last seen.
に
In 「最後に持っていた」, 「に」 marks the point in time associated with the last time the speaker had the wallet. It connects 「最後」 to the action that followed. This use is helpful when locating an event at a particular time.
持って
In 「持っていた」, 「持って」 contributes the meaning of holding or having the wallet. It is the connective form of 「持つ」 used with 「いた」 to describe an earlier state of having it. A common reuse pattern is to describe an item someone is carrying or has with them.
いた
In 「持っていた」, 「いた」 places the state of holding or having the wallet in the past. Together with 「持って」, it describes what the speaker had at the last known moment. Use this pattern when referring to an earlier continuing state.
場所
「場所」 means “place” in 「最後に持っていた場所」. It identifies the location connected with the wallet’s last known presence. Use it when specifying where an item, person, or event was located.
は
In 「最後に持っていた場所はカフェです」, 「は」 marks the place as the topic of the statement. The sentence then identifies that topic as the cafe. This topic-plus-description structure is useful when giving basic identifying information.
カフェ
「カフェ」 means “cafe,” the last place where the speaker had the wallet. It supplies the location after the topic in 「場所はカフェです」. Use it when reporting a cafe as the relevant place.
です
In 「場所はカフェです」, 「です」 politely links the place with the cafe as its identification. It gives the statement a polite tone. Use it when politely saying that one thing is another or describing what something is.
電話
In 「電話をかける前に」, 「電話」 refers to a telephone call rather than the physical phone. It is the object connected with 「かける」. Use it when talking about making or receiving a call in a practical situation.
を
In 「電話をかける」, 「を」 marks 「電話」 as the object of the action. It shows what the speaker makes or places. This particle is useful for identifying the object acted on by a verb.
かける
In 「電話をかける」, 「かける」 means “to make a phone call.” The exact expression describes calling the cafe before preparing the description. Use it when stating that someone will place a call.
前
In 「電話をかける前に」, 「前」 means “before,” marking an action that must happen earlier than making the call. The verb before it appears in its plain form. Use this pattern when giving preparation or safety instructions.
その
In 「その財布」, 「その」 means “that” or “the mentioned,” referring back to the wallet already under discussion. It points to a specific known noun. Use it before a noun when both speakers know which item is meant.
見た目
「見た目」 means the wallet’s visible appearance in 「その財布の見た目」. It covers identifying features such as its size, color, and worn corner here. Use it when describing how an object looks.
説明する
In 「見た目を説明する」, 「説明する」 means “to describe” or “to explain” the wallet’s appearance. It takes the thing being described as its object. Use it when giving clear information about an item or situation.
準備
「準備」 means “preparation” in 「準備をしてください」. Here it refers to getting the wallet’s appearance description ready before calling. Use it when arranging information or materials needed for a later action.
して
In 「準備をしてください」, 「して」 is the connective form that links doing the preparation to the polite request 「ください」. The whole expression politely asks someone to prepare something. Use this form when making a polite request to carry out an action.
ください
In 「準備をしてください」, 「ください」 makes the request polite, giving the meaning “please prepare.” It follows the connective verb form 「して」 here. Use this polite request ending when asking someone to do something.
小さな
「小さな」 means “small” and directly describes the wallet in 「小さな黒い財布」. It appears before the noun it modifies. Use it when giving the size of an object in a description.
黒い
「黒い」 means “black” in 「小さな黒い財布」. It directly modifies 「財布」 and adds a color detail useful for identification. Use it before a noun when describing something black.
で
In 「小さな黒い財布で、角が一つすり減っています」, 「で」 connects the wallet’s description with the additional information about its corner. It keeps the description flowing without ending the sentence at the first detail. Use this connective form when adding another characteristic or related statement.
角
「角」 means “corner,” referring to a corner of the wallet in 「角が一つすり減っています」. It gives a distinctive physical detail that staff can use for identification. Use it when describing a corner or edge of an object.
すり減って
In 「角が一つすり減っています」, 「すり減って」 means “worn down” and describes the corner’s condition. It connects with 「います」 to present that condition as continuing. Use it when a surface or edge has become worn through use.
います
In 「すり減っています」, 「います」 helps describe the corner as remaining in a worn-down state. Together with 「すり減って」, it presents a current condition rather than a single event. Use this pattern for an ongoing state or visible condition.
それ
In 「それなら」, 「それ」 refers to the appearance details just given about the wallet. It means “that” or “that information” in this context. Use it to refer back to something the other person has just said or described.
なら
In 「それなら」, 「なら」 means “if so” or “then,” responding to the information already provided. It introduces the consequence that staff should be able to check without private details. Use it when drawing a conclusion from the other person’s statement.
スタッフ
「スタッフ」 means “staff,” referring here to the cafe employees who may check for the wallet. It identifies the people carrying out the check. Use it when referring to employees in a shop, cafe, or other service setting.
個人的
In 「個人的な情報」, 「個人的」 means “personal,” describing information that should not be shared unnecessarily. It is linked to 「情報」 by 「な」. Use it when distinguishing private information from safe identifying details.
な
In 「個人的な情報」, 「な」 links the descriptive word 「個人的」 to the noun 「情報」. It allows that description to come directly before the noun. Use this linker after a な-type description when modifying a noun.
情報
「情報」 means “information” in 「個人的な情報」. The dialogue contrasts useful wallet-identifying information with information from personal documents. Use it when referring to facts or details shared for a particular purpose.
聞かず
In 「聞かずに」, 「聞かず」 means “without asking” and describes an action that is not performed. Together with 「に」, it explains that the staff can check without asking for private information. Use this form when stating that something is done without carrying out another action.
確認
In 「確認できる」, 「確認」 means checking or verifying whether the wallet is the one being reported. It combines with 「できる」 to express that the staff can perform the check. Use it when verifying an item, detail, or situation.
できる
In 「確認できる」, 「できる」 means “can” or “be able to,” so the staff should be able to check the wallet. It expresses possibility or ability based on the identifying details. Use it after an action or activity when describing what someone can do.
はず
In 「できるはずです」, 「はず」 means “should” or “is expected to,” based on the details that were prepared. It expresses a reasonable expectation rather than an absolute guarantee. Use it when a result is expected from the available information.
いつ
In 「いつなくなったことに気づいたか」, 「いつ」 asks “when” the wallet became missing. It forms part of an indirect question that the speaker will explain. Use it when requesting or reporting the time of an event.
なくなった
In 「いつなくなった」, 「なくなった」 means that the wallet became missing or was no longer present. It identifies the change the speaker noticed. Use it when explaining when an item disappeared or became unavailable.
こと
In 「なくなったことに気づいた」, 「こと」 turns the event of the wallet becoming missing into the thing that was noticed. It connects the event to 「気づいた」. Use it when saying that someone noticed or realized a fact or event.
気づいた
In 「気づいたか」, 「気づいた」 means “noticed” or “realized” that the wallet was missing. It describes the speaker’s awareness of the event. Use it when reporting the moment someone became aware of a fact.
か
In 「気づいたか説明します」, 「か」 marks the preceding clause as an indirect question: when the speaker noticed the wallet was missing. It lets that question function as information to be explained. Use it after a question word and clause when reporting an indirect question.
説明します
「説明します」 is the polite form used here for the speaker’s planned action of explaining when the wallet was noticed to be missing. It describes giving that information clearly. Use it when politely stating that you will explain a fact or situation.
中
In 「中にある物」 and 「中に写真と折りたたんだメモが入っています」, 「中」 means “inside,” specifically inside the wallet. It locates the items contained there. Use it when describing the interior of a container or object.
ある
In 「中にある物」, 「ある」 means that the items exist or are located inside the wallet. It is used for the nonliving things being listed. Use it when saying where an object is located.
物
「物」 means “thing” or “item” in 「中にある物」. Here it refers generally to the contents inside the wallet before a few examples are mentioned. Use it when referring to physical items without naming each one.
いくつか
「いくつか」 means “a few” or “several” in 「物をいくつか伝えてください」. It allows the speaker to give enough identifying items without listing every private detail. Use it when mentioning a small, unspecified number of things.
伝えて
In 「伝えてください」, 「伝えて」 means “tell” or “mention” and is followed by 「ください」 to form a polite request. The requested information is a few items inside the wallet. Use it when asking someone to pass on information.
ただし
「ただし」 introduces an important restriction after the instruction to mention some contents. Here it signals that details from personal documents must not be shared. Use it to add a condition, exception, or caution to what was just said.
個人
In 「個人の書類」, 「個人」 means “personal” or “belonging to an individual.” It identifies the documents as private personal documents. Use it before 「の」 when describing something associated with an individual.
書類
「書類」 means “documents” in 「個人の書類」. These are mentioned as a source of details that should not be shared. Use it when referring to official or personal papers.
詳細
「詳細」 means “details” in 「個人の書類の詳細」. The dialogue says not to share these details, even while giving safer identifying information. Use it when referring to specific information about a document or matter.
伝えない
In 「伝えないでください」, 「伝えない」 means “do not tell” or “do not share.” Together with 「でください」, it gives a polite negative request about personal document details. Use it when politely asking someone not to pass on information.
写真
「写真」 means “photo” in 「写真と折りたたんだメモ」. It is one of the safe identifying items inside the wallet. Use it when naming a photograph or photo as an object.
と
In 「写真と折りたたんだメモ」, 「と」 connects the photo and the folded note as two items. It means “and” between nouns here. Use it to list two or more things together.
折りたたんだ
In 「折りたたんだメモ」, 「折りたたんだ」 means “folded” and describes the note’s condition. It appears directly before 「メモ」 to identify which note is inside. Use it when describing an object that has been folded.
メモ
「メモ」 means “note” in 「折りたたんだメモ」. It is another item inside the wallet that can help identify it safely. Use it when referring to a short written note.
入って
In 「入っています」, 「入って」 means that the photo and note are inside or contained in the wallet. It connects with 「います」 to describe their current state. Use it when explaining what is contained inside a bag, wallet, or other object.
安全に
In 「安全に財布を特定できる」, 「安全に」 means “safely” and describes the manner of identifying the wallet. It emphasizes checking the item without revealing unnecessary private information. Use it before an action when explaining that it should be done safely.
特定
In 「財布を特定できる」, 「特定」 means identifying which wallet it is. It combines with 「できる」 to express that the wallet can be identified from the safe details. Use it when distinguishing one specific item from similar items.
もし
In 「もしそれがあれば」, 「もし」 introduces a condition meaning “if.” It prepares the listener for the possibility that the cafe has the wallet. Use it at the beginning of a conditional statement.
あれば
In 「もしそれがあれば」, 「あれば」 means “if it exists” or, in this context, “if they have it.” It gives the condition for arranging a pickup time. Use it when setting a condition involving the presence or availability of something.
受け取り
In 「受け取りに行く」, 「受け取り」 means “pickup” or the act of receiving the wallet. It states the purpose of going. Use it when talking about going somewhere to receive an item.
行く
In 「受け取りに行く」, 「行く」 means “go,” with the preceding phrase giving the purpose: go to pick up the wallet. It describes the speaker’s possible movement to the cafe. Use it when saying that someone goes somewhere for a particular purpose.
時間
「時間」 means “time” in 「受け取りに行く時間」. It refers to the time arranged for going to collect the wallet. Use it when discussing or setting a time for an appointment or action.
決められます
「決められます」 means “can decide” or “can arrange” in 「時間を決められます」. It expresses that the speaker is able to set a pickup time if the cafe has the wallet. Use it when politely describing the ability to choose or arrange something.
今
「今」 means “now” in 「今電話してください」. It tells the listener that the call should happen at the present moment. Use it when giving an immediate instruction or stating what is happening at present.
あなた
「あなた」 explicitly identifies the listener as “you” in 「あなたが待っている間に」. It marks the person who is waiting. Use it when the listener needs to be identified clearly in the sentence.
待って
In 「待っている間に」, 「待って」 means “wait” and connects with 「いる」 to describe an ongoing action. It identifies what the listener is doing during the bag check. Use it when describing someone waiting while another action takes place.
いる
In 「待っている」, 「いる」 shows that the action of waiting is ongoing. Together with 「待って」, it means “be waiting.” Use this pattern when describing an action currently in progress.
間
In 「待っている間に」, 「間」 means “while” or “during,” covering the period in which the listener is waiting. It links that time period to the bag check. Use it after an ongoing action when describing what happens during it.
バッグ
「バッグ」 means “bag” in 「バッグをもう一度確認します」. It is the item that will be checked again while the other person waits. Use it when referring to a bag or carrying case.
もう一度
「もう一度」 means “once again” as a whole in 「もう一度確認します」. Here, 「もう」 adds the sense of repetition and 「一度」 means one time, so the speaker will check the bag one more time. Use this expression when repeating an action, especially a check or confirmation.
確認します
「確認します」 is the polite form used here to say “will check” or “will confirm” the bag. In 「バッグをもう一度確認します」, it describes a repeated inspection while the other person makes the call. Use it when politely stating that you will verify an item or detail.
Grammar Points
動詞ない形＋ずに
個人的な情報を聞かずに確認できる。
koh-jeen-TEH-kee nah JOH-hoh oh kee-KAH-zoo nee kah-koo-NEEN deh-kee-rooYou can check it without asking for personal information.
〜ずに means “without doing.” 聞かずに is the negative form of 聞く followed by ずに.
〜はずです
財布は見つかるはずです。
SIGH-foo wah meet-soo-KAH-roo hah-zoo dessThe wallet should be found.
〜はずです expresses an expectation or confident belief based on available information.
Japanese Vocabulary
見た目
noun
mee-tah-MEH
appearance; what something looks like
見つかりません
verb
meet-soo-kah-ree-mah-SEN
cannot find; cannot be found
黒い
adj
koo-ROY
black
最後に
adv
SIGH-goh nee
last; lastly
財布
noun
SIGH-foo
wallet
持っていた
verb
MOHT-teh ee-tah
had; was carrying
準備をしてください
phrase
JOON-bee oh SHEE-teh koo-dah-SIGH
please prepare
小さな
adj
CHEE-sah-nah
small
場所
noun
bah-SHOH
place; location
説明する
verb
sets-MAY soo-roo
to explain; to describe
前に
adv
MYEH nee
before
電話をかける
phrase
DEHN-wah oh kah-keh-roo
to make a phone call
Quiz
Spelling
Tap the letters to spell the word.
had; was carrying
Show Answer
持っていたcannot find; cannot be found
Show Answer
見つかりませんto explain; to describe
Show Answer
説明するto make a phone call