Protecting valuables at a crowded festival | Learn Japanese in English

Sentence explanations

1. この祭りは、思っていたよりずっと混雑しています。

   This festival is much more crowded than I expected.

   この

   this

   祭り

   festival

   思っていた

   expected

   より

   than

   ずっと

   much

   混雑しています

   is crowded

   More detail

   この points to a referent as “this” and appears before the noun it modifies. Demonstrative forms such as この, その, and あの differ in how the referent is related to the speaker and listener; この is the form used here for the intended nearby or currently focused referent. Example: この本は面白い。 — “This book is interesting.” 祭り is the noun “festival.” The full noun phrase この祭り means “this festival”; the demonstrative identifies the festival without changing the noun’s form. Example: 祭りが始まります。 — “The festival will begin.” 思っていた comes from 思う, “to think,” and uses ている in the past: 思っていた. In this sentence, it describes what the speaker had expected or thought beforehand. The past form places that expectation before the current assessment; it does not mean that the festival itself was thinking. Example: もっと簡単だと思っていた。 — “I had thought it would be easier.” より marks the standard of comparison in the pattern AよりB, meaning that B has a greater degree of the relevant property than A. Here, the standard is the speaker’s prior expectation expressed by 思っていた, so 思っていたより means “than I expected.” Example: 予想より早く着きました。 — “I arrived earlier than expected.” ずっと strengthens a comparison. With より, it means “much” or “far” rather than simply marking the comparison: AよりずっとB means “much more B than A.” Example: 今日は昨日よりずっと暖かい。 — “Today is much warmer than yesterday.” 混雑しています is the polite nonpast form of 混雑している, from 混雑する, “to be crowded” or “to become crowded.” The ている form presents the crowding as the current state, and ます adds polite style. In this sentence, the subject is この祭り, so the festival is currently crowded. Example: 駅は混雑しています。 — “The station is crowded.” Together, この祭りは sets “this festival” as the topic. 思っていたより supplies the standard of comparison, and ずっと混雑しています says that its current crowded state is much greater than the speaker had expected. The complete meaning is: “This festival is much more crowded than I expected.”

2. 貴重品はファスナー付きのポケットに入れて、外側のポーチには入れないでください。

   Keep your valuables in a zippered pocket, not in the outside pouch.

   貴重品

   valuables

   ファスナー付き

   zippered / with a zipper

   ポケット

   pocket

   入れて

   put in

   外側

   outside / exterior

   ポーチ

   pouch

   入れないでください

   please do not put in

   More detail

   貴重品 means valuables or valuable belongings. It is a noun referring to the items being placed. The topic marker は presents those items as the topic: “as for your valuables...” Japanese often leaves the person responsible for the action unstated when the situation makes it clear. ファスナー付き describes something equipped with a zipper. The pattern 名詞 + 付き means “with/equipped with [that noun],” so ファスナー付きのポケット is “a pocket with a zipper.” 付き is the form used in this compound; it is not the adjective “zippered” as an independent English-style inflection. ポケット is “pocket,” a noun. The phrase ファスナー付きのポケット uses の to connect the description to the noun: “a zippered pocket.” The location particle に marks this pocket as the place or container into which something is put. 入れて is the te-form of 入れる, “to put something in” or “to place something inside.” The te-form connects this instruction to the following instruction. A useful contrast is 入る, “to enter / go in,” which describes something going in by itself, while 入れる describes someone putting something in. For example: 本をかばんに入れる。 — “I put a book in the bag.” 外側 means “the outside” or “the outer side.” Here, 外側の modifies ポーチ, giving “the outside pouch” or “the pouch on the outside.” 外側 is a noun used attributively with の; it does not itself specify what the outside is relative to beyond the description supplied by the sentence. ポーチ means “pouch.” Together, 外側のポーチには marks the outside pouch as the contrasting location. に marks the destination or location, and は adds contrast: “as for the outside pouch...” The contrast is completed by the prohibition that follows. 入れないでください is a polite request not to put something in. It is built from the negative form 入れない of 入れる plus でください, a polite request pattern: 動詞ない形 + でください means “please do not ...”. For example: ここに荷物を置かないでください。 — “Please do not leave luggage here.” Taken together, 貴重品はファスナー付きのポケットに入れて says to put the valuables in a zippered pocket, while 外側のポーチには入れないでください says not to put them in the outside pouch. The omitted object of the second clause is understood from the topic 貴重品; the complete meaning is: “Keep your valuables in a zippered pocket, not in the outside pouch.”

3. 音楽に気を取られる前に、スマートフォンを移しておきます。

   I'll move my phone before the music distracts me.

   音楽

   music

   気を取られる

   be distracted

   前に

   before

   スマートフォン

   smartphone

   移しておきます

   move it in advance

   More detail

   音楽 means “music.” It is a noun and can be followed by に here to mark the thing that causes the speaker’s attention to be taken. Example: 音楽に集中する means “concentrate on music.” 気を取られる means “be distracted” in this sentence. The base expression is 気を取る (“take someone’s attention”); 取られる is its passive form, so the attention is understood as being taken by something. 気 here means attention or awareness, not simply physical energy. Example: 話し声に気を取られた。 — “I was distracted by voices.” 前に marks an earlier time: “before.” In the pattern [event]前に、[action], the event in the first part has not happened yet when the second action is carried out. Thus 音楽に気を取られる前に means “before I am distracted by the music.” 前 is a noun meaning “front” or “before,” and に gives it a temporal relation here. スマートフォン is the noun “smartphone.” In this sentence, を marks it as the object of the following action: スマートフォンを移す means “move the smartphone.” 移しておきます combines the verb 移す (“move” or “transfer”) with ておく (“do beforehand” or “leave in a prepared state”). 移して is the て-form of 移す, and おきます is the polite nonpast form of おく in this auxiliary use. The form 移す is transitive, so it takes an object with を; do not confuse it with 移る, an intransitive verb meaning “move” or “shift” by itself. Example: 荷物を先に移しておきます。 — “I’ll move the luggage beforehand.” Together, 音楽に気を取られる前に sets the time, and スマートフォンを移しておきます states the preparatory action. The whole utterance means: “I’ll move my phone before the music distracts me.”

4. 今すぐやってください。スリは、注意を払わなくなった人をよく狙っています。

   Do it now. Pickpockets often watch for people who stop paying attention.

   今すぐ

   right now

   やってください

   please do it

   スリ

   pickpockets

   注意を払わなくなった

   stopped paying attention

   人

   person; people

   よく

   often

   狙っています

   are watching for; are targeting

   More detail

   今すぐ means “right now” or “immediately.” 今 means “now,” and すぐ adds the idea that the action should happen without delay. Example: 今すぐ来てください。 = “Please come right now.” やってください is a polite request meaning “please do it.” It is the て-form of やる (“to do”) plus ください (“please” in this request pattern). The object is understood from the situation, so this form does not itself specify what should be done. Example: これを読んでください。 = “Please read this.” スリ means “pickpocket.” It is a noun naming a person who steals from someone’s clothing or belongings, and it is the grammatical subject of the second sentence here. 注意を払わなくなった contains the reusable expression 注意を払う, “to pay attention.” The negative form 注意を払わない means “not pay attention,” and なくなる adds a change into that state: “stop paying attention” or “come not to pay attention.” The past form なくなった is placed before 人 to describe people who have stopped paying attention. Example: 彼は注意を払わなくなった。 = “He stopped paying attention.” 人 means “person” or, in a suitable context, “people.” Here it is the noun modified by 注意を払わなくなった, so the phrase means “people who have stopped paying attention.” The form 人 itself does not explicitly state a particular number. よく means “often” in this sentence. It describes the frequency of the action 狙っています, rather than the noun 人. 狙っています comes from 狙う, “to target” or “to watch for as a target.” The ています form can describe an action in progress or a continuing/habitual situation; with よく here, it presents pickpockets as often watching for or targeting suitable people. The polite ending ます makes the statement polite. Example: 鳥が魚を狙っています。 = “The bird is watching for fish as a target.” Together, 今すぐやってください。 is a polite request to do the contextually understood action immediately. In the next sentence, スリ is the subject, 注意を払わなくなった人 is the target group, よく indicates frequent behavior, and 狙っています presents that behavior as ongoing or habitual: “Pickpockets often watch for people who stop paying attention.”

5. リュックは前に背負ったほうがいいですか。

   Should I wear my backpack in front of me?

   リュック

   backpack

   前に

   in front

   背負った

   carried on one’s back

   ほうがいいですか

   should ...?

   More detail

   リュック means “backpack.” It is a noun, and the topic marker は after it makes the backpack the item being discussed: “As for the backpack…” The noun itself does not encode the owner; here, the fixed translation identifies it as the speaker’s backpack. 前に means “in front” or “to the front.” The particle に marks the position or direction associated with 前. In this sentence, it indicates carrying the backpack at the front of the body, rather than on the back. Example: 荷物を前に置きます。 — “I put the luggage in front.” 背負った is the past/plain form of 背負う, “to carry on one’s back” or “to wear on one’s back.” In 背負ったほうがいい, this past form is part of the recommendation pattern verb-たほうがいい, not a simple past-time statement. Example: 傘を持っていったほうがいいです。 — “It would be better to take an umbrella.” ほうがいいですか asks whether one option is preferable: “would it be better?” or, in this sentence, “should I…?” ほう literally refers to a side or option, while ですか makes the expression a polite question. The pattern verb-たほうがいいですか can be reused to ask for advice about an action. Together, リュックは sets the backpack as the topic, 前に specifies its position, and 背負ったほうがいいですか asks whether carrying it that way is the better choice. The complete meaning is: “Should I wear my backpack in front of me?”

6. そのほうが、食べ物の屋台や入場ゲートの近くでは安全です。

   That would be safer near the food stalls and entrance gates.

   そのほうが

   that way / that option

   食べ物

   food

   屋台

   stall / stand

   入場ゲート

   entrance gate

   近く

   nearby area

   安全

   safe

   More detail

   そのほうが means “that way” or “that option,” referring to the choice under discussion: wearing the backpack in front, as established by the preceding question. ほう (方) can mean a direction, side, or option; in this pattern, Aほうが… compares A with another understood option. The が marks the option being described. Example: 電車のほうが速いです。 — “The train is faster.” 食べ物 means “food.” It is a compound of 食べ (“eating” or “food-related,” from 食べる) and 物 (“thing”), but here it functions as the noun “food.” Example: 食べ物を買います。 — “I’ll buy food.” 屋台 means a stall or stand, especially a temporary or small place selling goods or food. In this sentence, 食べ物の屋台 uses の to connect the nouns: “food stalls.” The や after this phrase lists examples without claiming that the list is complete. Example: 屋台で飲み物を買いました。 — “I bought a drink at a stall.” 入場ゲート is the compound noun “entrance gate”: 入場 means entering a venue, and ゲート means gate. It is another item in the non-exhaustive list formed with や. Example: 入場ゲートはあちらです。 — “The entrance gate is over there.” 近く means “the vicinity” or “nearby area” here. In 食べ物の屋台や入場ゲートの近く, の links the listed places to that vicinity: “near the food stalls and entrance gates.” The phrase では combines location で with は; it sets the place as the situation being discussed, with possible contrast or emphasis. Example: 駅の近くで会いましょう。 — “Let’s meet near the station.” 安全 means “safe.” It is a na-adjective: the polite predicate is 安全です, while the plain predicate is 安全だ. The Japanese comparative idea comes from そのほうが (“that option is more…”), not from a special comparative ending on 安全. Example: こちらの道のほうが安全です。 — “This road is safer.” Together, そのほうが identifies the previously discussed option as the better one, 食べ物の屋台や入場ゲートの近くでは sets the location, and 安全です states the result. The complete meaning is: “That would be safer near the food stalls and entrance gates.”

7. 財布も内側のポケットに入れておきます。

   I'll put my wallet in the inside pocket too.

   財布

   wallet

   も

   also; too

   内側

   inside; inner side

   ポケット

   pocket

   入れておきます

   will put in and leave there

   More detail

   財布 means “wallet” here. It is a noun and can be reused directly in phrases such as 財布を持つ (“carry a wallet”) or 財布を探す (“look for a wallet”). も follows 財布 and adds the meaning “also/too”: the wallet is included in the action as well. This particle replaces the basic object marker を in this position, so 財布も means “the wallet too,” while 財布を would simply mark “the wallet” as the object. 内側 means “inside” or “inner side.” In 内側のポケット, it modifies the following noun through の; the compound means “the inside pocket.” 内側 is a noun-like location word, not an inflected form of ポケット. ポケット means “pocket.” The pattern AのB connects a modifier or identifying noun phrase A to noun B: for example, 上着のポケット means “the jacket’s pocket.” Here, 内側のポケット identifies the pocket by its inner location. 入れておきます is built from 入れる (“to put something in”), its te-form 入れて, and the auxiliary おく in polite nonpast form おきます. 入れる is transitive, so the wallet is the thing being put somewhere. After a te-form, おく indicates doing an action and leaving the result in place, often as a preparation or practical arrangement. The polite nonpast form can express a planned action, which gives the intended “I’ll put ...” here. Compare 入れます (“I’ll put it in”) with 入れておきます (“I’ll put it in and leave it there / put it there in advance”). Putting the parts together, 財布も supplies “the wallet too,” 内側のポケットに supplies “into the inside pocket,” and 入れておきます supplies “I’ll put it in and leave it there.” The complete utterance means: “I’ll put my wallet in the inside pocket too.” The actor is understood from the translation and is not stated as a separate Japanese subject.

8. そうすれば、手が届きにくくなります。

   That way it is harder to reach.

   そうすれば

   that way; if you do that

   手

   hand

   届きにくくなります

   becomes hard to reach

   More detail

   そうすれば means “if you do that” or “that way.” そう points to the action just mentioned; here, the bounded context supports the action of putting the wallet in the inside pocket. すれば is the conditional form of する (“do”), so the pattern そうすれば、… introduces the result of doing that. 手 means “hand.” In 手が届く, it forms a useful expression meaning that one’s hand can reach something; the subject marked by が is the hand, while the person or thing being reached can be understood from context. Example: 棚に手が届きます。 — “I can reach the shelf.” 届きにくくなります describes a change into a difficult-to-reach state. The base verb is 届く (“reach; arrive”). Its stem 届き combines with にくい to make 届きにくい (“difficult to reach”), and く connects that adjective to なる (“become”). なります is the polite non-past form of なる. Example: この箱は開けにくくなりました。 — “This box has become difficult to open.” Together, 手が届きにくくなります says that reaching it with one’s hand becomes more difficult. The complete utterance is therefore: “That way, it becomes harder to reach.” In the supplied context, the understood item is the wallet placed in the inside pocket.

9. でも、祭りを楽しむことはできます。

   But you can still enjoy the festival.

   でも

   but

   祭り

   festival

   楽しむ

   enjoy

   ことはできます

   can ...

   More detail

   でも means “but” here and marks a contrast with what came before. It is a conjunction at the beginning of this utterance; in other positions, でも can have other functions, so learn this use from its position and context. 祭り means “festival” here. It is a noun. A noun can be followed by を when it is the object of an action: 祭りを means “the festival” as what is enjoyed. 楽しむ is the plain, non-past form of the verb 楽しむ, “to enjoy.” This plain form appears before こと because the verb is being turned into a noun-like expression; it is not a polite form. For example, 音楽を楽しむ means “to enjoy music.” ことはできます contains a reusable ability pattern. After a verb in its plain form, こと turns the action into a noun-like expression: 楽しむこと means “enjoying” or “the act of enjoying.” できます is the polite, non-past form of できる, which expresses ability or possibility. Together, Verb-ことができる means “can do Verb.” Here, が is replaced by は, highlighting or contrasting the possibility of doing the action: 祭りを楽しむことはできます. The complete utterance is でも + 祭りを + 楽しむことはできます: “But you can still enjoy the festival.” The contrast comes from でも, 祭りを marks the festival as the object, and 楽しむことはできます presents enjoying it as possible. The polite ending makes the statement suitable for ordinary respectful conversation.

10. 不安な気持ちにはなりたくありません。気をつけていたいだけです。

    I don't want to feel anxious, just careful.

    不安な

    anxious

    気持ち

    feeling

    なりたくありません

    do not want to become or feel

    気をつけて

    be careful

    いたい

    want to remain or be

    だけです

    just; only

    More detail

    不安な describes the state of being anxious. It is the attributive form of 不安だ, placed before a noun: 不安な気持ち = “an anxious feeling.” Do not confuse it with 不安 used by itself as a noun or with the verb 不安になる (“become anxious”). 気持ち means a feeling or emotional state. In this sentence, 不安な気持ち is the state the speaker does not want to experience. A reusable pattern is 〜な気持ちになる = “come to feel 〜.” なりたくありません comes from なる (“become”) with the desire form 〜たい and its polite negative: なる → なりたい → なりたくない → なりたくありません. Here, に marks the resulting state in 不安な気持ちになる, while は adds contrast: that is the state the speaker does not want to enter. The full chunk therefore means “do not want to feel/become anxious.” 気をつけて is the て-form of 気をつける, “be careful” or “pay attention.” The て-form connects this verb to the following いたい; it is not an independent past-tense form here. A useful pattern is 気をつけてください = “please be careful.” いたい is いる (“remain/be”) combined with 〜たい (“want to”): いる → いたい. After 気をつけて, it expresses wanting to remain in a careful or attentive state: 気をつけていたい = “want to stay careful.” The 〜たい form describes the speaker’s desire; it is not the same as the plain verb いる by itself. だけです means “only” or “just.” It limits the preceding content, so 気をつけていたいだけです means “I only want to stay careful.” Here it does not assert a quantity; it narrows the speaker’s intention to that one point. Together, 不安な気持ちにはなりたくありません says “I do not want to feel anxious,” while 気をつけていたいだけです says “I only want to remain careful.” The whole utterance is therefore: “I don’t want to feel anxious, just careful.”

11. それなら、午後ずっと心配せずに、注意していましょう。

    Then let us stay alert without worrying all afternoon.

    それなら

    then / if so

    午後

    afternoon

    ずっと

    all the time

    心配せずに

    without worrying

    注意して

    being careful

    いましょう

    let’s stay

    More detail

    それなら means “then” or “if that is the case.” It refers back to the situation already established and introduces the proposal that follows. A useful reusable pattern is それなら、… for “Then, …” or “In that case, …”. 午後 means “afternoon.” It is a noun and can be followed by a time-span expression: 午後ずっと means “throughout the afternoon.” ずっと emphasizes continuity across the relevant period. Here, together with 午後, it means “all afternoon” or “the whole afternoon,” rather than merely “at some time in the afternoon.” 心配せずに means “without worrying.” The base form is 心配する (“to worry”); in the observed form, the stem 心配せ combines with ずに to form a “without doing” expression. The same pattern is reusable with other verbs, for example 話さずに待つ — “wait without speaking.” 注意して comes from 注意する, “to be careful” or “pay attention.” して is the connective form of する, allowing this action or state to connect to what follows. In this sentence, it contributes the idea of staying alert or careful, not merely noticing one particular object. いましょう is the polite volitional form of いる, “to be/stay.” With the preceding 注意して, 注意していましょう means “let us stay attentive” or “let us remain careful.” The volitional form 〜ましょう presents a polite proposal or “let’s” meaning; here it is built on いる, so the focus is on continuing in that state. Together, 午後ずっと sets the duration, 心配せずに says that worrying is excluded, and 注意していましょう proposes continuing to be alert. With それなら at the beginning, the whole utterance means: “Then let us stay alert without worrying all afternoon.”