Renewing a library book when the online account fails | Learn Japanese in English

Japanese lesson set in a contemporary Tokyo everyday setting: At a library, one adult plans how to renew a book after an online account fails and checks whether another hold prevents renewal..

EN → JA / Level: B1

About This Lesson

Use Renewing a library book when the online account fails to practice Japanese conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

A

オンラインで本を更新しようとしましたが、アカウントが読み込めませんでした。

ohn-RINE deh HOHN oh koh-SHEEN shee-YOH toh shee-mah-SHEE-tah gah, ah-KOWN-toh gah yoh-mee-koh-MEH-mah-SEN deh-SHEE-tah. I tried to renew my book online, but my account wouldn't load.
B

返却期限が過ぎる前に、図書館に電話してください。

hen-KYAH-koo KEE-gen gah soo-GEE-roo mae nee, toh-SHOH-kahn nee den-WAH shee-teh koo-DAH-sigh. Call the library before the due date passes.
A

本の返却期限が今日なので、心配です。

HOHN noh hen-KYAH-koo KEE-gen gah KYOH noh dehss, sheem-PIE dehss. I'm worried because the book is due today.
B

ログインの問題があったと分かれば、貸出期間を延長してくれるかもしれません。

roh-goo-IN noh moh-DAI gah AH-tah toh wah-KAH-reh-bah, kah-shee-DAH-shee KEE-kahn oh en-CHOH shee-teh koo-REH-roo kah-moh-shee-REH-mah-SEN. They may extend it if they can see there was a login problem.
A

誰かがその本を予約していたら、どうなりますか。

dah-reh-KAH gah soh-noh HOHN oh yoh-YAH-koo shee-teh ee-TAH-rah, doh-oh nah-ree-MAHSS kah. What if someone has reserved it?
B

その場合、電話でもたぶん更新できません。

soh-noh bah-EE, den-WAH deh-MOH tah-BOON koh-SHEEN deh-kee-MAH-SEN. Then they probably won't be able to renew it, even by phone.
A

その本を借り続けられると思う前に、予約について聞きます。

soh-noh HOHN oh kah-ree-tsoo-zoo-keh-RAH-reh-roo toh oh-MOH-oo mae nee, yoh-YAH-koo nee tsoo-ee-teh KEE-kee-MAHSS. I'll ask about holds before I assume I can keep it.
B

予約が入っていたら、今日返して、後でもう一度借りてください。

yoh-YAH-koo gah hah-ee-teh ee-TAH-rah, KYOH kah-EH-shee-teh, ah-TOH deh moh-oh EE-chee-doh kah-ree-teh koo-DAH-sigh. If there is a hold, return it today and borrow it again later.
A

そこにいる間に、パスワードもリセットします。

soh-koh nee ee-roo ah-MAH-nee, pah-soo-WAH-doh moh ree-SEHT-toh shee-MAHSS. I'll reset my password while I'm there too.
B

そうすれば、次の更新はそれほど心配にならないはずです。

soh-oh soo-SHEH-bah, tsoo-GEE noh koh-SHEEN wah soh-reh-HOH-doh sheem-PIE nee nah-rah-NAI hah-zoo dehss. That should make the next renewal less stressful.

Word by Word

オンライン オンライン means “online” in オンラインで本を更新しようとしました, describing where or how the renewal was attempted. With で, it marks the method or setting of an action. Use it for activities carried out through an internet service, such as checking an account online.
で で marks the means or setting in オンラインで本を更新しようとしました: the renewal was attempted online. It commonly follows a method or place used for an action. Here it connects オンライン with the action 更新しようとしました.
本 本 means “book” in 本を更新しようとしました and refers to the library book being renewed. を follows it because the book is the object of the action. Use 本 when talking about a book as an object of reading, borrowing, or returning.
を を marks 本 as the object in 本を更新しようとしました. It shows what the speaker tried to renew. A reusable pattern is an object followed by を before an action verb.
更新 更新 means renewing or extending the current borrowing period in 本を更新しようとしました. It names the action the speaker wanted to carry out for the book. In this context, it is used with 本を to describe renewing a library loan.
しよう しよう expresses the intention or attempt to do the action in 更新しようとしました. Together with としました, it forms the expression “tried to renew,” rather than simply stating that the renewal happened. Use it before と in a pattern describing an intended action or attempt.
と と marks the intended action in 更新しようとしました. The whole expression presents 更新しよう as what the speaker tried to do, and しました completes the polite past statement. This pattern is useful for describing an attempt that did not necessarily succeed.
しました しました makes 更新しようとしました a polite past statement about the speaker’s attempt. In this expression, it helps convey “tried to renew,” not just “renewed.” Use it after an action-related expression when reporting a completed attempt politely.
が が connects the attempted action with the problem in アカウントが読み込めませんでした, where it marks アカウント as the thing that could not load. In the full dialogue sentence, the contrastive “but” is also expressed by が between the two clauses. Its interpretation depends on the exact clause around it.
アカウント アカウント means “account” in アカウントが読み込めませんでした. It is the account that failed to load in the online library service. Use it with a service or website when referring to a user account.
読み込めません 読み込めません means “cannot load” in アカウントが読み込めませんでした. The form describes the account as unable to load, and the following でした places the statement politely in the past. Use it for a page, file, account, or other content that a system cannot load.
でした でした gives the polite past ending in アカウントが読み込めませんでした, so the loading problem is reported as having occurred. It completes the past form of the polite statement. Use it when politely describing a past state or event.
返却期限 返却期限 means “return deadline” in 返却期限が過ぎる前に. It identifies the deadline by which the library book should be returned. Use it when discussing returning borrowed material by a specified deadline.
過ぎる 過ぎる means “pass” or “go beyond” in 返却期限が過ぎる前に. With 前に, it describes the deadline passing as the event that must not happen first. Use it with a time limit or deadline when saying that an action should occur before it passes.
前 前 means “before” in 返却期限が過ぎる前に. The phrase means “before the return deadline passes,” so 前 places one action earlier than another event. A reusable pattern is a clause followed by 前に for an action that should happen first.
に に marks the time relation in 返却期限が過ぎる前に, meaning “before the return deadline passes.” It also appears in そこにいる間, where it marks the place of being. Its function here is determined by the time or place expression it follows.
図書館 図書館 means “library” in 図書館に電話してください. It is the institution the speaker is advised to contact. Use it with に when directing a call or other contact toward the library.
電話 電話 means “telephone” or “phone call” in 図書館に電話してください. In this sentence, it refers to calling the library. Use it with 電話する when contacting an institution or person by phone.
して して connects 電話 to ください in 電話してください, forming a polite request to call. It is the linking form of the action used before ください. Use this pattern to ask someone politely to perform an action.
ください ください makes 電話してください a polite request: “Please call.” It follows the action form して and tells the listener what action is requested. Use it after an action in this form when asking someone to do something.
の の links nouns in 本の返却期限, meaning “the book’s return deadline,” and it also appears inside 今日なので. In 本の返却期限, it shows the relationship between the book and its deadline. Use it to connect a noun with a following noun when expressing such a relationship.
今日 今日 means “today” in 本の返却期限が今日なので. It identifies the return deadline as the current day. Use it when locating an event or deadline on the present day.
なので なので gives the reason in 本の返却期限が今日なので、心配です: the speaker is worried because the book is due today. Here it connects the fact 今日 with the result 心配です. Use it after a stated reason before explaining a situation or feeling.
心配 心配 means “worried” or “concerned” in 心配です. The speaker uses it to describe concern about the book being due today. Use it with です to state concern politely about a person, event, or problem.
です です makes 心配です a polite statement meaning “I am worried,” and it also appears in はずです to complete a polite expectation. It presents the surrounding expression in a polite style. Its exact meaning comes from the word or construction before it.
ログイン ログイン means “login” in ログインの問題があった. It refers to the process or access problem involving signing into the account. Use it with の問題 when explaining that access to an online service caused difficulty.
問題 問題 means “problem” in ログインの問題があった. It identifies the login issue as the reason the account did not work normally. Use it after a topic such as ログインの to specify what kind of problem occurred.
あった あった means “there was” or “existed” in ログインの問題があった. It states that a login problem existed in the past. Use it after a noun when reporting that a problem or other thing was present.
分かれば 分かれば means “if they understand” or “if it becomes clear” in ログインの問題があったと分かれば. The conditional form makes understanding the login problem the condition for a possible extension. Use it when an outcome depends on someone recognizing or finding out a fact.
貸出期間 貸出期間 means “loan period” in 貸出期間を延長してくれるかもしれません. It refers to the period during which the library allows the book to remain borrowed. Use it with を延長する when discussing making a borrowing period longer.
延長 延長 means extending or making longer in 貸出期間を延長してくれるかもしれません. Here it describes extending the book’s loan period. Use it with a period, deadline, or arrangement when asking or explaining that it will last longer.
くれる くれる shows that the library may perform 延長 for the speaker’s benefit in 貸出期間を延長してくれるかもしれません. The whole expression means that they might extend the loan period for the speaker. Use a verb followed by くれる when another person does something helpful for you or someone in your group.
かもしれません かもしれません expresses possibility in 延長してくれるかもしれません: the library may extend the loan period. In the construction かもしれません, かも marks the possibility and しれません completes the polite expression of uncertainty. Use it when an outcome is possible but not certain.
誰か 誰か means “someone” in 誰かがその本を予約していたら. It refers to an unspecified person who may have reserved the book. Use it when the person is unknown or not important to identify.
その その points to the book already under discussion in その本を予約していたら. It means “that” or “the mentioned” book rather than introducing a new one. Use it before a noun when referring back to something known from the conversation.
予約 予約 means “reservation” or, in this library context, a hold in 予約していたら. It describes another person’s prior request for the book. Use it when checking whether an item has already been reserved by someone else.
いたら いたら forms the conditional part of 予約していたら, meaning “if someone has reserved it” or “if that reservation is in place.” It presents the reservation as a condition for considering what happens next. Use this ending when a possible state or situation leads to a result.
どう どう asks “how” or “what will happen” in どうなりますか. Together with なりますか, it asks about the result if someone has reserved the book. Use it in questions about the outcome of a situation.
なります なります means “becomes” or “turns out” in どうなりますか. With どう, it asks what the situation will be like or what will happen. Use どうなりますか when asking about the result of a condition or problem.
か か marks どうなりますか as a question. It turns the preceding polite statement into a request for information about the outcome. Use it at the end of a polite question.
場合 場合 means “case” or “situation” in その場合. It refers to the situation just described, namely that the book has a hold. Use it after a demonstrative such as その when drawing a conclusion about a particular case.
も も means “even” in 電話でもたぶん更新できません. It shows that renewing would probably be impossible even by phone, not only online. Use it after a method or option when emphasizing that the same result applies there too.
たぶん たぶん means “probably” in 電話でもたぶん更新できません. It signals that the speaker considers the result likely but not completely certain. Use it when giving a cautious prediction or belief.
できません できません means “cannot” in 更新できません. It says that renewal is probably not possible in the situation being discussed. Use it after an action to state politely that the action cannot be done.
借り続けられる 借り続けられる means “can continue borrowing” in その本を借り続けられると思う前に. It describes the possibility of keeping the same book on loan. Use it when talking about continuing an ongoing borrowing arrangement or activity.
思う 思う means “think” or “assume” in 借り続けられると思う前に. The speaker says they will ask about holds before assuming that continued borrowing is possible. Use it after a statement when expressing a belief or assumption.
について について means “about” or “concerning” in 予約について聞きます. The whole construction identifies 予約 as the topic of the question. In について, に links the topic and ついて marks what the question concerns; use it before 聞く when asking about a subject.
聞きます 聞きます means “ask” in 予約について聞きます. It describes contacting the library to obtain information about holds. Use it with a topic followed by について when asking an institution or person for details.
入って 入って means “be in place” in 予約が入っていたら, referring to a hold having been placed on the book. It connects the reservation condition with the following instructions. Use this form when describing something being placed or registered before stating what should happen next.
返して 返して means “return it” in 返して、後でもう一度借りてください. It is the first requested action and connects to the next action in the same instruction. Use this linking form when telling someone to return something and then do another action.
後で 後で means “later” in 後でもう一度借りてください. It places the second borrowing at a time after the return. Use it to indicate that an action will happen at a later point.
もう一度 もう一度 means “one more time” in もう一度借りてください. The whole expression tells the listener to borrow the book again after returning it. In もう一度, もう adds the sense of an additional occurrence and 一度 means one time; use it before an action that is being repeated.
借りて 借りて means “borrow it” in もう一度借りてください. With ください, it forms a polite request to borrow the book again. Use this form before ください when asking someone to carry out the borrowing action.
そこ そこ means “there” in そこにいる間, referring to the place the speaker will visit, such as the library. It avoids repeating the place name while pointing to a known location. Use it before に when saying that someone is at or goes to that place.
いる いる means “be” or “stay” in そこにいる間. Together with 間, it describes the period while the speaker is at that place. Use it in the pattern いる間 when one action takes place during someone’s stay.
間 間 means “while” or “during the period” in そこにいる間. It makes the speaker’s presence at that place the time frame for resetting the password. Use it after a state or action to describe what happens during that period.
パスワード パスワード means “password” in パスワードもリセットします. It is the account information the speaker plans to reset at the library. Use it with リセットする when changing a password because of an access problem.
リセット リセット means “reset” in パスワードもリセットします. It names the action of returning the password setting to a usable state or setting a new one. Use it with a digital setting or account item that needs to be reset.
します します makes リセットします a polite statement about what the speaker will do. In パスワードもリセットします, it means “will reset” in the context of the speaker’s plan. Use it after a noun-based action such as リセット to state the action politely.
そう そう means “that way” in そうすれば. It refers back to the actions just discussed, including dealing with the hold and resetting the password. Use it to point to a previously mentioned action or situation before describing its result.
すれば すれば forms the conditional in そうすれば, meaning “if that is done” or “if you do so.” Together with そう, it links the earlier actions to the expected result. Use it when explaining what should happen if a previously mentioned action is carried out.
次 次 means “next” in 次の更新. It identifies the renewal that will happen after the current problem has been handled. Use it before a noun to refer to the following occurrence of that event.
は は marks 次の更新 as the topic in 次の更新はそれほど心配にならないはずです. The sentence comments on how stressful the next renewal is expected to be. Use it after the topic you want to discuss or contrast.
それほど それほど means “that much” or “to that extent” in それほど心配にならない. With the negative form ならない, it means the next renewal should not become that stressful. Use it with a negative expression when limiting the degree of a feeling or condition.
ならない ならない means “does not become” in 心配にならない. Here it says that the next renewal will not become as stressful or worrying. Use it after a state such as 心配になって to describe that the state does not arise or develop.
はず はず expresses an expectation in それほど心配にならないはずです: the next renewal is expected not to be so stressful. It is based on the password reset and the steps discussed earlier, rather than a guaranteed result. Use it with a statement followed by です when something is expected to be true.

Grammar Points

動詞の意向形＋とする

オンラインで本を更新しようとしました。

ohn-RINE deh HOHN oh koh-SHEEN shee-YOH toh shee-mah-SHEE-tah.

I tried to renew the book online.

動詞の意向形＋とするで、何かをしようと試みることを表します。

動詞のば形＋ば

問題が分かれば、図書館に電話します。

moh-DAI gah wah-KAH-reh-bah, toh-SHOH-kahn nee den-WAH shee-MAHSS.

If I understand the problem, I will call the library.

動詞のば形＋ばで、条件「もし〜なら」を表します。

Japanese Vocabulary

アカウント noun
ah-KOWN-toh account

オンラインで本を更新しようとしましたが、アカウントが読み込めませんでした。

オンライン adv
ohn-RINE online オンラインで

オンラインで本を更新しようとしましたが、アカウントが読み込めませんでした。

ログイン noun
roh-goo-IN login

ログインの問題があったと分かれば、貸出期間を延長してくれるかもしれません。

過ぎる verb
soo-GEE-roo to pass; to go past

返却期限が過ぎる前に、図書館に電話してください。

更新する verb
koh-SHEEN soo-ROO to renew 更新しようとしました

オンラインで本を更新しようとしましたが、アカウントが読み込めませんでした。

心配だ adj
sheem-PIE dah to be worried 心配です

本の返却期限が今日なので、心配です。

図書館 noun
toh-SHOH-kahn library

返却期限が過ぎる前に、図書館に電話してください。

電話する verb
den-WAH soo-ROO to call by phone 電話してください

返却期限が過ぎる前に、図書館に電話してください。

読み込む verb
yoh-mee-koh-MOO to load 読み込めませんでした

オンラインで本を更新しようとしましたが、アカウントが読み込めませんでした。

返却期限 noun
hen-KYAH-koo KEE-gen due date

返却期限が過ぎる前に、図書館に電話してください。

本 noun
HOHN book

オンラインで本を更新しようとしましたが、アカウントが読み込めませんでした。

問題 noun
moh-DAI problem

ログインの問題があったと分かれば、貸出期間を延長してくれるかもしれません。

Quiz

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

due date

Show Answer返却期限

to renew

Show Answer更新しようとしました

account

Show Answerアカウント

online

Show Answerオンラインで