About This Lesson
Use Responding to a Coffee Spill on a Laptop to practice Japanese conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.
Dialogue
A
ノートパソコンの近くにコーヒーをこぼして、キーボードの下に少し液体が入りました。
NOH-toh pah-soh-KOHN noh CHEE-kah-koo nee KOH-hee oh koh-BOH-shee-teh, KEE-boh-doh noh SHEE-tah nee soo-KOH-shee eh-kee-TAI gah hah-ee-ree-mah-SHTAH. I spilled coffee near my laptop, and some liquid went under the keyboard.
B
すぐに電源プラグを抜いて、まだ動いているなら電源を切ってください。
soo-GOO-nee den-gen POO-rah-goo oh noo-EE-teh, mah-DAH oo-GOH-ee-teh-EE-roo nah-rah den-gen oh kee-TEH koo-dah-SAI. Unplug it immediately and turn it off if it is still running.
A
ドライヤーで乾かしてみたほうがいいですか。
doh-RAI-yah deh kah-rah-KAH-shee-teh mee-tah HOO gah EE dess-kah. Should I try to dry it with a hair dryer?
B
熱でさらに損傷することがあります。技術者に確認してもらいましょう。
NEH-tsu deh sah-rah-nee son-SHOH soo-roo KOH-toh gah ah-ree-mahss. gee-TSOO-shah nee kah-koo-NEEN she-teh moh-RAI-mah-SHOH. Heat can cause more damage. Let a technician check it.
A
その中にプロジェクトのファイルが入っているので心配です。
soh-noh nah-kah nee puh-roh-JEH-koo-toh noh FAI-roo gah hah-TEH-ee-roo noh-deh sheen-PAI dess. I am worried because my project files are on it.
B
ノートパソコンをもう一度触る前に、別の端末からクラウドのバックアップを確認してください。
NOH-toh pah-soh-KOHN oh moh-EE-chee-doh sah-WAH-roo mah-eh nee, beh-TSOO noh tahn-MAHT-soo kah-rah KOO-rah-OO-doh noh BAH-koo-AHP oh kah-koo-NEEN she-teh koo-dah-SAI. Check your cloud backup from another device before you touch the laptop again.
A
ほとんどのファイルはすでに同期されていました。
hoh-TOHN-doh noh FAI-roo wah soo-deh-NEE DOH-kee sah-reh-teh ee-mah-SHTAH. Most of the files were already synced.
B
ノートパソコンの電源は切ったままにして、すぐに起動しようとしないでください。
NOH-toh pah-soh-KOHN noh den-gen wah kee-TAH mah-MAH nee she-teh, soo-GOO-nee kee-DOH she-YOH toh she-NAI deh koo-dah-SAI. Keep the laptop off, and do not try to start it too soon.
A
技術者のところに持って行って、次に何をすればよいか聞きます。
gee-TSOO-shah noh toh-KOH-roh nee moh-TEH ee-TEH, TSOO-ghee nee nah-nee oh soo-REH-bah yoh-EE kah KEE-kee-mahss. I will take it to a technician and ask about the next step.
B
技術者なら、損傷を悪化させずに確認できます。
gee-TSOO-shah nah-rah, son-SHOH oh ah-KAH-sah-seh-zoo nee kah-koo-NEEN deh-kee-mahss. A technician can check it without making the damage worse.Word by Word
ノートパソコン
「ノートパソコン」means a laptop, the computer affected in this situation. It is used as a noun, including in the pattern 「ノートパソコンの近く」 for “near the laptop.”
の
In 「ノートパソコンの近く」, 「の」links 「ノートパソコン」to 「近く」 and means that the vicinity belongs to or is associated with the laptop. This pattern places a noun before 「の」to describe a related place or thing.
近く
「近く」means the area near something; here it means near the laptop. The reusable pattern is 「名詞の近く」, meaning “near a noun.”
に
In 「ノートパソコンの近くに」, 「に」marks the location where the coffee was spilled. It commonly follows a place expression when describing where something happens or exists.
コーヒー
「コーヒー」means coffee, the liquid that was spilled in the dialogue. It is used here as the object of 「こぼして」, marked by 「を」.
を
In 「コーヒーをこぼして」, 「を」marks 「コーヒー」as the thing that was spilled. It commonly follows the direct object of an action verb.
こぼして
「こぼして」means spilled and connects that action to the following result, that liquid entered under the keyboard. This te-form is useful for linking an action with another event in sequence.
キーボード
「キーボード」means keyboard, specifically the part under which the liquid went. It is used in the location phrase 「キーボードの下」.
下
「下」means underneath or below; in 「キーボードの下」, it identifies the area under the keyboard. The pattern 「名詞の下」is used for a position below or underneath something.
少し
「少し」means a little or some, indicating that only a small amount of liquid entered. It commonly comes before a noun, as in 「少し液体」, or before a verb to limit the amount.
液体
「液体」means liquid, referring here to the spilled coffee after it went under the keyboard. It is the subject of 「入りました」, marked by 「が」.
が
In 「少し液体が入りました」, 「が」marks 「少し液体」as what entered under the keyboard. It commonly identifies the thing that appears, moves, or undergoes an event.
入りました
「入りました」means entered or went in; here it says that some liquid went under the keyboard. This polite past form describes a completed movement into a place.
すぐ
「すぐ」means immediately in 「すぐに電源プラグを抜いて」. It is useful before 「に」to show that an action should happen without delay, especially in an urgent situation.
電源
「電源」refers to electrical power or the power supply. In 「電源プラグ」, it helps specify the plug connected to the device’s power.
プラグ
「プラグ」means plug, and 「電源プラグ」means the power plug. In this situation, it is the thing to remove immediately after the spill.
抜いて
「抜いて」means pull out or unplug, referring to removing the power plug. The te-form connects this instruction with the next instruction, 「電源を切ってください」.
まだ
「まだ」means still in 「まだ動いているなら」. It shows that the laptop may continue operating at the time of the instruction and commonly modifies an ongoing state.
動いて
「動いて」means operating or running in 「動いている」. Together with 「いる」, it describes the laptop’s continuing operating state.
いる
In 「動いている」, 「いる」shows that the state of operating continues. This form is useful after a verb’s te-form when describing an ongoing action or state.
なら
In 「まだ動いているなら」, 「なら」means if that condition is true, namely if the laptop is still running. It commonly follows a stated condition before giving advice or an instruction.
切って
「切って」means turn off in 「電源を切ってください」. Its te-form combines with 「ください」to make a polite request to perform the action.
ください
In 「電源を切ってください」, 「ください」makes the preceding action a polite request: please turn off the power. The pattern 「動詞のて形＋ください」is used for practical instructions.
ドライヤー
「ドライヤー」means hair dryer, the tool considered for drying the laptop. It is followed by 「で」to show the tool or means used for an action.
で
In 「ドライヤーで乾かして」, 「で」means by or with and marks the hair dryer as the tool. This particle commonly follows a device, tool, or method used for an action.
乾かして
「乾かして」means dry it in 「乾かしてみたほうがいいですか」. It is the te-form used before 「みた」to describe trying that action.
みた
In 「乾かしてみたほうがいいですか」, 「みた」means tried doing the preceding action. The pattern 「動詞のて形＋みる」expresses trying an action, and here it appears inside a question about whether that is advisable.
ほうがいい
The whole expression 「乾かしてみたほうがいいですか」asks whether trying to dry it would be better, or whether one should do so. In 「ほう」, the noun-like part presents an option; 「が」marks it; and 「いい」means good, together forming the advice pattern 「動詞のた形＋ほうがいい」. Here the polite question ending 「ですか」makes the advice question respectful.
です
In 「ほうがいいですか」, 「です」adds a polite sentence ending to the question. It makes the advice-seeking question suitable for a respectful conversation.
か
The final 「か」in 「ほうがいいですか」marks the sentence as a question. It is commonly placed at the end of a polite question.
熱
「熱」means heat, referring to heat from the hair dryer. It is presented as something that may cause additional damage in 「熱でさらに損傷することがあります」.
さらに
「さらに」means further or more in 「さらに損傷する」, indicating damage beyond the damage already caused. It is useful before a verb or noun to express an additional degree or amount.
損傷
「損傷」means damage or physical harm, referring to harm to the laptop. In the dialogue it forms 「損傷する」and later 「損傷を悪化させず」.
する
In 「損傷する」, 「する」turns 「損傷」into the action or event of causing or sustaining damage. The combined expression is used here to warn that heat may result in more damage.
こと
In 「損傷することがあります」, 「こと」turns the event of damage into a noun-like idea. Together with 「あります」, this construction says that such an event can occur.
あります
In 「損傷することがあります」, 「あります」helps express that the possibility or occurrence of further damage exists. The full construction is useful for giving a cautious warning about something that may happen.
技術者
「技術者」means technician, the professional who can inspect the damaged laptop. It is used as the person who performs the check in 「技術者に確認してもらいましょう」.
確認して
「確認して」means check or inspect in 「技術者に確認してもらいましょう」. The te-form connects the checking action to 「もらいましょう」, expressing that the speaker proposes having the technician do it.
もらいましょう
In 「技術者に確認してもらいましょう」, 「もらいましょう」expresses the proposal to receive the benefit of the technician checking the laptop, or to have the technician do it. The pattern 「人に動詞のて形＋もらう」is used when someone performs an action for the speaker or their benefit.
その
「その」means that or the one already mentioned, referring here to the laptop discussed earlier. In 「その中」, it points back to that device rather than introducing a new object.
中
「中」means inside, and 「その中に」means inside it, referring to the laptop. It commonly follows a noun or demonstrative expression when locating something within an object or space.
プロジェクト
「プロジェクト」means project, referring to the learner’s work. It combines with 「ファイル」in 「プロジェクトのファイル」to describe files related to the project.
ファイル
「ファイル」means file, specifically the project files stored on the laptop. It is the thing described as being inside the laptop in 「プロジェクトのファイルが入っている」.
入って
「入って」means be inside or be contained in 「ファイルが入っている」. Together with 「いる」, it describes the files’ continuing location inside the laptop.
ので
In 「ファイルが入っているので心配です」, 「ので」means because and introduces the reason for being worried. It commonly follows a clause before a result, feeling, or decision.
心配
「心配」means worried or concerned in 「心配です」, because the project files are on the damaged laptop. It commonly combines with 「です」to state a person’s concern politely.
もう
In 「もう一度」, 「もう」contributes the meaning of again or another time. Together with 「一度」, it refers to touching the laptop one more time.
一度
「一度」means one time, and in 「もう一度」it means once more or again. This expression is useful when referring to repeating an action one additional time.
触る
「触る」means touch in 「ノートパソコンをもう一度触る前に」. Its plain form appears before 「前に」to describe an action that has not yet happened.
前
In 「触る前に」, 「前」means before and places the checking action before touching the laptop again. The pattern 「動詞の辞書形＋前に」expresses what should happen first.
別
In 「別の端末」, 「別」means another or different, distinguishing the device used for checking from the damaged laptop. It commonly appears before 「の」to modify a noun.
端末
「端末」means device or terminal, referring here to another device used to access the cloud backup. It is the source device in 「別の端末から」.
から
In 「別の端末から」, 「から」means from and marks the device from which the cloud backup is checked. It commonly follows a place, person, or device that is the source of an action.
クラウド
「クラウド」means the cloud, referring to online storage or services accessed through another device. It combines with 「バックアップ」in 「クラウドのバックアップ」.
バックアップ
「バックアップ」means backup, referring to the saved copy of the project files. In 「クラウドのバックアップ」, 「の」links it to cloud storage.
ほとんど
「ほとんど」means most or almost all in 「ほとんどのファイル」. It commonly comes before 「の」and a noun when indicating that only a small part may be excluded.
は
In 「ファイルは」, 「は」marks 「ファイル」as the topic of the statement about synchronization. It sets the files as the subject under discussion.
すでに
「すでに」means already in 「すでに同期されていました」. It shows that the synchronization had happened before the moment being discussed.
同期
「同期」means synchronization or syncing, referring to the files being matched with the cloud backup. It combines with 「されていました」to describe the files as already synced.
されて
In 「同期されていました」, 「されて」is the te-form of the form used to say that syncing was done to the files. It connects that state with 「いました」, which places it in the past.
いました
In 「同期されていました」, 「いました」shows that the files were in the synced state at the relevant past time. The full expression is useful for reporting a completed or continuing past state.
切った
「切った」means turned off in 「切ったまま」, describing the laptop’s resulting state. It combines with 「まま」to say that the device should remain off.
まま
In 「電源は切ったままにして」, 「まま」means remaining in the same state, here with the power off. The pattern 「動詞のた形＋まま」describes keeping a completed state unchanged.
して
In 「切ったままにして」, 「して」means keep or leave the laptop in that state. It connects the instruction to 「起動しようとしないでください」.
起動
「起動」means start or boot up, referring to turning the laptop on so it operates again. It combines with 「しようとしない」in the warning not to attempt that action too soon.
しよう
In 「起動しようとしないでください」, 「しよう」expresses the intention or attempt to start the laptop. Together with 「としない」, it forms a warning not to try to perform that action.
と
In 「起動しようとしないでください」, 「と」marks the intended action in the pattern 「動詞の意向形＋とする」. Here the pattern refers to attempting to start the laptop.
しない
In 「起動しようとしないでください」, 「しない」means do not do or do not attempt. Combined with 「ください」, it makes a polite negative instruction.
ところ
In 「技術者のところ」, 「ところ」means a place or the place where the technician is. The phrase refers to taking the laptop to the technician’s location.
持って
「持って」means carry or take in 「持って行って」. Its te-form links carrying the laptop with going to the technician.
行って
In 「持って行って」, 「行って」means go or take something somewhere, completing the movement toward the technician. The combined phrase describes taking the laptop to that destination.
次
「次」means next in 「次に何をすればよいか」. It identifies the action or step that should follow the current situation.
何
「何」means what in 「何をすればよいか」. It stands for the action or thing the speaker wants to ask about.
すれば
In 「何をすればよいか」, 「すれば」means if one does or should do, and it forms the conditional part of the question about the appropriate action. The pattern 「何をすればよいか」is used to ask what should be done.
よい
In 「何をすればよいか」, 「よい」means good or appropriate, so the phrase asks what action would be appropriate. It commonly follows a conditional form when asking for the correct or recommended action.
聞きます
「聞きます」means ask in 「次に何をすればよいか聞きます」, not simply listen. It is used here for asking a technician about the next step.
悪化
「悪化」means worsening or making a condition worse, referring to additional harm to the laptop. It appears in 「損傷を悪化させずに」with the meaning of not worsening the damage.
させず
In 「損傷を悪化させずに」, 「させず」means without causing, so the technician can check the laptop without making the damage worse. The pattern 「動詞のない形＋ずに」expresses doing something without performing the excluded action.
確認
「確認」means check or inspect in 「確認できます」. It refers to the technician examining the laptop safely in this situation.
できます
In 「確認できます」, 「できます」means can do or is able to do, stating that a technician can check the laptop. It commonly follows a verb in its potential form or a noun-plus-する expression to express ability.
Grammar Points
〜てもらいましょう
技術者に確認してもらいましょう。
gee-TSOO-shah nee kah-koo-NEEN she-teh moh-RAI-mah-SHOHLet's have a technician check it.
This pattern means asking or arranging for someone to do something for you. もらう expresses receiving that help.
〜ずに
損傷を悪化させずに、確認してもらいましょう。
son-SHOH oh ah-KAH-sah-seh-zoo nee, kah-koo-NEEN she-teh moh-RAI-mah-SHOHLet's have it checked without making the damage worse.
〜ずに means “without doing.” It connects to a verb and describes an action that is avoided.
Japanese Vocabulary
キーボード
noun
KEE-boh-doh
keyboard
コーヒー
noun
KOH-hee
coffee
こぼして
verb
koh-BOH-shee-teh
spilling; spilled and
すぐに
adv
soo-GOO-nee
immediately
ドライヤー
noun
doh-RAI-yah
hair dryer
ノートパソコン
noun
NOH-toh pah-soh-KOHN
laptop
液体
noun
eh-kee-TAI
liquid
近く
noun
CHEE-kah-koo
nearby; vicinity
電源プラグ
noun
den-gen POO-rah-goo
power plug
電源を切って
phrase
den-gen oh kee-TEH
turning it off; turn it off
動いている
verb
oo-GOH-ee-teh-EE-roo
running; operating
抜いて
verb
noo-EE-teh
unplugging; unplug and
Quiz
Spelling
Tap the letters to spell the word.
spilling; spilled and
Show Answer
こぼしてcoffee
Show Answer
コーヒーkeyboard
Show Answer
キーボードpower plug