About This Lesson
Use Preparing for a Stormy Commute to practice Japanese conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.
Dialogue
A
通勤中に嵐が来るかもしれません。
tsoo-keen-CHOO nee a-RAH-shee ga KOO-roo ka-moh-shee-reh-MAHS. A storm may hit during my commute.
B
移動しなければならないなら、早めに出て、ルートを変えられるようにしておいてください。
ee-DOH shee-na-keh-reh-bah na-ra-NAI na-rah, ha-YAH-meh nee DEH-teh, ROO-toh oh ka-EH-ra-reh-roo YOH-nee shee-TEH OH-ee-teh KOO-da-sai. If you have to travel, leave earlier and keep your route flexible.
A
オフィスに行く必要があります。
OH-fee-soo nee ee-KOO nee-TSOO-yoh ga ah-ree-MAHS. I need to go to the office.
A
でも、嵐がもっと強くなる前に戻って来られます。
deh-MOH, a-RAH-shee ga MOHT-toh tsoo-YOH-koo na-ROO mae-nee moh-DOHT-teh KOO-ra-reh-MAHS. But I can come back before it gets stronger.
B
防水の靴を履いて、普段から浸水する道路は避けてください。
BOH-SOO-ee noh KOO-tsoo oh HAI-teh, foo-DAHN ka-rah sheen-SOO-ee soo-ROO doh-ROH wa sa-KEH-teh KOO-da-sai. Wear waterproof shoes and avoid any streets that usually flood.
A
駅の近くの地下道は、大雨のときによく浸水します。
EH-kee noh CHEE-ka-koo noh chee-ka-DOH wa, OH-ah-meh noh toh-kee nee yoh-koo sheen-SOO-ee shee-MAHS. The underpass near the station often floods in heavy rain.
B
少し時間がかかっても、代わりに大通りを通ってください。
SOH-koo-shee jee-KAHN ga ka-KAHT-teh-moh, ka-wa-REE nee OH-doh-ree oh TOH-teh KOO-da-sai. Take the main road instead, even if it adds a little time.
A
防水カバーがあれば、ノートパソコンを守るのに役立ちますか。
BOH-SOO-ee ka-BAH ga ah-REH-bah, NOH-toh pah-soh-KON oh ma-MOH-roo noh nee ya-koo-DAH-chee-MAHS ka. Would a waterproof sleeve help protect my laptop?
B
使ってください。遅れるのは困りますが、機器が壊れるともっと困ります。
tsoo-KAHT-teh KOO-da-sai. oh-koo-REH-roo noh wa KOH-mah-ree-MAHS ga, KEE-kee ga koh-WAH-reh-roo toh MOHT-toh KOH-mah-ree-MAHS. Use one, because delays are frustrating, but damaged equipment is worse.
A
出発する前に、スマホのバッテリーが満タンか確認します。
shup-PAHT-soo-ROO mae-nee, soo-mah-HOH noh ba-te-REE ga mahn-TAHN ka ka-koo-NEEN shee-MAHS. Before I leave, I will make sure my phone battery is full.
B
そうすれば、ルートが変わったときに最新情報を確認できます。
SOH-soo-reh-BAH, ROO-toh ga ka-WAHT-tah toh-kee nee sai-SHEEN joh-HOH oh ka-koo-NEEN deh-kee-MAHS. Then you can check updates if the route changes.Word by Word
通勤
通勤 means commuting to and from work, as in 通勤中に嵐が来るかもしれません. It commonly combines with 中 to describe something happening during a commute.
中
In 通勤中, 中 means “during” or “while” the commuting is in progress. This form follows an activity or period to show when something happens.
に
In 通勤中に嵐が来るかもしれません, に marks the time when the storm may arrive. It is commonly used after a time expression to locate an event.
嵐
嵐 means a storm in this dialogue. It is the subject of 嵐が来る and is useful when discussing severe weather and its effects.
が
In 嵐が来る, が marks 嵐 as the subject of 来る. This particle commonly identifies what is arriving, happening, or being described.
来る
来る means “to come” here, describing the storm arriving during the commute. It commonly follows a subject marked by が, as in 嵐が来る.
かもしれません
来るかもしれません expresses a polite possibility: the storm may come. In this construction, かも signals possibility, しれ carries the idea that the matter is not certain, and ません gives the expression its polite form; it commonly follows a plain clause.
移動
移動 means moving from one place to another, as in 移動しなければならないなら. It commonly combines with する when referring to the act of moving.
しなければならない
移動しなければならない means “have to move” or “must travel.” Here, し comes from する, なければ introduces the required condition, and ならない completes the expression of necessity; it is reusable after an activity to say that it is required.
なら
In しなければならないなら, なら means “if that is the case” or “if you have to.” It places the following advice under the condition stated before it.
早め
早め means earlier than usual in 早めに出て. The に turns this timing expression into an instruction about when to leave, and the pattern is useful for recommending an earlier time.
出て
出て means “leave” or “depart” in this instruction. It is the connecting form of 出る and links the advice to the next action, as in 早めに出て、ルートを変えられるようにしておいてください.
ルート
ルート means the route or path someone takes. In ルートを変えられるようにしておいてください, it is the thing that may be changed and commonly appears with を after a transitive action.
を
In ルートを変えられる, を marks ルート as the object affected by changing. It commonly follows the thing that an action changes, uses, or protects.
変えられる
変えられる means “can change” in ルートを変えられるようにしておいてください. It expresses that the route can be changed, and it commonly appears before ように when someone is asked to keep a possibility available.
ように
In 変えられるようにしておいてください, ように means “so that” the route can be changed. It links a desired or prepared state to the action taken to make that state possible.
して
In ようにしておいてください, して means “make it so” or “arrange it.” It is the connecting form of する and joins the preparation expressed by おいてください.
おいて
In しておいてください, おいて adds the idea of doing something in advance and leaving it prepared. This form commonly follows a verb in the connecting form when preparation will be useful later.
ください
ください makes the preceding action a polite request: please arrange it in advance. It commonly follows a verb in the て-form, as in しておいてください.
オフィス
オフィス means an office or workplace in オフィスに行く必要があります. It commonly appears with に when it is the destination of going.
行く
行く means “go” or “head to” the office in オフィスに行く必要があります. It commonly follows a destination marked by に.
必要
必要 means that something is necessary in 行く必要があります. The pattern verb plus 必要がある is used to say that the action needs to be done.
あります
あります means “there is” or “exists” in 行く必要があります, completing the expression that going is necessary. It is the polite form used after 必要がある.
でも
でも means “but” in でも、嵐がもっと強くなる前に戻って来られます. It introduces information that contrasts with the need to go to the office.
もっと
もっと means “more” or “even more” in 嵐がもっと強くなる. It increases the degree of the following description and is commonly used before an adjective or a change-of-state expression.
強く
強く means “more strongly” or “in a stronger state” in 強くなる. It is the connecting form of 強い used before なる to describe becoming stronger.
なる
なる means “become” in 強くなる, describing the storm changing to a stronger state. It commonly follows an adjective form to express a change in condition.
前
In 強くなる前に, 前 means “before” the storm becomes stronger. The pattern plain clause plus 前に is used to identify an action that should happen earlier.
戻って
戻って means “come back” or “return” in 戻って来られます. It is the connecting form of 戻る and links the return with the ability expressed by 来られます.
来られます
戻って来られます means “can come back” in this dialogue. 来られます is the polite form expressing ability with 来る, and it commonly follows a movement description such as 戻って.
防水
防水 means waterproof or resistant to water in 防水の靴. It describes an item designed to keep water out and commonly comes before の when modifying a noun.
の
In 防水の靴, の links 防水 to 靴 and shows that the shoes have the stated quality. This particle commonly connects a noun or noun-like expression to the noun it describes.
靴
靴 means shoes in 防水の靴を履いて. It is the item worn for protection from rain, and it commonly appears with 履く.
履いて
履いて means “put on” or “wear” for shoes in 靴を履いて. It is the connecting form of 履く and links this instruction to the instruction to avoid flooded roads.
普段
普段 means usually or under normal circumstances in 普段から浸水する道路. It describes the normal pattern of flooding rather than only the present storm.
から
In 普段から浸水する道路, から emphasizes that the flooding happens regularly or from ordinary conditions onward. It commonly follows a time expression to mark a starting point or continuing pattern.
浸水
浸水 means flooding or water entering an area, as in 浸水する道路. It is used here for roads that become covered or filled with water.
する
浸水する means “flood” or “become flooded” in this dialogue. する turns the noun 浸水 into an action or occurrence, and this pattern is common with event-related nouns.
道路
道路 means a road or roadway in 浸水する道路は避けてください. It is the route to avoid and commonly combines with descriptions of traffic, travel, or road conditions.
は
In 道路は避けてください, は marks the roads as the topic of the request. It highlights the roads that should be avoided.
避けて
避けて means “avoid” in 道路は避けてください. It is the connecting form of 避ける and commonly appears before ください to make a polite request.
駅
駅 means a train station in 駅の近くの地下道. It is the reference point for locating the underpass.
近く
In 駅の近くの地下道, 近く means the area near the station. It commonly follows の after a place and can then modify another noun with の.
地下道
地下道 means an underground passage or underpass in 駅の近くの地下道. It refers to the route below a road that often floods in heavy rain.
大雨
大雨 means heavy rain in 大雨のとき. It commonly modifies とき with の to specify the weather condition during which something happens.
とき
In 大雨のとき, とき means “when” or “at the time of” heavy rain. The pattern noun plus のとき identifies the situation in which an event occurs.
よく
よく means often in 地下道は、大雨のときによく浸水します. It shows that the underpass floods repeatedly in that situation and commonly comes before the verb it modifies.
します
In 浸水します, します is the polite form of する and describes flooding as an occurrence. It completes the polite statement about what the underpass often does in heavy rain.
少し
少し means a little in 少し時間がかかっても. It limits the amount of extra time and commonly comes before a quantity, degree, or verb describing a small amount.
時間
時間 means time in 少し時間がかかっても. It is the amount required by the alternative route and commonly appears with かかる.
かかって
In 時間がかかっても, かかって means “take” or “require” when referring to time. It is the connecting form of かかる and is followed by も to express that the extra time does not change the advice.
も
In かかっても, も means “even if” or “even though.” It marks a condition that is accepted despite the main recommendation.
代わり
代わり means instead or as an alternative in 代わりに大通りを通ってください. It introduces the alternative route and commonly appears with に before the replacement action.
大通り
大通り means a main or broad road in 大通りを通ってください. It is the recommended alternative to the flooded underpass and is marked by を as the route taken.
通って
通って means “go through” or “take” a route in 大通りを通ってください. It is the connecting form of 通る and commonly appears before ください in route instructions.
カバー
カバー means a cover or sleeve that protects an item in 防水カバー. It commonly follows a descriptive word such as 防水 and is used for something placed over another object.
あれば
In 防水カバーがあれば, あれば means “if there is” or “if you have.” It presents the availability of the cover as the condition for the question that follows.
ノートパソコン
ノートパソコン means a laptop computer in ノートパソコンを守る. It is the object being protected and is marked by を.
守る
守る means protect in ノートパソコンを守るのに役立ちますか. It commonly takes the person or thing being protected with を.
役立ちます
役立ちます means “be useful” or “help” in 守るのに役立ちますか. The pattern verb plus のに役立つ expresses that something helps with carrying out the action.
か
In 役立ちますか, か marks the sentence as a polite question. It is placed at the end when asking whether the waterproof cover will help.
使って
使って means “use it” in 使ってください. It is the connecting form of 使う and combines with ください to make a polite instruction.
遅れる
遅れる means be late or be delayed in 遅れるのは困ります. Here, the verb is turned into a topic with のは, referring to the problem of being delayed.
困ります
困ります means “is a problem” or “would be troublesome” in 遅れるのは困ります. It commonly expresses that a situation causes difficulty or is unacceptable to the speaker.
機器
機器 means equipment or a device in 機器が壊れるともっと困ります. It refers here to work equipment that could be damaged by the storm.
壊れる
壊れる means become broken or stop functioning in 機器が壊れると. It describes a change affecting the equipment, which is marked by が.
と
In 壊れるともっと困ります, と marks an automatic result: if the equipment breaks, it becomes an even bigger problem. This pattern commonly links a condition with its expected consequence.
出発
出発 means departure or leaving in 出発する前に. It is a noun that combines with する to describe the act of setting out.
スマホ
スマホ means smartphone in スマホのバッテリー. It is the device whose battery is being checked and commonly comes before の when specifying ownership or association.
バッテリー
バッテリー means battery in スマホのバッテリーが満タン. It is the part whose charge level is described by 満タン.
満タン
満タン means completely full in バッテリーが満タンか確認します. It describes the battery as having a full charge and commonly appears after が when stating a condition to check.
確認
確認 means checking or confirming that something is correct in 満タンか確認します. It commonly combines with する and can follow a question clause ending in か.
そうすれば
そうすれば means “if you do that” or “then,” linking the full battery preparation to the ability to check updates. In this expression, そう refers to the preceding action, すれ comes from する, and ば marks the condition; it is useful for stating a result that follows from advice.
変わった
In ルートが変わったとき, 変わった means “has changed” or “changed.” It describes the route’s completed change before とき and commonly modifies a time expression in this form.
最新情報
最新情報 means the latest or most up-to-date information in 最新情報を確認できます. It is the information checked when the route changes and commonly appears with を and 確認する.
できます
できます means “can” or “be able to” in 確認できます. It expresses the possibility of checking the updates and commonly follows a noun-plus-が or a verb-related expression to state ability.
Grammar Points
〜なければならない
嵐の中を移動しなければならない。
a-RAH-shee noh NAH-kah oh ee-DOH shee-na-keh-reh-bah na-ra-NAI.I have to travel during the storm.
This pattern expresses obligation or something that must be done.
〜て、〜
靴を履いて、早めに出て。
KOO-tsoo oh HAI-teh, ha-YAH-meh nee DEH-teh.Put on your shoes and leave early.
The て-form connects two actions in sequence.
Japanese Vocabulary
ルート
noun
ROO-toh
route
移動しなければならない
phrase
ee-DOH shee-na-keh-reh-bah na-ra-NAI
have to travel
強くなる
phrase
tsoo-YOH-koo na-ROO
to become stronger
靴
noun
KOO-tsoo
shoes
出る
verb
DEH-roo
to leave; to go out
出て
早めに
adv
ha-YAH-meh-nee
early; earlier than usual
通勤中
noun
tsoo-keen-CHOO
during the commute
必要
noun
nee-TSOO-yoh
need; necessity
防水
noun
BOH-SOO-ee
waterproof; waterproofing
戻って来る
phrase
moh-DOHT-teh KOO-roo
to come back
戻って来られます
来る
verb
KOO-roo
to come
嵐
noun
a-RAH-shee
storm
Quiz
Spelling
Tap the letters to spell the word.
to come back
Show Answer
戻って来られますhave to travel
Show Answer
移動しなければならないto become stronger
Show Answer
強くなるearly; earlier than usual