Asking someone to hold your place in line | Learn Japanese in English

Japanese lesson set in a contemporary Tokyo everyday setting: While waiting in line, one person asks another to hold their place briefly while staying nearby and visible..

EN → JA / Level: B1

About This Lesson

Use Asking someone to hold your place in line to practice Japanese conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

A

列に並んでいる間、ちょっとお願いしてもいいですか？

REH-tsoo nee nah-RAHN-deh-EE-roo ah-EE-dah, CHOHT-toh oh-neh-GAI sheh-TEH moh EE dehss-kah? Could I ask a small favor while we are in line?
B

必要なことを言ってください。手伝えるかもしれません。

neh-TSU-yoh nah KOH-toh oh EET-teh koo-DAH-sai. teh-tah-NAIR-roo kah moh-SHEE-reh-mah-SEN. Tell me what you need, and I may be able to help.
A

私が水を取りに行っている間、私の順番を確保しておいてもらえますか？

wah-TAH-shee gah MEE-zoo oh toh-REE nee EET-teh EE-roo ah-EE-dah, wah-TAH-shee noh joon-BAHN oh kah-KOO-hoh sheh-TEH oh-EE-teh moh-RAH-eh-mahss-kah? Could you hold my place while I get some water?
B

あなたが列の近くにいるなら、そうできます。

ah-nah-TAH gah REH-tsoo noh CHEE-kah-koo nee EE-roo nah-rah, SOH deh-KEE-mahss. I can do that if you stay close to the line.
A

あなたから見える場所にいて、列の様子を見ておけます。

ah-nah-TAH kah-rah MEE-eh-roo bah-SHOH nee EE-teh, REH-tsoo noh YOH-soo oh MEE-teh oh-KEH-mahss. I can stay where you can see me and keep an eye on the line.
B

それなら助かります。誰かがいなくなると、人は心配するかもしれません。

SOH-reh nah-rah tahs-kah-REE-mahss. dah-reh-kah gah ee-nah-koo nah-roo-toh, HEE-toh wah sheen-PAI soo-roo kah moh-SHEE-reh-mah-SEN. That helps, because people may worry if someone disappears.
A

誰にも私が割り込んでいると思われたくありません。

dah-reh nee moh wah-TAH-shee gah wah-ree-KOHN-deh EE-roo toh oh-moh-WAH-reh-tah-koo ah-ree-mah-SEN. I do not want anyone to feel I am cutting in.
B

もし誰かに聞かれたら、あなたが近くにいたと説明できます。

moh-SHEE dah-reh-kah nee KEE-kah-reh-tah-rah, ah-nah-TAH gah CHEE-kah-koo nee EE-tah toh seh-tsoo-MAY deh-KEE-mahss. If anyone asks, I can explain that you stayed nearby.
A

手伝ってくれてありがとうございます。すぐに戻ります。

teh-tsoo-DAHT-teh koo-REH-teh ah-ree-gah-TOH goh-ZAI-mahss. soo-GOO nee moh-DOH-ree-mahss. I appreciate the help. I will be quick.
B

列があまり進まないうちに戻ってきてください。

REH-tsoo gah ah-MAH-ree soo-soo-mah-NAI oo-CHEE nee moh-DOHT-teh KEE-teh koo-DAH-sai. Just come back before the line moves much.

Word by Word

列 Here, 列 means the line or queue that the speakers are waiting in. In 列に並んでいる, it identifies the line where they are standing. This word is useful when discussing a queue in places such as a shop or station.
に Here, に marks 列 as the place or target of lining up in 列に並んでいる. It connects the line with the action of waiting in it. A reusable pattern is a place followed by に before a verb of movement or positioning.
並んで 並んで means lining up or standing in a line here. Together with いる in 並んでいる, it describes the ongoing state of waiting in line. This form is useful when describing what someone is currently doing while waiting.
いる Here, いる shows that the state described by 並んで is continuing. 並んでいる therefore means being lined up or waiting in line at that time. This pattern is commonly used for an ongoing action or state.
間 間 means while or during in 列に並んでいる間. It sets the time period during which the request applies. It is useful after a clause when describing what happens during that period.
ちょっと Here, ちょっと means a small amount in the expression ちょっとお願い, but it also makes the request sound softer and less imposing. It helps the speaker introduce a minor favor politely. This use is common when beginning a request.
お願い お願い means a favor or request here. In ちょっとお願いしてもいいですか, it names the favor the speaker wants to ask for. This word is useful when politely asking another person for help.
して して means do here and connects お願い with the permission question in お願いしてもいいですか. It presents asking the favor as an action. This te-form connection is often used before another expression that completes the request.
も Here, も is part of してもいいですか and contributes to asking whether the action is acceptable. The full expression asks for permission to do something, while も helps form that permission pattern. It is useful in polite questions about whether an action is okay.
いい いい means okay or acceptable in してもいいですか. Together with the surrounding words, it asks whether making the request is permitted. This word is commonly used in questions about permission.
です です gives the question a polite sentence ending in お願いしてもいいですか. It makes the request suitable for a respectful conversation. This polite ending is common in everyday questions.
か か marks お願いしてもいいですか as a question. It signals that the speaker is asking for the listener's response rather than making a statement. It is commonly placed at the end of a polite question.
必要 必要 means needed or necessary in 必要なこと. It describes the information or action that the listener needs. It is useful before な and a noun-like word when identifying something necessary.
な な links 必要 with こと in 必要なこと. It allows the description meaning necessary to modify こと. This linking form is used after a noun-like description before a noun.
こと こと means the thing or matter that is needed in 必要なこと. In this line, it refers to whatever the listener needs the speaker to say. It is useful when referring generally to a matter or content rather than a specific object.
を を marks 必要なこと as the object of 言って. The speaker asks the listener to say the needed matter. This particle commonly marks what an action is directed toward.
言って 言って means say or tell here and is used before ください in 言ってください. It asks the listener to state what is needed. A reusable pattern is an object followed by 言ってください when politely asking someone to say something.
ください ください makes 言って into a polite request meaning please tell me or please say it. It directs the listener to perform the action. This form is commonly placed after a te-form when making a polite request.
手伝える 手伝える means can help here. It expresses the possibility that the speaker is able to assist with the listener's need. This form is useful when offering help while leaving open whether the speaker can actually solve the problem.
かもしれません かもしれません expresses polite uncertainty in 手伝えるかもしれません, meaning the speaker may be able to help. The parts かも, しれ, and ません work together as this conventional possibility expression, so ません is not simply a separate standalone negative here. It is useful when making a tentative statement rather than a firm promise.
私 私 means I or me here. In 私が水を取りに行っている, it identifies the person who will go to get water. This is a common way to refer to oneself in a polite conversation.
が が marks 私 as the subject in 私が水を取りに行っている. It shows who is carrying out the action of going to get water. This particle is useful when identifying the specific person responsible for an action.
水 水 means water here, the item the speaker plans to get. It is the object associated with 取りに行っている. This word is useful when asking for or referring to drinking water.
取りに 取りに means to get or fetch in 水を取りに行っている. It gives the purpose of going: the speaker is going in order to get water. A reusable pattern is an object followed by a purpose form ending in に before 行く.
行って 行って means going here and is followed by いる in 行っている. Together they describe the speaker as being in the process of going to get water. This te-form is useful when connecting 行く with an ongoing-state expression.
の の links 私 with 順番 in 私の順番. It shows that the turn or place belongs to the speaker. This particle is commonly used to connect a possessor or describer with a noun.
順番 順番 means the speaker's turn or place in line here. In 私の順番, it refers to the position that the other person is asked to keep. This word is useful when talking about turns in a queue or an activity.
確保 確保 means securing or holding here, referring to keeping the speaker's place available. In 確保しておいて, it names the action of securing that turn in advance. This word is useful when making sure that a place, time, or resource remains available.
おいて おいて contributes the meaning of keeping something arranged or secured in advance in 確保しておいて. It follows 確保して and asks the listener to maintain the place while the speaker is away. This pattern is useful when requesting that a preparation or arrangement be kept in place.
もらえます もらえます is used to ask whether the listener can do something as a favor in 確保しておいてもらえますか. The full expression politely asks the listener to keep the place secured for the speaker. A reusable pattern is a te-form followed by もらえますか when asking someone to do something for you.
あなた あなた means you here. In あなたが列の近くにいるなら, it identifies the person whose staying nearby is the condition for the help. This word can be used when directly referring to the listener, although names or titles are often preferred in natural conversation.
近く 近く means near or nearby in 列の近く. It describes a location close to the line rather than a distant place. A reusable pattern is a noun followed by の近く when specifying what something is near.
なら なら introduces the condition in あなたが列の近くにいるなら, meaning if you are near the line. It makes the offer to hold the place dependent on the other person's staying nearby. This form is useful when responding to a stated condition or requirement.
そう そう means that way or so in そうできます. It refers back to the requested action of holding the speaker's place. This word is useful when referring to an action or arrangement that has just been mentioned.
できます できます means can do here. In そうできます, it confirms that the speaker can carry out the requested arrangement under the stated condition. This polite form is useful when accepting or confirming an action.
から から means from in あなたから見える場所. It marks the viewpoint from which the place is visible. This use is helpful when describing how something appears from another person's position.
見える 見える means be visible or be seen here. In あなたから見える場所, it describes a place that the other person can see. This form is useful when explaining whether something remains within another person's view.
場所 場所 means place or location in あなたから見える場所. It identifies where the speaker will stay so that the other person can see them. This word is useful for describing a physical position in a situation.
いて いて means staying or being present here and connects with the following action in いて、列の様子を見ておけます. It shows that the speaker will remain in a visible place while also watching the line. This te-form is useful for linking two actions or states carried out together.
様子 様子 means the state or situation of something here. In 列の様子, it refers to how the line is progressing and what is happening in it. This word is useful when monitoring or describing the condition of a situation.
見て 見て means look at or watch here. In 見ておけます, it refers to keeping an eye on the line while the other person gets water. This te-form is useful before an expression that adds continuation, preparation, or another action.
おけます おけます means can keep or can do in advance here. After 見て in 見ておけます, it indicates that the speaker can keep watching the line. This pattern is useful when saying that someone can maintain attention or make an arrangement ahead of time.
それ それ means that here and refers to the arrangement just described, including staying visible and watching the line. In それなら助かります, it points back to that proposal before the speaker says it helps. This word is useful when referring to something the other person has just said or offered.
助かります 助かります means that helps or that would be a relief here. In それなら助かります, the speaker expresses appreciation because the arrangement makes the situation easier. This polite expression is useful when acknowledging helpful support.
誰か 誰か means someone here. In 誰かがいなくなると, it refers to any person who might disappear from the line. This word is useful when referring to an unspecified person.
いなくなる いなくなる means become absent or disappear here, referring to someone no longer being present in the line. In 誰かがいなくなると, it describes the situation that may cause people to worry. This form is useful when talking about a person leaving or no longer being somewhere.
と と introduces a condition in 誰かがいなくなると, meaning when or if someone disappears. It presents worrying as a natural result of that situation. This use is helpful for describing an expected consequence.
人 人 means person or people here. In 人は心配する, it refers generally to people who may be waiting in the line. This word is useful when making a general statement about people rather than naming a specific person.
は は marks 人 as the topic in 人は心配する. The sentence then comments on what people may do if someone disappears. This particle is useful when setting the general subject of a statement.
心配 心配 means worry or concern here. Together with する in 心配する, it describes people's reaction if someone disappears. This word is useful when discussing concern about a person's absence or situation.
する する completes 心配する, the expression for worrying in this dialogue. It turns 心配 into the action that people may take. This use is common with noun-like words that describe an action or state.
誰 誰 means who here and is part of 誰にも. With the surrounding particles, it refers broadly to anyone who might think the speaker is cutting in. This word is useful when identifying or referring to an unknown person.
割り込んで 割り込んで means cutting in here, specifically entering a line unfairly. Together with いる in 割り込んでいる, it describes the action as an ongoing state that others might perceive. This form is useful when explaining that someone is entering a queue without waiting properly.
思われたく 思われたく expresses not wanting to be thought or regarded in a certain way here. In 思われたくありません, the speaker does not want others to regard them as cutting in. This form is useful when explaining how the speaker does not want to be perceived.
ありません ありません completes 思われたくありません and makes the speaker's desire negative and polite. The full expression says that the speaker does not want anyone to think they are cutting in. This polite negative ending is useful for stating that something is not the case or is not desired.
もし もし means if and introduces a hypothetical situation in もし誰かに聞かれたら. It signals that the speaker is discussing what may happen rather than what has already happened. This word is useful at the beginning of a conditional statement.
聞かれたら 聞かれたら means if someone asks or if asked here. It describes a possible question directed to the speaker and sets the condition for the explanation that follows. This form is useful when saying what will happen if another person asks about a situation.
いた いた means was or stayed here and reports that the person had been nearby. In あなたが近くにいたと, it describes the past presence that the speaker can explain to others. This form is useful when referring to where someone was at an earlier time.
説明 説明 means an explanation here. In 説明できます, it names the act of explaining to anyone who asks. This word is useful when clarifying the reason for an action or describing what happened.
手伝って 手伝って means helping here and is part of the thank-you expression 手伝ってくれてありがとうございます. It refers to the assistance the other person has provided. This form is useful before an expression of gratitude for a completed favor.
くれて くれて shows that the other person did the action as a favor for the speaker in 手伝ってくれてありがとうございます. It links the help with the speaker's thanks. This form is useful when thanking someone for doing something beneficial to you.
ありがとうございます ありがとうございます is a polite expression meaning thank you here. ありがとう conveys gratitude, and ございます makes the expression polite; together they form the complete expression ありがとうございます. It is useful when thanking someone respectfully for help or a favor.
すぐ すぐ means soon or quickly here. In すぐに戻ります, it promises that the speaker will return without much delay. This word is useful when reassuring someone that an action will happen promptly.
戻ります 戻ります means will return or return here. The speaker uses it to promise a quick return to the line. This polite form is useful when telling someone that you will go back to a previous place.
あまり あまり means not much or not very here because it is used with the negative form 進まない. In あまり進まない, it limits how much the line is expected to move. This word is useful for expressing a small degree together with a negative statement.
進まない 進まない means does not move forward or will not advance here, referring to the line. In あまり進まないうちに, it describes the line not advancing much before the person returns. This form is useful when talking about something that is not progressing.
うち うち means before or while in 進まないうちに. The expression means before the line advances much, setting a deadline for the return. This pattern is useful when asking someone to act before a condition changes.
戻って 戻って means return or come back here and connects with きて in 戻ってきてください. It supplies the idea of returning to the current place. This te-form is useful when connecting a return action with a following request or movement.
きて きて means come here and completes the return direction in 戻ってきてください. Together, 戻ってきてください asks the person to come back to the line. This form is useful in requests for someone to come toward the speaker or current location.

Grammar Points

〜間

水を取りに行っている間、順番を確保しておいてもらえますか。

MEE-zoo oh toh-REE nee EET-teh EE-roo ah-EE-dah, joon-BAHN oh kah-KOO-hoh sheh-TEH oh-EE-teh moh-RAH-eh-mahss-kah?

Could you hold my place in line while I go get some water?

「〜間」は、ある動作や状態が続いている期間を表します。

〜ないうちに

列が進まないうちに、すぐに戻ります。

REH-tsoo gah soo-soo-mah-NAI oo-CHEE nee, soo-GOO nee moh-DOH-ree-mahss.

I’ll be back soon, before the line moves forward.

「〜ないうちに」は、ある状態が変わる前に何かをすることを表します。

Japanese Vocabulary

お願い noun
oh-neh-GAI favor; request
ちょっと adv
CHOHT-toh a little; briefly
確保しておいてもらえますか phrase
kah-KOO-hoh sheh-TEH oh-EE-teh moh-RAH-eh-mahss-kah could you hold or keep it secure for me
近くにいる phrase
CHEE-kah-koo nee EE-roo stay nearby
見える verb
MEE-eh-roo can see; be visible
言ってください phrase
EET-teh koo-DAH-sai please tell me
手伝える verb
teh-tah-NAIR-roo can help
順番 noun
joon-BAHN place in line; turn
水を取りに行っている間 phrase
MEE-zoo oh toh-REE nee EET-teh EE-roo ah-EE-dah while going to get some water
必要なこと phrase
neh-TSU-yoh nah KOH-toh what is needed
並んでいる間 phrase
nah-RAHN-deh-EE-roo ah-EE-dah while waiting in line
列 noun
REH-tsoo line or queue

Quiz

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

what is needed

Show Answer必要なこと

while waiting in line

Show Answer並んでいる間

a little; briefly

Show Answerちょっと

while going to get some water

Show Answer水を取りに行っている間