About This Lesson
Use Checking an apartment before a long trip to practice Japanese conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.
Dialogue
A
私たちは数日間留守にするので、アパートをもう一度確認しましょう。
wa-TA-shee-ta-chee wa SOO-jit-soo-kan ROO-soo nee soo-roo no deh, ah-PAH-toh o moh-ee-CHEE-doh kah-koo-NIN shee-ma-SHOH. We'll be away for several days, so let's double-check the apartment.
B
私は小型家電のコンセントを抜いて、コンロの火を消しました。
wa-TA-shee wa koh-GAH-tah KAH-den no KON-sen-toh o NOO-ee-teh, KON-roh no HEE o keh-shee-ma-SHEE-tah. I unplugged the small appliances and turned off the stove.
A
ベランダのドアと寝室の窓は、しっかり施錠されていますか。
beh-RAN-dah no DOH-ah toh SHIN-shee-tsoo no MAH-doh wa, shee-JOH sah-reh-teh ee-MAHSS kah. Are the balcony door and bedroom windows secure?
B
ベランダのドアには鍵がかかっていて、私は今から寝室の窓を確認します。
beh-RAN-dah no DOH-ah nee wa KAH-gee gah kah-KAH-teh-ee-teh, wa-TA-shee wa ee-mah-kah-RAH SHIN-shee-tsoo no MAH-doh o kah-koo-NIN shee-MAHSS. The balcony door is locked, and I will check the bedroom windows now.
A
留守の間、サーモスタットの設定温度を下げたほうがいいですか。
ROO-soo no AH-ee-dah, SAH-moh-soo-TAHT-toh no seh-TEH-ee on-DOH o sah-geh-tah hoh gah EE-dess kah. Should we lower the thermostat while we are gone?
B
設定を下げてください。ただし、アパートが寒くなりすぎるほど低くしないでください。
seh-TEH-ee o sah-GEH-teh koo-dah-SAI. tah-DAH-shee, ah-PAH-toh gah sah-MOO-koo nah-ree-soo-GEE-roo HOH-doh HEE-koo shee-NAI-deh koo-dah-SAI. Set it lower, but not so low that the apartment gets too cold.
A
私は近所の人に、届いた荷物を受け取ってもらうよう頼みました。
wa-TA-shee wa keen-JOH no HEE-toh nee, toh-DOH-ee-tah NEE-moht-soo o oo-keh-TOT-teh moh-RAH-oo YOH nee tah-noh-mee-ma-SHEE-tah. I also asked our neighbor to collect any packages.
B
それで、私たちの留守中もこの部屋に人がいるように見えるので助かります。
soh-REH-deh, wa-TA-shee-ta-chee no ROO-soo-CHOO moh koh-NOH heh-YAH nee HEE-toh gah EE-roo YOH nee mee-EH-roo no deh tah-soo-kah-ree-MAHSS. That helps the place look occupied while we are away.
A
これで、安心して出発できそうです。
koh-REH deh, an-SHEEN shee-teh shoo-PAHT-soo deh-kee-SOH dess. Now I feel more relaxed about leaving.
B
このチェックリストには少し時間がかかりましたが、やる価値はありました。
KOH-noh CHEK-koo-ree-soo-toh nee wa, soo-KOH-shee JEE-kan gah kah-KAH-ree-ma-SHEE-tah gah, yah-ROO KAH-chee wa ah-ree-ma-SHEE-tah. This checklist took a little time, but it was worth it.Word by Word
私たち
In 「私たちは」, this means “we” and refers to the speaker and the other person together. It identifies who will be away and who will check the apartment.
は
In 「私たちは」, は marks 「私たち」 as the topic of the sentence. It is used after the person or thing being discussed.
数日間
In 「数日間留守にする」, this means “for several days” and gives the duration of the absence. The ending 間 shows that the expression refers to a span of time.
留守
In 「留守にする」, this means being away from home. Together with にする, it describes the state the speakers will be in during the trip.
に
In 「留守にする」, に marks the state of being away. In 「近所の人に頼みました」, it marks the person who was asked to do something.
する
In 「留守にする」, する means to put oneself in the state of being away. The whole expression means that the speakers will be absent from home.
ので
In 「留守にするので」, ので means “because” or “since” and gives the reason for checking the apartment. It connects a reason to a request or suggestion.
アパート
In 「アパートをもう一度確認しましょう」, this means “apartment,” the place that the speakers are checking. It is the object of the checking action here.
を
In 「アパートをもう一度確認しましょう」, を marks 「アパート」 as the thing being checked. It commonly follows the object of an action.
もう一度
「もう一度」 means “again” or “one more time” in this dialogue. もう adds the sense of an additional repetition, and 一度 means “one time,” so the whole expression asks them to check once more.
確認しましょう
In 「アパートをもう一度確認しましょう」, this means “let’s check” or “let’s confirm.” It presents the checking as a polite suggestion made together.
私
In 「私は」, this means “I” and refers to the speaker. It marks the person who unplugged the appliances and turned off the stove.
小型家電
In 「小型家電のコンセント」, this means “small appliances.” It identifies the appliances whose plugs were removed before leaving.
の
In 「小型家電のコンセント」, の links 「小型家電」 to 「コンセント」 and shows their relationship. It is used between two nouns when the first describes or specifies the second.
コンセント
In 「小型家電のコンセントを抜いて」, this refers to the appliance’s plug or electrical connection. The useful expression here is 「コンセントを抜く」, meaning to unplug it.
抜いて
In 「コンセントを抜いて」, this means unplugging or taking the plug out. The て-form connects this action with the following action of turning off the stove.
コンロ
In 「コンロの火」, this means “stove” or “burner.” It identifies the appliance whose flame was turned off.
火
In 「コンロの火を消しました」, this means the burner’s flame or heat. The phrase describes turning off that flame before leaving.
消しました
In 「コンロの火を消しました」, this means “turned off” or “extinguished” and reports a completed action. Here it refers specifically to turning off the stove flame.
ベランダ
In 「ベランダのドア」, this means “balcony.” It specifies which door is being checked for security.
ドア
In 「ベランダのドア」, this means “door.” Here it refers to the balcony door that is already locked.
と
In 「ベランダのドアと寝室の窓」, と connects two items: the balcony door and the bedroom windows. It is used to join nouns that are both included in the question.
寝室
In 「寝室の窓」, this means “bedroom.” It specifies the room associated with the windows being checked.
窓
In 「寝室の窓」, this means “window.” The bedroom windows are the items that will be checked next.
しっかり
In 「しっかり施錠されていますか」, this means “securely” or “firmly.” It emphasizes that the locking should be properly done.
施錠
In 「しっかり施錠されていますか」, this refers to locking or securing something with a lock. It is useful when asking whether a door or window is locked.
されています
In 「しっかり施錠されていますか」, this describes the doors or windows as being in a secured, locked state. The form presents that state politely as a question.
か
At the end of 「施錠されていますか」, か marks the sentence as a question. It turns the statement about the locking state into a polite question.
鍵
In 「鍵がかかっていて」, this means the lock rather than a key being held by someone. It is part of the expression describing the lock as engaged.
が
In 「鍵がかかっていて」, が marks 「鍵」 as the subject of the locked state. In 「アパートが寒くなりすぎる」, it similarly marks the apartment as the thing that becomes too cold.
かかっていて
In 「鍵がかかっていて」, this means that the lock is engaged or the door is locked. The て-form connects this fact with the speaker’s next action of checking the windows.
今
In 「今から確認します」, this means “now.” It sets the time at which the speaker will begin checking the bedroom windows.
から
In 「今から確認します」, から marks the starting point as now. It shows that the checking will begin at this moment.
確認します
In 「今から確認します」, this means “will check” or “will confirm.” It is a polite statement about the speaker’s immediate planned action.
間
In 「留守の間」, 間 means “during” or “while” and refers to the period of the speakers’ absence. It follows の to connect that period with the state of being away.
サーモスタット
In 「サーモスタットの設定温度」, this means “thermostat.” It identifies the device whose temperature setting is being discussed.
設定温度
In 「サーモスタットの設定温度を下げたほうがいいですか」, this means “set temperature.” It is the temperature level that the speakers are considering lowering while away.
下げた
In 「設定温度を下げたほうがいいですか」, this means “lowered” or “set lower.” In this construction, lowering the thermostat setting is the option being considered as better.
ほうがいい
「下げたほうがいい」 means “should lower” or “it would be better to lower.” ほう presents the recommended option, が links that option to the evaluation, and いい says that the option is better; this construction is used to give or ask for advice.
です
In 「下げたほうがいいですか」, です makes the advice question polite. It follows the recommendation expression before the question marker か.
設定
In 「設定を下げてください」, this means the thermostat setting or adjustment. It is the thing the speaker asks the other person to lower.
下げて
In 「設定を下げてください」, this means “lower it” or “set it lower.” Together with ください, it forms a polite request.
ください
In 「設定を下げてください」, ください makes the request polite. It follows the て-form to ask someone to carry out the action.
ただし
In 「ただし、アパートが寒くなりすぎるほど」, ただし means “however” or “provided that.” It introduces a limit on the preceding request to lower the setting.
寒く
In 「寒くなりすぎる」, this supplies the meaning “cold” in the description of the apartment’s condition. It is the condition that becomes excessive in the rest of the expression.
なりすぎる
In 「寒くなりすぎる」, this means “becomes too much” or “gets overly.” With 寒く, it describes the apartment getting too cold.
ほど
In 「アパートが寒くなりすぎるほど低くしないでください」, ほど marks the degree or extent of lowering. The sentence says not to lower the setting to the extent that the apartment becomes too cold.
低く
In 「低くしないでください」, this means “low” in the sense of making the setting low. It describes the level that should not be reached excessively.
しないで
In 「低くしないでください」, this means “do not make it” or “do not set it.” Together with ください, it forms a polite negative request not to lower the setting too far.
近所
In 「近所の人」, this means the nearby area or neighborhood. It identifies the person who lives nearby and can collect the packages.
人
In 「近所の人に」, this means “person” and refers to the neighbor. The phrase identifies who was asked to receive the packages.
届いた
In 「届いた荷物」, this means “arrived” or “was delivered” and describes the packages. It shows that the packages are the ones that reach the apartment during the absence.
荷物
In 「届いた荷物」, this means “package” in the delivery context. These are the items the neighbor was asked to collect.
受け取って
In 「受け取ってもらう」, this means receiving or taking delivery of something. The て-form connects the neighbor’s action with もらう, showing that the speaker receives this favor.
もらう
In 「受け取ってもらう」, もらう means receiving the favor of someone doing an action for the speaker. It shows that the neighbor will receive the packages on the speaker’s behalf.
よう
In 「受け取ってもらうよう頼みました」, よう connects the requested action with 頼みました. It indicates that the speaker asked for the situation described before it to happen.
頼みました
In 「近所の人に、届いた荷物を受け取ってもらうよう頼みました」, this means “asked” or “requested.” The person being asked comes before に, and the requested action follows よう.
それで
In 「それで、私たちの留守中も」, それで refers to the package arrangement just mentioned and introduces its helpful result. It connects an earlier action with what that action achieves.
留守中
In 「留守中も」, this means “while away” or “during the absence.” The ending 中 identifies the period when the speakers are not at home.
も
In 「留守中も」, も means “also” or “even during that time.” It includes the period of absence in the situation being described.
この
In 「この部屋」, this means “this” and points to the apartment as the place under discussion. It comes directly before the noun it describes.
部屋
In 「この部屋に人がいる」, this means “room” or “place.” Here it refers to the apartment as the place that should appear occupied.
いる
In 「人がいるように見える」, this means that a person is present in the place. It describes the appearance the package arrangement is intended to create.
見える
In 「人がいるように見える」, this means “looks” or “appears.” The whole expression means that the place appears as if someone is present.
助かります
In 「それで…助かります」, this means “that helps” or “I appreciate it.” It expresses relief that the arrangement makes the apartment seem occupied.
これで
In 「これで、安心して出発できそうです」, this means “with this” or “now that this is done.” It refers to the completed checking and arrangements as the basis for the speaker’s relief.
安心して
In 「安心して出発できそうです」, this means “with peace of mind” or “feeling relieved.” It describes the state in which the speaker now seems able to leave.
出発
In 「出発できそうです」, this means “departure” or “leaving.” It refers to setting off on the planned trip.
できそう
In 「出発できそうです」, this means “seems possible” or “looks like I can.” The preparations make the speaker feel that leaving should now be possible.
チェックリスト
In 「このチェックリスト」, this means “checklist.” It refers to the list used to review the apartment before the trip.
少し
In 「少し時間がかかりました」, this means “a little” and indicates a small amount of time. It softens the statement about how long the checklist took.
時間
In 「少し時間がかかりました」, this means “time.” It is the amount that the checklist required.
かかりました
In 「少し時間がかかりました」, this means “took time” or “required time.” It reports that completing the checklist required a small amount of time.
やる
In 「やる価値はありました」, this means doing or carrying out the checklist. Together with 価値, it refers to whether completing the action was worthwhile.
価値
In 「やる価値はありました」, this means “value” or “worth.” It expresses that carrying out the checklist was worthwhile despite taking some time.
ありました
In 「やる価値はありました」, this means that the value was present or existed. In this expression, it completes the meaning “it was worth doing.”
Grammar Points
〜てもらう
近所の人に届いた荷物を受け取ってもらう。
KEEN-joh no HEE-toh nee toh-DOH-ee-tah NEE-moht-soo o oo-keh-TOT-teh moh-RAH-oo.Have a neighbor receive the delivered packages.
This pattern means asking or arranging for someone to do something for you. The person doing the action takes に.
〜ように見える
留守中も人がいるように見える。
ROO-soo-CHOO moh HEE-toh gah EE-roo YOH nee mee-EH-roo.It looks as if someone is there while we are away.
This means “look as if...” and expresses an impression based on what appears to be true.
Japanese Vocabulary
コンセントを抜いて
phrase
KON-sen-toh o NOO-ee-teh
unplugged; having unplugged
小型家電のコンセントを抜いて
コンロ
noun
KON-roh
stove; cooktop
コンロの火を消しました
しっかり
adv
shee-KAH-ree
securely; firmly
しっかり施錠されていますか
ベランダ
noun
beh-RAN-dah
balcony
ベランダのドア
もう一度
adv
moh-ee-CHEE-doh
once again; one more time
アパートをもう一度確認しましょう
火を消しました
phrase
HEE o keh-shee-ma-SHEE-tah
turned off the flame
コンロの火を消しました
鍵がかかっていて
phrase
KAH-gee gah kah-KAH-teh-ee-teh
being locked
ベランダのドアには鍵がかかっていて
施錠されていますか
phrase
shee-JOH sah-reh-teh ee-MAHSS kah
is it locked?
ドアと寝室の窓は、しっかり施錠されていますか
小型家電
noun
koh-GAH-tah KAH-den
small appliances
私は小型家電のコンセントを抜いて
寝室
noun
SHIN-shee-tsoo
bedroom
寝室の窓
数日間
noun
SOO-jit-soo-kan
several days
私たちは数日間留守にするので
留守にする
phrase
ROO-soo nee soo-roo
to be away; to be absent
私たちは数日間留守にするので
Quiz
Spelling
Tap the letters to spell the word.
turned off the flame
Show Answer
火を消しましたsmall appliances
Show Answer
小型家電once again; one more time
Show Answer
もう一度unplugged; having unplugged