About This Lesson
Use Describing cough symptoms before calling a clinic to practice Japanese conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.
Dialogue
A
咳がよくなっていないので、クリニックに電話する必要があります。
SEH-kee gah yoh-koo NAHT-teh ee-NAH-ee noh-DEH, koo-ree-NEEK-koo nee dehn-WAH soo-ROO hee-TSOO-yoo gah ah-REE-mahss. I need to call the clinic because my cough is not getting better.
B
何が変わったのか、そして何が一番心配なのかを伝えてください。
NAH-nee gah kah-WAHT-tah noh-kah, soh-SHEE-teh NAH-nee gah ee-CHEE-bahn sheem-PAI nah-noh-kah oh tsoo-TAH-eh-teh koo-DAH-sai. Tell them what has changed and what worries you most.
A
ひどくなっていて、熱っぽくて疲れています。
hee-doh-koo NAHT-teh-ee-teh, neh-TSOO-poh-koo-teh tsoo-kah-REH-teh ee-MAHSS. It has gotten worse, and I feel feverish and tired.
B
いつ始まったのか、何か楽になったかどうかを伝えてください。
EE-tsoo hah-jee-MAHT-tah noh-kah, NAHN-kah RAH-koo nee-NAHT-tah kah DOHH-kah oh tsoo-TAH-eh-teh koo-DAH-sai. Mention when it started and whether anything has helped.
A
今夜さらに悪くなったらどうすればいいのかも知っておく必要があります。
kohn-YAH sah-rah-nee wah-roo-koo NAHT-tah-rah DOHH-soo-reh-bah EE-ee noh-kah moh shee-TEH oh-KOO hee-TSOO-yoo gah ah-REE-mahss. I also need to know what to do if it gets worse tonight.
B
早く助けが必要になったら、どこへ行けばよいか聞いてください。
HAH-yah-koo tah-SOO-keh gah hee-TSOO-yoo nee NAHT-tah-rah, doh-KOH eh EE-keh-bah yoh-ee kah KEE-ee-teh koo-DAH-sai. Ask where you should go if you need help quickly.
A
電話する前に、要点を書き留めておきます。
dehn-WAH soo-ROO MAH-eh nee, yoo-TEN oh kah-kee-toh-MEH-teh oh-KEE-mahss. I will write the main points down before I call.
B
そうすれば、二人にとって電話での話がもっと分かりやすくなるはずです。
SOHH-soo-reh-bah, foo-TAH-ree nee toh-TTEH dehn-WAH deh noh hah-NAH-shee gah MOHT-toh wah-kah-ree yah-SOO-koo nah-ROO hah-zoo dehss. That should make the call clearer for both of you.Word by Word
咳
In 咳がよくなっていない, 咳 means “cough,” the symptom being described. It is the thing whose condition is not improving. A common pattern is 咳が followed by a description of the cough.
が
In 咳がよくなっていない, が marks 咳 as the subject of the condition. It shows that the cough is the thing that is not getting better. The same subject-marking role appears before a description of a condition.
よく
In よくなっていない, よく means “better” and describes the desired improvement in the cough. It combines with なって to express becoming better. The reusable pattern here is Xがよくなる, meaning that X gets better.
なって
In よくなっていない, なって contributes the idea of becoming or getting into a state, here becoming better. Its て-form connects with いない to describe the continuing condition. This pattern is useful when describing a change of state that is still relevant.
いない
In よくなっていない, いない makes the state negative: the cough is not in the condition of having become better. Together with なって, it says that improvement has not occurred or is not continuing. A common reuse pattern is Vていない for a state that is not happening or has not happened.
ので
In 咳がよくなっていないので, ので gives the reason for calling the clinic: the cough is not getting better. It connects a reason to the action or conclusion that follows. The dialogue uses it before クリニックに電話する必要があります.
クリニック
In クリニックに電話する, クリニック means “clinic,” the medical place being contacted. It is the destination or recipient associated with the phone call. The phrase クリニックに電話する is a useful way to say “call the clinic.”
に
In クリニックに電話する, に marks the clinic as the destination or recipient of the phone call. It identifies whom the call is directed to. A common pattern is place or organizationに電話する.
電話
In 電話する, 電話 means “phone call” and names the action of calling. It combines with する to express making a call. The dialogue also uses 電話する前に for “before calling.”
する
In 電話する, する turns 電話 into the action of making a phone call. The exact expression means “to call” rather than simply “to do.” A common pattern is a noun followed by する to describe carrying out that activity.
必要
In 電話する必要があります, 必要 means “need” or “necessity.” It says that calling the clinic is necessary in this situation. The reusable pattern is Xする必要があります, meaning that it is necessary to do X.
あります
In 電話する必要があります, あります states that the need exists. With 必要, it gives the polite meaning “there is a need to call.” This pattern is used after a noun such as 必要 to state that something is needed.
何
In 何が変わったのか and 何が一番心配なのか, 何 asks “what” or “which thing.” It leaves the specific change or concern to be identified. A common pattern is 何が followed by a description or question about what happened.
変わった
In 何が変わったのか, 変わった means “changed.” It asks the listener to identify what has changed in the symptoms or situation. The phrase 何が変わったのか is useful when asking someone to describe recent changes.
の
In 何が変わったのか, の turns the preceding question content into the topic being asked about. It helps form the embedded question “what has changed.” The dialogue uses the same structure in 何が一番心配なのか.
か
In 何が変わったのか and 何が一番心配なのか, か marks the preceding content as an embedded question. It lets the question function as information to tell or consider. The dialogue also uses か in どうすればいいのか and どこへ行けばよいか.
そして
In 何が変わったのか、そして何が一番心配なのか, そして means “and” and links the two things to report. It adds the second question after the first. It is useful for connecting related points in an explanation.
一番
In 一番心配なのか, 一番 means “most” and identifies the greatest concern. It shows that the speaker should mention the concern that matters most. The phrase 一番心配なのか asks which thing is the most worrying.
心配
In 一番心配なのか, 心配 refers to the worry or concern affecting the person. It identifies what worries the listener most, rather than describing the changed symptom itself. The dialogue uses it inside the question 何が一番心配なのか.
な
In 心配なのか, な links 心配 to のか so that the concern can be expressed as the content of an embedded question. It is part of the connection between 心配 and the question marker. The complete phrase asks what is most worrying.
を
In 何が一番心配なのかを伝えてください, を marks the question content as what should be communicated. It shows what the listener is being asked to tell the clinic. The dialogue uses it before 伝えてください.
伝えて
In 何が一番心配なのかを伝えてください, 伝えて means “tell” or “report” and connects to ください to make a request. The information being reported is the content before を. A common request pattern is Xを伝えてください.
ください
In 伝えてください, ください makes the request polite: “please tell them.” It follows the て-form of the requested action. The same pattern can be reused with another action in the form Vてください.
ひどく
In ひどくなっていて, ひどく means “badly” or “severely” and describes the extent of the worsening. It combines with なっていて to say that the condition has become worse. The phrase is used here to report a serious change in the symptoms.
いて
In ひどくなっていて、熱っぽくて, いて is part of なっていて and keeps the worsening condition connected to the next description. It presents the condition as continuing into the following statement. A common linking pattern is Vていて when one state leads into another description.
熱っぽく
In 熱っぽくて疲れています, 熱っぽく means “feverish” and describes how the speaker feels. The form connects with て before the separate description of being tired. It is useful when listing related physical symptoms.
て
In 熱っぽくて疲れています, て connects the feverish feeling with the tired state. It links the two descriptions without assigning the whole combined meaning to this one part. A common pattern is one description followed by て and another description.
疲れ
In 疲れています, 疲れ expresses the tired or fatigued state the speaker is experiencing. It is followed by ています to present that state politely. The phrase 疲れています is useful for reporting tiredness as a current symptom.
います
In 疲れています, います helps express the continuing state of being tired in polite language. Together with 疲れ, it describes how the speaker currently feels. A common pattern is Vています for an ongoing state or condition.
いつ
In いつ始まったのか, いつ asks “when.” It asks for the time at which the symptom began. This form is useful when collecting a timeline before speaking with a clinic.
始まった
In いつ始まったのか, 始まった means “started” and refers to the beginning of the symptom. It is the event whose timing is being asked about. The phrase いつ始まったのか is a reusable way to ask when something started.
楽
In 何か楽になったかどうか, 楽 refers to becoming more comfortable or experiencing relief. It describes whether the symptoms became easier, not a separate action. The dialogue uses it with なった to express a change to a more comfortable state.
なった
In 楽になった, なった means “became” or “got,” showing a change into the state described by 楽. The phrase asks whether things became easier. A common pattern is Xになった for a change into a new condition.
どう
In どうすればいいのか, どう means “how” or “in what way.” It asks what action would be appropriate if the condition gets worse. The whole expression is useful for asking what to do in a particular situation.
今夜
In 今夜さらに悪くなったら, 今夜 means “tonight.” It places the possible worsening and the need for advice in the coming night. It is useful when asking about what to do during a specific time period.
さらに
In 今夜さらに悪くなったら, さらに means “further” or “even more.” It shows that the condition may worsen beyond its current state. It is useful for adding the idea of an additional change or increase.
悪く
In 悪くなったら, 悪く means “badly” or “worse” and combines with なったら to describe becoming worse. The form connects the condition to the following conditional meaning. The reusable pattern is Xが悪くなる for a condition getting worse.
なったら
In さらに悪くなったら, なったら expresses the condition “if it gets” or “when it becomes.” It presents possible worsening as the situation for which advice is needed. A common conditional pattern is Vたら for an action or change that may occur.
すれば
In どうすればいいのか, すれば means “if one does” and identifies the action being considered. Together with どう and いい, it asks what should be done. The phrase どうすればいいのか is a useful way to ask what action is appropriate.
いい
In どうすればいいのか, いい means “good” or “okay.” It contributes the idea of an acceptable action, while the whole expression asks “what should I do?” It is used here to seek practical advice about worsening symptoms.
も
In どうすればいいのかも知っておく必要があります, も means “also” and adds this question about what to do to the information the speaker needs. It shows that this is an additional point, alongside organizing the symptoms. It can attach to another information item to mean “that too.”
知って
In どうすればいいのかも知っておく必要があります, 知って contributes the idea of knowing what to do. It connects with おく, which adds the sense of being prepared in advance. The dialogue uses the pattern Xを知っておく for keeping necessary information ready.
おく
In 知っておく, おく adds the meaning of doing something in advance or keeping the result ready for later. Here, the speaker wants to know the correct action before the situation becomes urgent. A common pattern is Vておく for advance preparation.
早く
In 早く助けが必要になったら, 早く adds the idea that help may be needed quickly or soon. It gives the question an urgent time-related meaning. It is useful when explaining that assistance may be needed without delay.
助け
In 助けが必要になったら, 助け means “help.” It is the thing that may become necessary if the situation worsens. The phrase shows that the question is about where to go to receive help.
どこ
In どこへ行けばよいか, どこ asks “where.” It asks for the appropriate destination if quick help is needed. A common pattern is どこへ followed by a movement expression.
へ
In どこへ行けばよいか, へ marks the direction or destination of going. It connects どこ with 行けば to ask which place one should go toward. The reusable pattern is placeへ行く.
行けば
In どこへ行けばよいか, 行けば presents going as the action being considered in the question. With よい, it asks which destination would be appropriate. The phrase どこへ行けばよいか is useful for asking where one should go.
よい
In どこへ行けばよいか, よい means “good” or “appropriate.” It evaluates the possible destination as the right one, while the full construction asks where one should go. This form is used here for practical guidance about getting help.
聞いて
In どこへ行けばよいか聞いてください, 聞いて means “ask” in this context. The question being asked is where one should go for quick help. A useful pattern is an embedded question followed by 聞いてください.
前
In 電話する前に, 前 means “before” and places one action earlier than another. It says that the main points should be written down before making the call. The pattern Xする前に is used for doing something before X.
要点
In 要点を書き留めておきます, 要点 means “main points” or the essential information. These are the points the speaker plans to record before calling. It is useful when organizing the most important parts of a message or explanation.
書き留めて
In 要点を書き留めておきます, 書き留めて means “write down” and connects to おきます to show advance preparation. The object being recorded is 要点. A common pattern is Xを書き留めておく.
おきます
In 書き留めておきます, おきます is the polite form used after 書き留めて to mean “will do in advance.” It shows that the notes will be prepared before the call. The reusable pattern is Vておきます for planned preparation.
そう
In そうすれば, そう means “that way” and refers to writing down the main points. It links that preparation to the expected result of making the call clearer. The expression そうすれば is useful for saying “if you do that” or “that way.”
二人
In 二人にとって, 二人 means “two people,” referring to both participants in the call. It identifies whose perspective is being considered. The dialogue uses it with にとって to mean “for both of you.”
にとって
In 二人にとって, に marks 二人 as the reference point, and とって completes the expression meaning “for” or “from the perspective of.” Together, 二人にとって means “for both of you.” A common pattern is Xにとって when describing what is true or useful from X’s perspective.
で
In 電話での話, で marks the phone call as the setting or means of the conversation. It contributes the meaning “in or through the call.” The phrase 電話での話 refers to the talk that takes place over the phone.
話
In 電話での話, 話 means “conversation” or “talk.” It refers to what the two people discuss during the call. The full phrase keeps the phone-call context attached to the conversation.
もっと
In もっと分かりやすくなる, もっと means “more.” It increases the degree of clarity expected from the phone conversation. It is useful when saying that something should become clearer or easier than before.
分かりやすく
In もっと分かりやすくなる, 分かりやすく means “clearly” or “in an easier-to-understand way.” It describes the result expected for the conversation. It combines with なる to express becoming clearer.
なる
In 分かりやすくなる, なる means “become” or “get.” It shows a change into the clearer state described by 分かりやすく. A common pattern is Xが adjective-formになる for a change in condition.
はず
In 分かりやすくなるはずです, はず expresses an expectation that the call should become clearer. The expectation is based on writing down the main points first. A common pattern is Xはずです for a polite statement about what is expected.
です
In 分かりやすくなるはずです, です makes the expectation polite and complete. It follows はず to state that the result is expected to occur. The dialogue uses this polite ending for the concluding advice.
Grammar Points
〜ておく
要点を書き留めておきます。
yoo-TEN oh kah-kee-toh-MEH-teh oh-KEE-mahss.I will write down the main points in advance.
Attach 〜ておく to a verb to do something in preparation or to keep the result for later.
〜たら
さらに悪くなったら、助けを聞いてください。
sah-rah-nee wah-roo-koo NAHT-tah-rah, tah-SOO-keh oh KEE-ee-teh koo-DAH-sai.If it gets even worse, please ask for help.
Use 〜たら after a verb in the past form to express a condition: “if” or “when.”
Japanese Vocabulary
クリニック
noun
koo-ree-NEEK-koo
clinic
クリニックに電話する
ひどくなる
verb
hee-doh-koo NAH-roo
to get worse
ひどくなっていて
ひどくなっていて
よくなる
verb
yoh-koo NAH-roo
to get better
よくなっていない
咳がよくなっていないので
一番
adv
ee-CHEE-bahn
most; number one
何が一番心配なのか
咳
noun
SEH-kee
cough
咳がよくなっていないので
心配
adj
shem-PAI
worry; concern
一番心配なのか
伝える
verb
tsoo-TAH-eh-roo
to tell; to convey
伝えてください
何が一番心配なのかを伝えてください
電話する
verb
dehn-WAH soo-ROO
to call
クリニックに電話する必要があります
熱っぽい
adj
neh-TSOO-poh-ee
feverish
熱っぽくて
熱っぽくて疲れています
疲れる
verb
tsoo-kah-REH-roo
to feel tired; to become tired
疲れています
疲れています
必要
adj
hee-TSOO-yoo
need; necessity
電話する必要があります
変わる
verb
kah-WAH-roo
to change
変わった
何が変わったのか
Quiz
Spelling
Tap the letters to spell the word.
to get better
Show Answer
よくなっていないto call
Show Answer
電話するclinic
Show Answer
クリニックto change