About This Lesson
Use Using the Shared Laundry Room Fairly to practice Japanese conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.
Dialogue
A
また洗濯機が全部いっぱいです。
ma-TA sen-TA-ku-ki ga zen-BU ip-PAI dess. All the washing machines are full again.
B
予定を確認して、次の洗濯がいつ終わるか見てください。
yo-TEI o ka-koo-NEEN-shee-te, tsu-GEE no sen-TA-ku ga EE-tsu oh-WA-ru ka MEE-te ku-da-SAI. Check the schedule and see when the next load finishes.
A
一台はすぐに終わるはずですが、始めた人がいません。
ee-DAI wa SU-gu-ni oh-WA-ru ha-ZU dess-ga, ha-ji-MEH-ta hee-TO ga ee-ma-SEN. One should be done soon, but the person who started it isn't around.
B
その人の洗濯物を動かす前に、数分待ちましょう。
SO-no hee-TO no sen-TA-ku-mo-no o u-go-KA-su MAE ni, SU-fun ma-chi-ma-SHOH. Give them a few minutes before moving their laundry.
A
どのくらい待てば、動かしても公平ですか。
DO-no ku-RAI ma-TE-ba, u-go-KA-shi-te-mo koh-HEI dess-ka. How long is fair before I move it?
B
他の人が待っているなら、少し待つだけで十分です。
HO-ka no hee-TO ga MAT-te ee-ru NA-ra, SU-ko-shi MA-tsu DA-ke de joo-BUN dess. A short grace period is enough if other people are waiting.
A
洗濯が終わったらすぐに戻れるように、リマインダーを設定します。
sen-TA-ku ga oh-WAT-ta-ra SU-gu-ni mo-DOH-re-ru YOH-ni, ree-MAIN-dah o set-TEI shi-MASS. I'll set a reminder so I come back as soon as my load is done.
B
そうすれば、他の人にも同じことをお願いしやすくなります。
SOH-su-re-ba, HO-ka no hee-TO ni-mo oh-NAH-ji ko-to o oh-neh-GAI shi-YA-su-ku na-RI-mass. That makes it easier to ask the same of everyone else.
A
私も洗濯物をそこに置いたままにするなら、放置された洗濯物について文句は言えません。
wa-TA-shi mo sen-TA-ku-mo-no o SO-ko ni oh-EE-ta ma-MA ni SU-ru NA-ra, hoh-CHI sa-re-ta sen-TA-ku-mo-no ni tsu-EE-te MON-ku wa ee-EH-ma-SEN. I can't complain about abandoned laundry if I leave mine there too.
B
みんなが運転時間を確認すると、共有の洗濯室をもっとスムーズに使えます。
MIN-na ga un-TEHN JEE-kan o ka-koo-NEEN-su-ru-to, kyoh-YOO no sen-TA-ku-shee-tsu o MOT-to su-MOH-zu ni tsu-KA-eh-mass. Shared laundry goes more smoothly when people watch the cycle times.Word by Word
また
また means “again” in また洗濯機が全部いっぱいです, showing that the same situation has happened before. It commonly comes before the statement or action that is repeated.
洗濯機
洗濯機 means “washing machine” in 洗濯機が全部いっぱいです. It is the machine being described as full, and it can be used as the subject with が.
が
が marks 洗濯機 as the subject of いっぱいです, so the washing machines are the things that are full. A common pattern is a noun followed by が and a description.
全部
全部 means “all” here, referring to all of the washing machines. It appears before いっぱい to show that the condition applies to every machine.
いっぱい
いっぱい means “full” in 洗濯機が全部いっぱいです, indicating that the machines have no available space. It is used here as the condition being stated with です.
です
です politely states the condition in いっぱいです: the machines are full. It is a polite sentence ending used after a description.
予定
予定 means “schedule” in 予定を確認して, the schedule that should be checked. It commonly appears as the object of a checking action with を.
を
を marks 予定 as the object of 確認して, showing what is being checked. The pattern is a noun followed by を and an action such as checking.
確認
確認 means “check” or “confirm” in 予定を確認して. It is used with an object such as 予定 when verifying information.
して
して connects the action of checking with the following action in 予定を確認して、次の洗濯がいつ終わるか見てください. It is the connective form used to link actions in this request.
次
次 means “next” in 次の洗濯, referring to the next washing load or cycle. It comes before の to describe the following noun.
の
の links 次 and 洗濯 in 次の洗濯, making 次 describe which washing is meant. This pattern connects a describing noun to the noun that follows.
洗濯
洗濯 means “washing” or “laundry” in 次の洗濯がいつ終わるか. Here it refers to the washing cycle that will finish, rather than to clothing as objects.
いつ
いつ means “when” in いつ終わるか, asking about the time something finishes. It is used inside the embedded question before 終わるか.
終わる
終わる means “finish” in 次の洗濯がいつ終わるか, describing the washing cycle reaching its end. The pattern 洗濯が終わる refers to the washing being finished.
か
か marks いつ終わる as an embedded question in いつ終わるか見てください. It turns the question about when the washing finishes into the thing to check.
見て
見て means “look” or “check” in いつ終わるか見てください. It is followed by ください to make a polite request to check the information.
ください
ください makes 見てください a polite request meaning “please check” or “please see.” It follows a connective form to request an action.
は
は marks 一台 as the topic in 一台はすぐに終わるはずです. It presents one machine as the particular item being discussed.
すぐ
すぐ means “soon” in すぐに終わるはずです, indicating that the machine is expected to finish shortly. With に, it forms the adverbial expression すぐに.
に
に changes すぐ into the adverbial form すぐに, which describes when the finishing will happen. In this dialogue it is part of the time expression before 終わる.
はず
はず expresses an expectation in 終わるはずですが: it should finish or is expected to finish. A verb can come before はず to state what is expected.
始めた
始めた means “started” in 始めた人, identifying the person who started the washing. It is the past form of 始める used directly before 人 to describe that person.
人
人 means “person” in 始めた人, the person who started the washing. It follows a describing phrase to identify someone by an action.
いません
いません means that someone is not present in 始めた人がいません. It is the polite negative form used here to say the person is not around.
その
その means “that” or “the mentioned” in その人の洗濯物. It points back to the person already mentioned, and it comes before a noun.
洗濯物
洗濯物 means “laundry” or “laundry items” in その人の洗濯物. Here it refers to the person’s clothes left in the washing machine, and it is the thing that may be moved.
動かす
動かす means “move something” in 動かす前に, referring to moving the other person’s laundry. It takes the thing being moved as its object.
前
前 means “before” in 動かす前に, placing the waiting action before the possible moving action. The pattern verb plus 前に means “before doing the verb.”
数分
数分 means “a few minutes” in 数分待ちましょう. It gives the short amount of time for which they propose waiting.
待ちましょう
待ちましょう means “let’s wait” in 数分待ちましょう. It is a polite proposal used when suggesting that the speakers take an action together.
どの
どの contributes to the question どのくらい, asking about the extent or duration of the wait. It appears before くらい to form the question “how long” here.
くらい
くらい expresses an amount or extent in どのくらい待てば, so the phrase asks how long one should wait. With どの, it is used to ask about duration or degree.
待てば
待てば means “if or when I wait” in どのくらい待てば, asking what amount of waiting would make moving the laundry fair. It is the conditional form of 待つ used before a result or judgment.
動かして
動かして means “move it” in 動かしても公平です, where the moving action is being considered. It is the connective form of 動かす and is followed by も to form the meaning “even if moving it.”
も
も adds the meaning “even” in 動かしても公平です, making the question about whether moving it would still be fair under that condition. The pattern verb in the connective form plus も expresses “even if doing.”
公平
公平 means “fair” in 動かしても公平です, describing whether moving the laundry is fair. It is used here as the judgment that follows the condition 動かしても.
他
他 means “other” in 他の人, referring to people besides the person already being discussed. It comes before の to describe the following noun.
待って
待って means “waiting” as part of 他の人が待っているなら. It is the connective form of 待つ used with いる to describe an ongoing state.
いる
いる shows the ongoing state in 待っている: the other people are currently waiting. Together with a connective verb form, it describes an action or state in progress.
なら
なら means “if” or “when that condition holds” in 他の人が待っているなら. It introduces the condition under which a short wait is considered enough.
少し
少し means “a little” or “briefly” in 少し待つだけで十分です. It limits the amount of waiting being described.
待つ
待つ means “wait” in 少し待つだけで十分です. It is used after 少し and before だけ to describe the small action that is sufficient.
だけ
だけ means “only” or “just” in 少し待つだけで十分です, emphasizing that just waiting a little is enough. It follows the action being limited.
で
で marks the action or amount as the condition by which something is sufficient in 少し待つだけで十分です. The pattern action plus だけで十分 means that doing only that action is enough.
十分
十分 means “enough” or “sufficient” in 少し待つだけで十分です. It says that the short waiting period meets the fairness requirement in this situation.
終わったら
終わったら means “when it is finished” or “once it finishes” in 洗濯が終わったら. It introduces the point in time after the washing has ended.
戻れる
戻れる means “can return” in 戻れるように, expressing the ability to come back to the laundry room. It is the potential form of 戻る used before ように.
よう
ように in 戻れるように means “so that,” linking the reminder to the desired result of being able to return promptly. The pattern result plus ように expresses a purpose or intended outcome.
リマインダー
リマインダー means “reminder” in リマインダーを設定します. It refers to the alert used to remember when to return, and it is marked as the object of 設定します.
設定
設定 means “setting” or “set” in リマインダーを設定します, referring to setting up the reminder. It is used with します to form the action of setting something.
します
します politely expresses the action in リマインダーを設定します: “I will set” the reminder. It follows 設定 to make a polite action expression.
そう
そう means “so” or “that way” in そうすれば, referring to the action of setting a reminder. It points back to the previously described way of handling the laundry.
すれば
すれば means “if one does so” in そうすれば. It is the conditional form of する and connects the reminder action with the result that follows.
同じ
同じ means “same” in 同じこと, referring to the same request or standard just discussed. It comes before こと to describe the matter being requested.
こと
こと means “thing” or “matter” in 同じこと, referring to the action or request of returning promptly. Together with 同じ, it means “the same thing.”
お願い
お願い means a “request” or “favor” in お願いしやすくなります. It refers to asking other people to follow the same considerate practice.
しやすく
しやすく contributes the meaning “easy to do” in お願いしやすくなります. It describes the request as becoming easy to make, and it appears before なります.
なります
なります means “becomes” in お願いしやすくなります, showing a change to a state in which the request is easier to make. It is the polite form used after the description しやすく.
私
私 means “I” or “me” in 私も洗濯物をそこに置いたままにするなら. Here it refers to the speaker and is followed by も to include the speaker in the same situation.
そこ
そこ means “there” in そこに置いたまま, referring to the previously understood place in the laundry room. It is followed by に to mark the place where the laundry is left.
置いた
置いた means “put” or “left” in そこに置いたまま, describing the laundry being put there and remaining there. It is the past form of 置く used before まま.
まま
まま means “as it is” or “remaining in that state” in 置いたままにする. It shows that the laundry stays in the state of having been left there.
する
する means “do” in 置いたままにする, where the whole expression means to leave something in the state described by 置いたまま. This construction is used for keeping or leaving something that way.
放置
放置 means leaving something unattended in 放置された洗濯物. It describes laundry that has been left without being collected or dealt with.
された
された means “was done” or, here, “was left” in 放置された洗濯物. It is the passive past form showing that the laundry received the action of being left unattended.
について
について means “about” or “regarding” in 放置された洗濯物について文句は言えません. The full expression に + ついて marks 放置された洗濯物 as the topic being discussed: に links the topic to the relation, and ついて forms the “about” expression.
文句
文句 means a “complaint” in 文句は言えません. With 言えません, it refers to complaining about the abandoned laundry rather than merely mentioning it.
言えません
言えません means “cannot say” and, with 文句, “cannot complain” in 文句は言えません. It is the polite negative potential form used to say that the speaker cannot justifiably make that complaint.
みんな
みんな means “everyone” in みんなが運転時間を確認すると, referring to all the people using the shared laundry room. It is the subject of the checking action.
運転時間
運転時間 means “cycle time” in 運転時間を確認すると, the amount of time the machine runs. It is the information that people check, marked by を.
と
と marks the condition in 運転時間を確認すると, meaning “when” or “if people check the cycle times.” It connects that condition with the result that the shared laundry room can be used more smoothly.
共有
共有 means “shared” in 共有の洗濯室, describing a laundry room used by multiple people. It comes before の to modify 洗濯室.
洗濯室
洗濯室 means “laundry room” in 共有の洗濯室. It names the shared place where the machines are used.
もっと
もっと means “more” in もっとスムーズに使えます, indicating an improvement in how smoothly the laundry room can be used. It comes before the quality or manner being increased.
スムーズ
スムーズ means “smooth” or “smoothly” in スムーズに使えます, describing use without unnecessary problems or delays. に changes it into the manner expression used before 使えます.
使えます
使えます means “can use” in 共有の洗濯室をもっとスムーズに使えます. It is the polite potential form of 使う and expresses that the shared laundry room can be used in that way.
Grammar Points
〜たままにする
洗濯物を置いたままにする。
sen-TA-ku-mo-no o oh-EE-ta ma-MA ni SU-ru.To leave the laundry where it is.
After a past-tense verb, 〜たままにする means leaving something in that state without changing it.
〜ましょう
数分待ちましょう。
SU-fun ma-chi-ma-SHOH.Let's wait a few minutes.
〜ましょう is a polite way to suggest doing something together.
Japanese Vocabulary
いっぱい
adj
ip-PAI
full
洗濯機が全部いっぱいです。
すぐに
adv
SU-gu-ni
soon; immediately
一台はすぐに終わるはずです。
その人
pron
SO-no hee-TO
that person
その人の洗濯物を動かす前に、数分待ちましょう。
確認する
verb
ka-koo-NEEN-su-ru
to check; to confirm
確認して
予定を確認して、次の洗濯がいつ終わるか見てください。
始める
verb
ha-ji-MEH-ru
to start
始めた
始めた人がいません。
次
det
tsu-GEE
next
次の洗濯がいつ終わるか見てください。
終わる
verb
oh-WA-ru
to finish; to end
次の洗濯がいつ終わるか見てください。
人
noun
hee-TO
person; people
始めた人がいません。
洗濯
noun
sen-TA-ku
laundry; wash load
次の洗濯がいつ終わるか見てください。
洗濯機
noun
sen-TA-ku-ki
washing machine
また洗濯機が全部いっぱいです。
洗濯物
noun
sen-TA-ku-mo-no
laundry; clothes being washed
その人の洗濯物を動かす前に、数分待ちましょう。
予定
noun
yo-TEI
schedule
予定を確認してください。
Quiz
Spelling
Tap the letters to spell the word.
full
Show Answer
いっぱいto check; to confirm
Show Answer
確認してto start
Show Answer
始めたsoon; immediately