Using the Shared Laundry Room Fairly | Learn Japanese in English

Sentence explanations

1. また洗濯機が全部いっぱいです。

   All the washing machines are full again.

   また

   again

   洗濯機

   washing machine

   全部

   all

   いっぱいです

   is full

   More detail

   また means “again” here: the situation is recurring. It commonly comes before the part of the sentence describing what has happened again. Example: また雨です。 — “It’s raining again.” 洗濯機 means “washing machine.” It is a compound of 洗濯 (“laundry; washing”) and 機 (“machine”), but it is best learned as the reusable noun “washing machine.” Japanese nouns do not normally change form for singular and plural, so 洗濯機 can refer to one machine or to washing machines; the translation makes the plural reading intended here. 全部 means “all” or “the whole set.” It applies to the washing machines in this sentence, giving the meaning “all the washing machines,” rather than just some of them. Example: 全部終わりました。 — “Everything is finished.” いっぱいです describes the machines as full. いっぱい is the relevant word for “full” here, and です gives the sentence a polite present-state form. The same word can also mean “a lot” or “full of something” in other constructions, so its exact meaning comes from its role and context. Example: かばんがいっぱいです。 — “The bag is full.” Putting the parts together, また marks recurrence, 洗濯機 identifies the machines, 全部 says that the whole set is included, and いっぱいです states their condition. The complete meaning is: “All the washing machines are full again.”

2. 予定を確認して、次の洗濯がいつ終わるか見てください。

   Check the schedule and see when the next load finishes.

   予定

   schedule

   確認して

   check/confirm, then

   次の

   next

   洗濯

   laundry/load

   いつ

   when

   終わる

   finish

   見てください

   please check/see

   More detail

   予定 means “schedule” here; it can also mean a plan or planned arrangement in other contexts. The particle を marks it as the object of the checking action. Example: 予定を確認します。—“I check the schedule.” 確認して is the て-form of 確認する, “to check or confirm.” Here the て-form links this action to the following request: “check the schedule and then see …” The て-form itself does not mark past or future tense. Example: 画面を確認して、入力してください。—“Check the screen and enter the information.” 次の means “next” and modifies the noun that follows it. The pattern 次の + noun is a reusable way to say “the next noun”: 次の駅 means “the next station.” 洗濯 means “laundry” or “washing.” In this sentence, the surrounding washing-machine context and the fixed translation support “load,” meaning the next washing cycle or batch of laundry, rather than the general activity of doing laundry. Example: 洗濯を始めます。—“I’ll start the laundry.” いつ asks “when.” It does not change form for number or politeness. In いつ終わるか, it introduces an embedded question: literally, “when [it] will finish.” Japanese commonly places the question word inside the clause and uses か to mark that clause as an indirect question. 終わる is the dictionary form of the intransitive verb “to finish” or “to be finished.” The thing that finishes is expressed as the subject of the verb; it is the laundry/load here. Useful forms include 終わります “finishes/will finish” and 終わりました “finished.” The transitive counterpart 終える means “to finish something,” as in 作業を終える, “finish the work.” Example: 洗濯が終わりました。—“The laundry is finished.” 見てください combines the て-form 見て of 見る, “to look at, see, or check,” with ください, a polite request meaning “please.” In this sentence, 見る has the practical sense “check/see the information,” not simply “look with your eyes.” Example: こちらを見てください。—“Please look here.” The first chunk, 予定を確認して, says “check the schedule and then …” 次の洗濯 means “the next load,” with 次の modifying 洗濯. The clause いつ終わるか means “when it finishes,” and 見てください turns the whole request into “please see/check.” Together, the utterance means: “Check the schedule and see when the next load finishes.”

3. 一台はすぐに終わるはずですが、始めた人がいません。

   One should be done soon, but the person who started it isn't around.

   一台

   one unit

   すぐに

   soon

   終わる

   finish; be done

   はずです

   should; be expected to

   始めた

   started

   人

   person

   いません

   isn't around

   More detail

   一台 means “one unit.” 台 is a counter commonly used for machines and other substantial equipment; the counter, rather than the numeral alone, identifies the counted item as a unit of that type. The fixed translation supports “one” here, but does not specify more detail about the unit. すぐに means “soon” or “without much delay.” It modifies what follows, so it indicates that the finishing is expected to happen shortly. It can also mean “immediately” in contexts where immediate action is intended; here, “soon” is the compatible sense. 終わる means “finish” or “be done.” This is the intransitive verb 終わる, used when an activity or process reaches its end. Its polite form is 終わります; its past form is 終わった. For example, 仕事が終わった。 means “The work finished” or “The work is done.” はずです expresses an expectation or conclusion that the speaker regards as well-founded: “should” or “is expected to.” The pattern is [plain-form clause] はずです; here, 終わる is the plain non-past form before はずです, giving 終わるはずです (“should be done”). This is not an instruction to finish; it describes an expected outcome. 始めた is the past form of 始める, “to start” or “to begin.” In 始めた人, the clause before 人 identifies the person as the one who started something: “the person who started.” The past form marks the starting as completed relative to the reference point. For example, 彼が始めた仕事 means “the work that he started.” 人 means “person.” In this sentence it is the head noun of 始めた人, so the whole phrase means “the person who started [it].” The object of 始めた is not repeated in this phrase; the surrounding context and fixed translation support the understood activity or item without requiring it to be stated again. いません is the polite negative form of いる, used for an animate being’s presence or existence. いる means “be present” or “exist” for people and animals; いない is its plain negative, and いません is the polite negative. Thus 人がいません literally presents the situation as “there is no person,” while in this context the fixed translation gives the natural meaning “the person isn't around.” Together, 一台はすぐに終わるはずですが says that one unit is expected to be done soon. が connects this expectation to a contrasting situation. 始めた人がいません says that the person who started it is not present. The complete utterance therefore means: “One should be done soon, but the person who started it isn't around.”

4. その人の洗濯物を動かす前に、数分待ちましょう。

   Give them a few minutes before moving their laundry.

   その人の

   that person's; their

   洗濯物

   laundry

   動かす

   move

   前に

   before

   数分

   a few minutes

   待ちましょう

   let's wait

   More detail

   その人の combines その人 (“that person”) with の, which marks possession or association. Here it identifies the laundry as belonging to the person referred to in the fixed meaning; English their does not specify gender. The exact referent is not grammatically encoded in this phrase. 洗濯物 is a noun for laundry, such as clothes being washed or clothes treated as a washing load. In this sentence it is the thing that may be moved. Example: 洗濯物を干します。 — “I hang out the laundry.” 動かす is the dictionary form of the transitive verb “to move something.” The object is marked with を, as in the source’s 洗濯物を動かす. Its related intransitive verb is 動く, “to move” or “to be moved”: 機械が動く。 — “The machine moves/starts operating.” 前に means “before.” With a verb in its dictionary form, V-前に gives a reusable pattern meaning “before doing V”: 寝る前に歯を磨きます。 — “I brush my teeth before going to bed.” In the source, 動かす前に means “before moving [it].” 数分 means “a few minutes” or “several minutes.” 分 is the counter for minutes, while 数 indicates an unspecified small number rather than an exact count. Thus it does not state precisely how many minutes. 待ちましょう is the polite volitional form of 待つ, “to wait.” The ending ましょう presents a suggestion involving the speaker and others: “let’s wait.” Example: ここで待ちましょう。 — “Let’s wait here.” Together, その人の洗濯物を動かす前に sets the time condition “before moving that person’s laundry.” 数分待ちましょう makes the suggestion to wait a few minutes. The complete utterance therefore means: “Let’s wait a few minutes before moving their laundry.”

5. どのくらい待てば、動かしても公平ですか。

   How long is fair before I move it?

   どのくらい

   how long

   待てば

   if one waits

   動かしても

   even if one moves it

   公平

   fair

   More detail

   どのくらい asks about degree or amount. With 待つ, it asks “how long?” A related question is どのくらい待ちますか。 (“How long will you wait?”). The expression itself does not specify the unit; the answer could be in minutes, hours, or another suitable measure. 待てば is the conditional form of 待つ (“to wait”): 待つ → 待てば. The -ば ending presents waiting for a certain amount of time as the condition for the following judgment. Here, the question is effectively “If I wait how long…?” Japanese does not state the subject in this form; the fixed translation identifies the relevant actor as “I.” 動かしても is the て-form of 動かす (“to move” or “to reposition”) followed by も. The pattern V-ても means “even if someone does V” or, in a permission/fairness context like this, “even when doing V.” The object is omitted in the Japanese sentence; the fixed translation identifies it as “it,” and the nearby context supports moving the other person’s laundry. 動かす is a transitive verb, so an explicit object can be added when needed, for example: 箱を動かしてもいいですか。 — “Is it okay if I move the box?” 公平 means “fair” or “fairly balanced.” In 公平です, it functions as a noun-like な-adjective predicate: 公平だ is the plain form and 公平です is the polite form. It describes the proposed action as fair, rather than directly meaning that the action is permitted. A related contrast is 不公平 (“unfair”), as in それは不公平です。 — “That is unfair.” The structure is どのくらい待てば (“if I wait how long”) + 動かしても (“even if I move it”) + 公平ですか (“is it fair?”). Together, the utterance asks how long waiting would make moving it fair: “How long is fair before I move it?” The question concerns a fair waiting period before the speaker moves the item.

6. 他の人が待っているなら、少し待つだけで十分です。

   A short grace period is enough if other people are waiting.

   他の人

   other people

   待っている

   are waiting

   少し

   a little

   待つ

   wait

   だけで十分です

   is enough just by

   More detail

   他の人 means “other people” here. 他 means “other” or “another,” and 人 means “person/people”; の links the modifier to the noun. The plural meaning comes from the context, not from a special plural ending on 人. Example: 他の人に聞いてください。 — “Please ask someone else.” 待っている is the form of 待つ (“to wait”) combined with いる. 待つ is the dictionary form; 待っている presents the waiting as ongoing, so it means “are waiting” here. The が immediately after this phrase marks 他の人 as the subject of the clause. Example: 彼は駅で待っている。 — “He is waiting at the station.” 少し means “a little” or “for a short while” in this sentence. With a verb, it indicates a small amount or short duration: 少し休む means “rest a little.” It does not by itself specify an exact length of time. 待つ is the dictionary form “to wait.” After 少し, it forms the simple expression 少し待つ, “wait a little.” Its -te form is 待って, as seen in 待っている; the two forms serve different constructions. Example: ここで少し待つ。 — “I’ll wait here for a little while.” だけで十分です expresses that something alone is sufficient: literally, “is enough with just ….” だけ limits the preceding action to “just/only,” で marks that action as the means or condition, 十分 means “enough/sufficient,” and です gives the statement a polite form. In this sentence, 少し待つだけで十分です means “just waiting a little is enough.” The phrase does not state a numerical amount; it says that no more waiting is needed for the stated purpose. Together, 他の人が待っているなら means “if other people are waiting,” with なら marking the condition. 少し待つだけで十分です then says that merely waiting a short while is sufficient. The whole utterance is therefore: “A short grace period is enough if other people are waiting.”

7. 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。

   I'll set a reminder so I come back as soon as my load is done.

   洗濯

   laundry; wash load

   終わったら

   when it is finished

   すぐに

   immediately

   戻れる

   can come back

   ように

   so that

   リマインダー

   reminder

   設定します

   will set

   More detail

   洗濯 means laundry or a wash load here. It is a noun, although Japanese can also use it in compounds and expressions related to doing laundry. In this sentence, it is the activity or load that will finish. 終わったら comes from 終わる (to finish, end). The form 終わったら combines the past form 終わった with ら to mean “when/if it finishes.” With a completed event, たら commonly sets the time for what follows. Example: 仕事が終わったら、帰ります。 — “When work is finished, I’ll go home.” すぐに means “immediately” or “right away.” It indicates that the return will happen with little delay after the laundry finishes. Example: すぐに戻ります。 — “I’ll come back right away.” 戻れる is the potential form of 戻る (to return, come back): 戻る → 戻れる, “can return.” The potential form presents returning as possible or feasible. It is not the ordinary non-potential form 戻る. Example: 明日戻れます。 — “I can come back tomorrow.” ように here marks a desired result or purpose: “so that” the possibility expressed by 戻れる is achieved. The pattern verb-potential + ように is useful for expressing an arrangement made to enable something. For example, 聞こえるように話してください。 — “Please speak so that it can be heard.” リマインダー is the loanword “reminder.” It names an alert or reminder that helps someone remember a later action or time. 設定します means “will set” or “set,” in polite style. Its dictionary form is 設定する (to set, configure), and します is the polite nonpast form of する in this compound. Japanese nonpast forms can describe a planned future action, so here it expresses the speaker’s intention to set the reminder. Example: アラームを設定します。 — “I’ll set an alarm.” Together, 洗濯が終わったら means “when the laundry is finished,” and すぐに戻れるように means “so that I can come back immediately.” The final clause, リマインダーを設定します, says that the speaker will set a reminder for that purpose. The whole utterance means: “I’ll set a reminder so I can come back as soon as my load is done.”

8. 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。

   That makes it easier to ask the same of everyone else.

   そうすれば

   if you do that; then

   他の人

   other people

   にも

   also; to ... too

   同じこと

   the same thing

   お願いしやすくなります

   becomes easier to ask or request

   More detail

   そうすれば links the preceding action or situation to a result: “if you do that, then …” or, as in the fixed translation, “that makes …”. すれば is the conditional form of する; the そう points back to an action already understood from context. This does not identify a new actor or specify exactly which action beyond that supported context. 他の人 means “other people.” 他の modifies 人, while 人 itself does not show singular versus plural here; the context determines whether one or more people are meant. The translation supports the plural sense “everyone else.” にも combines に, marking the person being asked, with も, meaning “also/too.” Thus 他の人にも means that the request can be made to other people as well. The も belongs to the recipient phrase, not to 他の人 as a separate adjective. 同じこと means “the same thing” or “the same request/matter.” 同じ modifies こと directly. In this sentence, こと refers to the matter being requested, without repeating its content. A reusable pattern is 同じことをする, “do the same thing”; here を marks that matter as the object of the request. お願いしやすくなります says that requesting becomes easy. お願いする is the compound verb “to ask/request,” and its する part changes to し before やすい: V-stem + やすい means “easy to V.” Thus お願いしやすい means “easy to request,” while お願いしやすくなります means “becomes easier to request.” The く form connects the adjective to なります, and なります is the polite nonpast form of なる, “become.” Together, そうすれば presents the relevant preceding action as the condition or cause. 他の人にも identifies other people as additional recipients, and 同じことをお願いしやすくなります says that making the same request to them becomes easier. The whole utterance therefore means: “That makes it easier to ask the same of everyone else.”

9. 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。

   I can't complain about abandoned laundry if I leave mine there too.

   私も

   I too

   洗濯物

   laundry

   そこに

   there

   置いたままにする

   leave [something] as it is

   なら

   if

   放置された

   abandoned

   について

   about

   文句

   complaint

   言えません

   cannot say

   More detail

   私も means “I too”: 私 is “I/me,” and も adds the sense “also/too.” Here it marks the speaker as sharing the relevant behavior. Example: 私も行きます。 — “I’m going too.” 洗濯物 means “laundry,” literally clothes or other items being washed or ready for washing. In this sentence, the surrounding meaning identifies it as the speaker’s laundry in the first clause and laundry left unattended in the second. 物 is part of the established word 洗濯物, not a separate possessive marker. そこに means “there”: そこ is a demonstrative meaning “there,” and に marks the place where something is put or remains. The demonstrative’s grammatical meaning is location; the exact place is supplied by the situation rather than identified further in this sentence. 置いたままにする is a reusable pattern meaning “leave something in the state of having been put somewhere.” 置いた is the past form of 置く (“put/place”), while まま expresses an unchanged state and にする means to keep or leave something that way. The object before it is 洗濯物を, so the sentence describes leaving the laundry there instead of moving it. Example: ドアを開けたままにする。 — “Leave the door open.” なら introduces the condition: “if” or, in this context, “if that is what happens.” It follows the preceding situation, so そこに置いたままにするなら means “if I leave it there.” 放置された modifies the following noun and means “left unattended” or “abandoned.” It is the passive form of 放置する (“leave unattended”): 放置された洗濯物 is “laundry that has been left unattended.” The form is attributive here, directly describing 洗濯物. について means “about” or “concerning.” It marks the topic of the complaint: 放置された洗濯物について is “about the laundry left unattended.” 文句 means “complaint” or “grumbling.” With を言う, the expression 文句を言う means “complain.” Example: 彼は仕事について文句を言う。 — “He complains about the work.” 言えません is the polite negative potential form of 言う (“say”): 言える means “can say,” and 言えません means “cannot say.” In the construction 文句を言えません, the meaning is “cannot complain,” rather than simply “cannot speak.” Example: ここでは写真を撮れません。 — “You cannot take photographs here.” Together, 私も洗濯物をそこに置いたままにするなら sets up the condition “if I also leave my laundry there,” and 放置された洗濯物について文句は言えません says that, under that condition, the speaker cannot complain about unattended laundry. The topic marker は after 文句 gives the complaint topic contrastive focus, while the fixed translation naturally expresses the whole idea as “I can’t complain about abandoned laundry if I leave mine there too.”

10. 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。

    Shared laundry goes more smoothly when people watch the cycle times.

    みんな

    everyone

    運転時間

    cycle times

    確認すると

    when checking

    共有の

    shared

    洗濯室

    laundry room

    もっとスムーズに

    more smoothly

    使えます

    can use

    More detail

    みんな means “everyone” or “everybody” here. It is a noun-like word referring to all the relevant people as a group; it is not the same as 個人 individually. Example: みんなが来ます。 — “Everyone is coming.” The が after みんな marks this group as the subject of the first clause. 運転時間 refers here to the operating or cycle time of a machine, understood from the laundry context as the time for a washing cycle. 運転 means “operation” in this kind of machine-related use, while 時間 means “time.” Example: 運転時間を確認します。 — “I check the cycle time.” 確認すると is built from the base verb 確認する, “to check or confirm,” plus と. In this sentence, Xすると presents a condition or usual result: “when/if X checks.” The form 確認すると does not itself say that the checking is happening right now; it links the checking condition to the result in the following clause. Example: 時間を確認すると、予定を立てやすいです。 — “When you check the time, it is easier to make a plan.” 共有の places the noun 共有, “sharing/shared use,” before another noun with の. It marks the laundry room as shared, rather than privately assigned to one person. Example: 共有の台所 — “a shared kitchen.” 洗濯室 means “laundry room.” 洗濯 means “laundry or washing,” and 室 means “room,” but 洗濯室 functions as one compound noun. Example: 洗濯室は二階です。 — “The laundry room is on the second floor.” もっとスムーズに describes the manner of use as smoother or more smoothly. もっと means “more,” and スムーズ is a loanword meaning “smooth”; に changes this な-adjective-like word into an adverbial modifier. The comparison is with a less smooth way of using the room, not necessarily with a specifically named earlier situation. Example: もっとスムーズに進められます。 — “It can proceed more smoothly.” 使えます is the polite non-past potential form of 使う, “to use”: 使う → 使える → 使えます. It means “can use” or, in this context, “can be used,” with the user understood from the situation. The form expresses possibility or usability, not a command. Example: この部屋は誰でも使えます。 — “Anyone can use this room.” Together, みんなが運転時間を確認すると sets the condition “when everyone checks the cycle times.” 共有の洗濯室をもっとスムーズに使えます then says that the shared laundry room can be used more smoothly. The omitted user is understood generically as the people using the shared facility. Thus the whole utterance means: “When people watch the cycle times, shared laundry goes more smoothly.”