Clarifying a table reservation politely | Learn Japanese in English

Japanese lesson set in a contemporary Tokyo everyday setting: In a shared workspace, one person explains a table reservation and another agrees to move to a better place for a call..

EN → JA / Level: B2

About This Lesson

Use Clarifying a table reservation politely to practice Japanese conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

A

静かな場所が必要なので、このテーブルを予約しました。

shee-ZOO-kah nah bah-SHOH gah hee-tsu-YOH nah-noh-deh, KOH-noh TEE-boo-roo oh yoh-YAH-koo shee-mah-SHEE-tah. I reserved this table because I need a quieter corner.
B

ここではテーブルごとに予約が必要だとは気づいていませんでした。

KOH-koh deh-wah TEE-boo-roo GOH-toh-nee yoh-YAH-koo gah hee-tsu-YOH dah toh wah kee-ZOO-ee-teh ee-mah-SEN-deh-SHEE-tah. I hadn't realized reservations applied to individual tables here.
A

何人かの人が混雑について不満を言った後で、その仕組みが始まりました。

NAHN-neen-kah noh heen gah KON-zah-tsu nee tsu-ee-teh foo-MAHN oh EET-tah ah-toh deh, soh-noh shee-KOO-mee gah hah-jee-mah-ree-MAH-shee-tah. They started the system after several people complained about crowding.
B

それなら、あなたが落ち着く前に私が移動したほうがよさそうですね。

soh-reh nah-RAH, ah-nah-TAH gah oh-chee-TSOO-koo mae nee wah-TAH-shee gah ee-DOH shee-tah HOH gah yoh-sah-SOH deh-soo NEH. In that case, I should move before you settle in.
A

通話を短く済ませて静かに話せるなら、ここにいてもかまいません。

TSOO-wah oh TAHN-kah-koo soo-mah-SEH-teh shee-ZOO-kah nee hah-NAH-seh-roo nah-rah, KOH-koh nee ee-teh-moh kah-mah-ee-mah-SEN. You could stay if you can keep your call brief and speak quietly.
B

思ったより長引くかもしれないので、移動したほうが公平だと思います。

oh-MOHT-tah YOH-ree nah-gah-HEE-koo kah-moh shee-reh-NAH-ee noh-deh, ee-DOH shee-tah HOH gah KOH-HAY dah toh oh-MOH-ee-MAHSS. It might run longer than expected, so moving seems fairer.
A

プレゼンテーションを録音する必要があるので、そうしてもらえると助かります。

poo-reh-zen-TEH-shon oh roh-KOO-on soo-roo hee-tsu-YOH gah ah-roo noh-deh, SOH shee-teh moh-rah-EH-roo toh tahs-kah-ree-MAHSS. I appreciate that, because I need to record a presentation.
B

話し声が周りの邪魔になりにくいラウンジエリアを選びます。

hah-nah-shee-GOH-eh gah mah-WAH-ree noh JAH-mah nee nah-ree-nee-KOO-ee ROWN-jee EH-ree-ah oh eh-rah-bee-MAHSS. I'll choose the lounge area, where speaking is less disruptive.

Word by Word

静かな 静かな means “quiet” in the exact form 静かな場所, describing a place with little noise. This form comes directly before the noun 場所; it is useful when identifying a quiet place in a shared environment.
場所 場所 means “place” or “area” here, specifically the quiet area the speaker needs. It commonly follows a description such as 静かな and can be marked with が when it is the thing that is needed.
が が marks 場所 as the thing that is needed in 場所が必要. In this pattern, it identifies the subject or required thing before 必要, so it is useful for stating what someone needs.
必要 必要 means “necessary” or “needed” in 場所が必要, meaning that a quiet place is required. The pattern Xが必要 is a common way to say that X is needed in a particular situation.
なので なので means “because” or “since” here, connecting the need for a quiet place with the decision to reserve the table. It follows 必要 and introduces the reason for the statement that follows.
この この means “this” and points to the table that is near or currently being discussed. It must come directly before the noun it describes, as in このテーブル.
テーブル テーブル means “table” here, the specific table that was reserved. It can be used as the object of a reservation with を, as in テーブルを予約する.
を を marks テーブル as the direct object of 予約しました. This particle commonly appears after the thing that someone reserves, chooses, records, or moves.
予約しました 予約しました means “reserved” or “booked” in this dialogue, referring to completing a reservation for the table. The polite past form is useful when explaining a reservation that has already been made.
ここ ここ means “here,” referring to the shared workspace being discussed. It identifies the current place and is followed by で in ここでは to describe what applies there.
で で marks ここ as the place where the reservation rule applies in ここでは. With a place, this particle can show where an action, event, or rule is relevant.
は は marks ここ as the topic in ここでは, focusing on how things work in this place. Together with で, it can also create a mild contrast with how things may work elsewhere.
ごとに ごとに means “for each” or “per” in テーブルごとに, so the reservation requirement applies separately to each table. The component ごと expresses each unit, and に marks the relevant unit or distribution; this pattern is reusable with a noun before ごとに.
予約 予約 means “reservation” or “booking” in 予約が必要だ, where the reservation itself is what is required. It can refer to the booking arrangement rather than the act of making the booking.
だ だ marks 予約が必要 as an assertion inside 予約が必要だとは気づいていませんでした. Here it presents the quoted content as a fact the speaker had not realized.
と と marks the quoted content 予約が必要だ in 予約が必要だとは気づいていませんでした. It is useful when a thought, statement, or fact is treated as the content of noticing or realizing.
気づいて 気づいて means “realizing” or “noticing” in 気づいていませんでした, referring to becoming aware of the reservation requirement. This form links 気づく to the following negative state, so the complete expression describes not having realized something.
いませんでした いませんでした completes 気づいていませんでした and shows that the speaker was not in the state of having realized it at that point. With a preceding て-form such as 気づいて, it is useful for describing a continuing or resulting state that did not hold.
何人 何人 means “how many people” in 何人かの人, but with か it contributes to the meaning “some people” or “several people.” It is used with 人 to count people, and the surrounding か changes the question-like form into an indefinite quantity here.
か か makes 何人 indefinite in 何人かの人, giving the meaning “some” or “several” people rather than asking a question. In this pattern, it follows a quantity expression and can be followed by の人.
の の links 何人か to 人 in 何人かの人, making the preceding expression describe the people. This particle commonly connects a modifier or quantity expression to a noun.
人 人 means “person” or “people” in 何人かの人, referring to the people who complained. It is the noun being modified by 何人かの and can be used for people in many quantity expressions.
混雑 混雑 means “crowding” or “congestion” in 混雑について, the situation people complained about. It is useful for describing a space that has too many people or insufficient room.
について について means “about” or “concerning” in 混雑について, identifying the topic of the complaints. The component に marks the topic and ついて forms the expression “concerning”; it commonly follows a noun when introducing what someone talks or complains about.
不満 不満 means “dissatisfaction” or “a complaint” in 不満を言った, referring to negative reactions from people about the crowding. It can be used with を言う when someone voices dissatisfaction.
言った 言った means “said” or “voiced” in 不満を言った, describing what several people did. It is the past form used after 不満を when referring to complaints that were made before the system began.
後 後 means “after” in 言った後で, placing the start of the system after the complaints. The pattern verb-past form plus 後で is useful for describing an action that happens later.
その その means “that” and points back to the system already being discussed. It comes directly before the noun it describes, as in その仕組み.
仕組み 仕組み means “system” or “mechanism” here, referring to the reservation arrangement introduced in the workspace. It is useful for talking about how an organized rule or process works.
始まりました 始まりました means “started” or “began” in this dialogue, describing when the system came into operation. The polite past form is useful for reporting that an event or process began after another event.
それなら それなら means “in that case” or “if so,” responding to the explanation about the reservation system. それ refers to the situation just mentioned, and なら frames it as the condition for the speaker’s next decision; it is useful when drawing a practical conclusion.
あなた あなた means “you,” referring to the person who has reserved the table. It is the person whose settling in is mentioned in あなたが落ち着く前に; in direct conversation, the person can also be identified by context without repeating this word.
落ち着く 落ち着く means “settle in” or “become comfortable” in あなたが落ち着く前に, referring to the other person getting established at the table. The dictionary-form verb before 前に describes an action that has not yet happened when the earlier action occurs.
前 前 means “before” in 落ち着く前に, marking the time before the other person settles in. The pattern verb plus 前に is useful for saying that one action should happen before another.
に に marks the time point in 落ち着く前に, meaning “before settling in.” In this expression, it follows 前 and helps connect the time relationship to the action 移動した.
私 私 means “I” or “me,” identifying the speaker as the person who should move. Here it is marked by が in 私が移動したほうがよさそうです, where the speaker presents their own movement as the preferable option.
移動した 移動した means “moved” in the recommendation 移動したほうがよさそうです. The past-form-looking element before ほうがよい is part of a pattern for recommending one course of action, not a report that the move has already happened.
ほう ほう presents 移動した as one option or course of action in 移動したほうがよさそうです. The pattern Xほうがよい or Xほうがよさそう is useful when recommending what seems preferable.
よさそう よさそう means “seems good” or “seems preferable” in 移動したほうがよさそうです, softening the recommendation. It expresses an impression rather than a forceful command and is useful when proposing a considerate choice.
です です is the polite sentence ending in よさそうです, giving the recommendation a courteous tone. It follows the description よさそう and is useful in polite conversation when presenting an assessment.
ね ね softens the statement よさそうですね and invites agreement or acknowledgment. It is useful when making a suggestion or assessment that the speaker expects the other person to consider with them.
通話 通話 means “call” in 通話を短く済ませて, referring to a phone or voice call. It is marked by を as the activity whose duration the speaker promises to keep short.
短く 短く means “briefly” or “in a short way” in 通話を短く済ませて, describing the call as limited in duration. This adverbial form is useful when describing an action carried out to a short extent.
済ませて 済ませて means “finish” or “get through” in 通話を短く済ませて, indicating that the call will be completed without taking long. It links the promise about the call to the condition 静かに話せるなら.
静かに 静かに means “quietly” in 静かに話せるなら, describing how the speaker can talk without making much noise. It modifies 話せる and is useful for stating the manner in which an action can be done.
話せる 話せる means “can speak” in 静かに話せるなら, expressing the ability to talk quietly. It is useful in a condition pattern where someone’s ability to do something determines whether an arrangement is acceptable.
なら なら means “if” or “assuming that” in 話せるなら, setting the ability to speak quietly as the condition. It follows the condition and introduces the permission expressed by いてもかまいません.
いて いて means “stay” or “be present” in ここにいてもかまいません, referring to remaining at the table. It is the て-form of the presence expression and links the action to もかまいません.
も も contributes to the conditional permission pattern いてもかまいません, meaning that staying is acceptable even under the stated condition. Here it does not simply mean “also”; with てもかまいません, it helps express that an action is allowed.
かまいません かまいません means “is fine” or “is acceptable” in いてもかまいません, giving polite permission to stay. The pattern Xてもかまいません is useful when saying that an action is permitted or causes no problem.
思った 思った means “thought” or “expected” in 思ったより長引く, referring to what had been expected about the call’s length. In the pattern Xより, it provides the standard for comparison.
より より means “than” in 思ったより長引く, comparing the actual length with what was expected. It commonly follows the reference point in a comparison before describing the result.
長引く 長引く means “run long” or “be prolonged” in 長引くかもしれない, referring to the call continuing longer than expected. It is useful for situations such as a meeting, discussion, or call that takes more time than planned.
かもしれない かもしれない means “might” or “may” in 長引くかもしれない, showing uncertainty about whether the call will run long. かも contributes the possibility and しれない completes the expression; it is a common way to make a cautious prediction.
公平 公平 means “fair” or “equitable” in 移動したほうが公平だと思います, describing the move as fair to both people. It is useful when evaluating an arrangement or decision in relation to the people affected.
思います 思います means “I think” in 公平だと思います, presenting the speaker’s judgment that moving is fair. It follows the statement being evaluated and is useful for expressing an opinion politely.
プレゼンテーション プレゼンテーション means “presentation,” the material the speaker needs to record. It is the noun that is recorded in プレゼンテーションを録音する, so it is marked by を.
録音 録音 means “audio recording” or “recording sound” in プレゼンテーションを録音する. It identifies the recording activity and commonly combines with する to describe making an audio recording.
する する means “do” in 録音する, where it turns 録音 into the action of making a recording. The pattern noun plus する is useful for describing activities formed from nouns such as 録音.
ある ある completes プレゼンテーションを録音する必要がある and helps express that the need to record exists. In the pattern X必要がある, it is used to state that someone needs to do X; here X is the exact action 録音する.
そう そう means “so” or “that way” in そうしてもらえると助かります, referring back to the other person moving. It points to the action just discussed and is useful for referring to an agreed or understood way of doing something.
して して means “do so” in そうしてもらえると助かります, linking the referred-to action with receiving the favor. It preserves the action represented by そう and connects it to もらえる.
もらえる もらえる means “can receive the favor of someone doing something” in そうしてもらえると助かります. With して, the pattern してもらえる describes benefiting from another person’s action; here the action is the other person moving.
助かります 助かります means “that would help” or “I would appreciate it” in そうしてもらえると助かります. The expression is useful when politely acknowledging that someone’s cooperation will make a situation easier.
話し声 話し声 means “speaking voice” or “voices while speaking” in 話し声が周りの邪魔になりにくい. It identifies the sound that is less likely to disturb nearby people, and it is marked by が as the thing being evaluated.
周り 周り means “the surroundings” or “people nearby” in 周りの邪魔, referring to those around the speaker in the workspace. It is linked to 邪魔 by の and is useful when describing effects on nearby people or the surrounding area.
邪魔 邪魔 means “disturbance” or “obstruction” in 周りの邪魔になりにくい, describing the effect of speaking on nearby people. The pattern Xの邪魔になる means that X becomes a hindrance or disturbance to someone.
なりにくい なりにくい means “less likely to become” or “less likely to cause” in 邪魔になりにくい, indicating that the speaking voice is unlikely to disturb people nearby. The pattern Xになりにくい is useful for describing something that does not easily produce a particular result.
ラウンジエリア ラウンジエリア means “lounge area,” the alternative place the speaker chooses for the call. It is the object of 選びます and can be used when identifying a particular area within a shared facility.
選びます 選びます means “choose” in ラウンジエリアを選びます, describing the speaker’s decision about where to go. It takes the selected place as its object with を and is useful when politely stating a choice.

Grammar Points

思ったより～

通話は思ったより長引く。

TSOO-wah wah oh-MOHT-tah YOH-ree nah-gah-HEE-koo.

The call runs longer than expected.

より compares the actual result with what was expected. 思ったより means “than expected.”

～にくい

話し声が邪魔になりにくい。

hah-nah-shee-GOH-eh gah JAH-mah nee nah-ree-nee-KOO-ee.

Speaking voices are less likely to be a disturbance.

にくい attaches to a verb stem and means something is difficult or unlikely to happen.

Japanese Vocabulary

それなら conj
soh-reh nah-RAH in that case
テーブル noun
TEE-boo-roo table
何人か pron
NAHN-neen-kah several people
気づいていませんでした verb
kee-ZOO-ee-teh ee-mah-SEN-deh-SHEE-tah had not realized
言った verb
EET-tah said; complained
混雑 noun
KON-zah-tsu crowding
仕組み noun
shee-KOO-mee system
場所 noun
bah-SHOH place
静かな adj
shee-ZOO-kah-nah quiet
必要 adj
hee-tsu-YOH necessary
不満 noun
foo-MAHN complaint; dissatisfaction
予約 noun
yoh-YAH-koo reservation

Quiz

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

had not realized

Show Answer気づいていませんでした

table

Show Answerテーブル

in that case

Show Answerそれなら

quiet

Show Answer静かな