Troubleshooting a Printer Problem | Learn Japanese in English

Sentence explanations

1. 対応している形式なのに、プリンターが何度も私のファイルを拒否します。

   The printer keeps rejecting my file, although the format is supported.

   対応している

   is supported; is compatible

   形式

   format

   なのに

   although; even though

   プリンター

   printer

   何度も

   repeatedly; again and again

   私のファイル

   my file

   拒否します

   rejects; refuses

   More detail

   対応している comes from 対応する, “to support” or “to be compatible with.” The -ている form can describe an ongoing state or a resulting state; here it presents the format as currently supported. Example: この機種に対応している means “is compatible with this model.” 形式 means “format.” In 対応している形式, the clause before the noun modifies it: “a format that is supported.” Japanese commonly places this kind of modifying clause directly before the noun. なのに means “although” or “even though.” After a noun or a noun-like predicate, な connects the predicate to のに; the whole form marks a contrast between the supported format and the result that follows. It is stronger than simply listing two facts because the second situation is unexpected in view of the first. プリンター is the loanword “printer.” It is the explicit subject of the following clause here. 何度も means “repeatedly” or “many times.” 度 counts occurrences, and も adds the sense that the action happens again and again. It combines naturally with an action that recurs: 何度も試しました means “I tried many times.” 私のファイル means “my file.” 私の marks the file as associated with the speaker; の links the noun 私 to the noun ファイル. Japanese possessive phrases have the pattern [possessor] の [noun]. 拒否します comes from 拒否する, “to reject” or “to refuse.” します is the polite nonpast form of する; here, with 何度も, the nonpast form describes the printer’s repeated behavior: it keeps rejecting the file. The verb is not an imperative or a statement that someone should refuse. Together, 対応している形式なのに means “although the format is supported.” Then プリンターが identifies the printer as the subject, 何度も shows repeated action, and 私のファイルを拒否します means “rejects my file,” with を marking the file as the object. The whole utterance is therefore: “The printer keeps rejecting my file, although the format is supported.”

2. その文書に大きすぎる画像が含まれていないか確認しましたか。

   Have you checked whether the document contains oversized images?

   その

   that

   文書

   document

   大きすぎる

   too large; oversized

   画像

   image

   含まれていないか

   whether it is included

   確認しましたか

   have you checked

   More detail

   その points to a specific but not otherwise identified item in this utterance. It is a demonstrative modifier placed before the noun it describes; その文書 means “that document.” Japanese demonstratives do not mark grammatical gender or plural number here. 文書 is a noun meaning “document.” In その文書に, に marks the document as the place or container in which something may be included. The noun itself does not change form for this role. 大きすぎる describes 画像 as excessively large. It is built from 大きい (“large”) plus すぎる (“too much; excessively”): 大きい → 大きすぎる. The comparison is with an appropriate acceptable size, not simply with another named object. For example, この箱は大きすぎる。 means “This box is too large.” 画像 is the noun “image.” In this sentence it is the thing whose possible inclusion in the document is being checked. A useful related noun is 写真 (“photograph”), but 画像 is broader and can include diagrams or other digital images. 含まれていないか asks whether something is included or contained. The observed form is based on 含まれる (“be included; be contained”), with 〜ている showing the resulting state, ない making that state negative, and か marking the embedded question: 含まれる → 含まれている → 含まれていない → 含まれていないか. The pattern 〜ないか確認する is commonly used when checking for a possible condition, so here it checks for the possible presence of oversized images in the document. For example, 誤りがないか確認してください。 means “Please check whether there are any errors.” 確認しましたか means “have you checked?” It is the polite past question form of 確認する (“check; confirm”): 確認する → 確認しました → 確認しましたか. The past form presents the checking as an action that may already have been completed. For example, 設定を確認しましたか。 means “Did you check the settings?” Together, その文書に sets the document as the container, 大きすぎる画像が identifies oversized images as the possible included items, and 含まれていないか確認しましたか asks whether the listener checked that condition. Following the fixed translation, the whole utterance means: “Have you checked whether the document contains oversized images?”

3. その可能性はあります。プレゼン資料に詳しいグラフがいくつか入っているからです。

   That is possible, since the presentation includes several detailed charts.

   その可能性

   that possibility

   あります

   exists; is possible

   プレゼン資料

   presentation materials

   詳しい

   detailed

   グラフ

   chart; graph

   いくつか

   several

   入っている

   is included

   からです

   because

   More detail

   その可能性 means “that possibility.” その is a demonstrative used for something identified by the context, while 可能性 is “possibility” or “likelihood.” In this utterance, it refers to the possibility under discussion, as reflected by the fixed translation. A useful pattern is その + noun: for example, その方法 means “that method.” あります is the polite nonpast form of ある, used for existence or presence. With 可能性, it expresses that a possibility exists, naturally translated here as “is possible.” The polite form is suitable for a neutral, respectful explanation. ある can also describe the presence of concrete things, as in 机の上に本があります (“There is a book on the desk”). プレゼン資料 means “presentation materials.” プレゼン is a shortened form used for “presentation,” and 資料 means materials or documents prepared for reference or presentation. Together, this compound identifies the presentation material as the relevant container or document. 詳しい means “detailed” or “having a lot of detail.” It is an adjective in its basic form, and here it describes グラフ. Its negative form is 詳しくない, “not detailed.” Example: 詳しい説明が必要です。 — “A detailed explanation is needed.” グラフ means “chart” or “graph.” It is a noun, and in this sentence it is the thing that is included in the presentation materials. Example: このグラフは分かりやすいです。 — “This chart is easy to understand.” いくつか means “several” or “some,” indicating multiple items without stating an exact number. It is a quantity expression, not part of the noun グラフ; いくつかのグラフ would explicitly mean “several charts.” Example: いくつか質問があります。 — “I have several questions.” 入っている comes from 入る, “to enter” or “to go in.” The ている form here describes a resulting state: the charts are in, or are included in, the presentation materials. It does not mean that the charts are currently moving into them. Example: ファイルに画像が入っています。 — “The file contains an image.” からです gives the reason and is naturally translated as “because.” から marks the reason, and です makes the ending polite. Here it follows the statement about the charts being included, so the reason is presented after the conclusion. Example: 時間がないからです。 — “It is because there is no time.” As a whole, その可能性はあります states that the possibility is real. プレゼン資料に詳しいグラフがいくつか入っている says that several detailed charts are included in the presentation materials, and からです connects that fact as the reason. Together: “That is possible, since the presentation includes several detailed charts.”

4. 画像を圧縮すれば、見た目の品質を損なわずに解決できるかもしれません。

   Compressing them may help without damaging the visual quality.

   画像

   image; images

   圧縮すれば

   if compressed; by compressing

   見た目

   appearance

   品質

   quality

   損なわずに

   without damaging

   解決できる

   can resolve; can be solved

   かもしれません

   may; might

   More detail

   画像 means “image” or “images.” Japanese nouns do not normally mark singular versus plural, so this form can cover either. Here, the fixed translation presents it as the item or items referred to by “them.” The particle を marks 画像 as the object of 圧縮する. 圧縮すれば comes from 圧縮する (“to compress”). The -ば form presents a condition: “if [someone] compresses” or, naturally here, “by compressing.” The actor is not stated in this sentence. A reusable pattern is Aを圧縮すれば、B = “If one compresses A, B.” 見た目 means “appearance” or “how something looks.” It is a noun formed from 見た (“looked” or “seen”) and 目 in the sense of an aspect or appearance. For example, 見た目が変わる means “the appearance changes.” 品質 means “quality.” In 見た目の品質, the particle の links the two nouns, giving “visual quality” or “the quality of how it looks.” The modifier 見た目の comes before the noun it describes. 損なわずに comes from the transitive verb 損なう, “to damage” or “to impair.” Its negative -ずに form means “without doing,” so 品質を損なわずに means “without damaging the quality.” The particle を marks 品質 as what would be impaired. A reusable pattern is Aを損なわずにB = “do B without impairing A.” 解決できる is the potential form of 解決する (“to solve” or “to resolve”). It expresses ability or feasibility: “can resolve” or “can be resolved” in a natural English rendering. The Japanese form itself is a potential form, not a passive form. For example, この方法で問題を解決できる means “We can solve the problem with this method.” かもしれません adds uncertain possibility: “may” or “might.” The more casual form is かもしれない, while かもしれません is polite. It applies to the preceding proposition, so the sentence presents resolution as possible rather than certain. Together, 画像を圧縮すれば gives the proposed condition or method, 見た目の品質を損なわずに says that this occurs without harming visual quality, and 解決できるかもしれません says that resolution may be possible. The complete meaning is: “Compressing them may help without damaging the visual quality.”

5. プレゼン資料全体を作り直すより、その方法のほうがいいです。

   I would prefer that to rebuilding the entire deck.

   プレゼン資料

   presentation materials; deck

   全体

   whole; entire

   作り直す

   to remake; rebuild

   より

   than; rather than

   その方法

   that method

   ほうがいいです

   it is better to; would prefer

   More detail

   プレゼン資料 means presentation materials or a presentation deck. It is a compound noun: プレゼン is a shortened loanword for “presentation,” and 資料 means materials or documents. In this sentence, the compound identifies the deck being discussed. 全体 means the whole or entirety. With プレゼン資料, プレゼン資料全体 means “the entire presentation deck.” The following を marks that entire deck as the object of 作り直す. 作り直す means “to remake” or “to rebuild.” Its base verb is 作る (“make”); adding 直す after a verb creates the useful pattern “do that action again/correctly,” so 作り直す is “make again.” Here it is in the plain non-past form because it appears before より in a comparison. Example: 資料を作り直します。 — “I will remake the materials.” より marks the option used as the comparison standard. In プレゼン資料全体を作り直すより, it means “rather than remaking the entire deck” or “compared with remaking the entire deck.” A reusable pattern is AよりBのほうがいいです — “B is better than A.” その方法 means “that method” or “that way.” その is a demonstrative modifier, and 方法 means “method” or “way.” In this utterance, the fixed translation identifies this method as the preferred alternative to rebuilding the deck; the demonstrative’s grammatical form itself does not specify a particular noun’s gender or number. ほうがいいです is the polite pattern for saying that one option is preferable: literally, “the other side/option is good,” but naturally “it is better to” or “I would prefer.” The comparison structure is AよりBのほうがいいです: A is the less-preferred alternative and B is the preferred one. Here その方法のほうがいいです makes “that method” the preferred option. です gives the statement a polite style. Together, プレゼン資料全体を作り直すより sets up the alternative “rather than rebuilding the entire presentation deck,” and その方法のほうがいいです says that the method already indicated by その方法 is preferable. The complete meaning is: “I would prefer that to rebuilding the entire deck.”

6. 共有フォルダーを通して送ってください。

   Send it through the shared folder.

   共有フォルダー

   shared folder

   を通して

   through; via

   送ってください

   please send

   More detail

   共有フォルダー means “shared folder.” It is a compound noun: 共有 means “sharing/shared,” and フォルダー is “folder.” The noun is not marked as the destination here; the following particle を marks it as the object of the 通して construction. を通して means “through” or “via.” The dictionary form is 通す; 通して is its て-form. With a medium or route, Xを通して expresses doing something via X: 会社を通して申し込みます。 means “I apply through the company.” Here, the shared folder is the route used for sending. 送ってください means “please send.” The lexical verb is 送る, “to send,” and 送って is its て-form. Adding ください to a verb’s て-form makes a polite request: 確認してください。 means “Please check.” This is a request, not a statement that the sending has already happened. The object is omitted in Japanese; the fixed translation supplies “it,” referring to the item being sent. Together, 共有フォルダーを通して sets the route, and 送ってください politely requests the sending action. The whole utterance therefore means: “Send it through the shared folder.”

7. 私のアカウントからそのファイルをテストできます。

   I can test it from my account.

   私の

   my

   アカウント

   account

   から

   from

   その

   that

   ファイル

   file

   テストできます

   can test

   More detail

   私の means “my” here. 私 is the first-person pronoun “I,” and の links it to the following noun: 私のアカウント means “my account.” This pattern is reusable with other nouns, such as 私のファイル (“my file”). The form 私の does not change for the possessor’s gender or number. アカウント is the noun “account,” written as a loanword. In this sentence it is the account associated with the speaker; the possessive relation is supplied by 私の. から marks a starting point or source. With 私のアカウントから, it means “from my account.” It can also mark a starting time or place in other sentences, but here the relevant relation is the source of the action. その is an attributive demonstrative meaning “that” or, in context, “the.” It comes directly before ファイル and identifies the file intended by the fixed translation’s “it.” Japanese demonstratives such as この (“this”) and その (“that/the one already identified”) are used before a noun in this position. ファイル is the noun “file.” Together with その, そのファイル means “that file” or “the file.” テストできます expresses “can test.” The useful pattern is noun + できる; テストできる means “be able to test,” and テストできます is its polite nonpast form. できます is the polite form of できる, while the politeness marking does not itself specify past time. For example, このファイルをテストできます。 means “I can test this file.” The object marker を in そのファイルを marks the file as what is tested. The source phrase 私のアカウントから gives the account from which the testing can be done, and テストできます states the speaker’s ability or possibility. In source order, these parts combine as “I can test that file from my account,” rendered by the fixed translation as “I can test it from my account.”

8. それなら、設定を手当たり次第に試さずに済みます。

   That saves me from guessing at random settings.

   それなら

   in that case

   設定

   settings

   手当たり次第に

   at random

   試さずに済みます

   can avoid trying

   More detail

   それなら means “if that is the case” or “then, in that case.” It links the sentence to an understood situation and presents the result that follows. Example: それなら、行きましょう。 — “In that case, let’s go.” 設定 is a noun meaning “setting” or “configuration.” In this sentence, it refers to settings that could be tried while working out the correct configuration. The same word can be used for device, software, or account settings. 手当たり次第に is an adverbial expression meaning “at random” or “indiscriminately,” with the idea of trying whatever is available without a selective plan. It modifies 試す, so it describes the manner of trying the settings. Example: 手当たり次第に調べる — “to investigate everything indiscriminately.” 試さずに済みます uses 試す, “to try” or “test,” in the negative form 試さず, followed by に済む. The pattern V-ずに済む means “manage without doing V” or “be spared having to do V.” Here, 試さずに済みます means “can avoid trying.” ず is a negative form; 試さずに is similar in meaning to the more conversational 試さないで. 済みます is the polite nonpast form of 済む, and in this construction it expresses that the unwanted action is unnecessary rather than that something simply finishes. Example: 予約せずに済みました。 — “I was able to manage without making a reservation.” The structure is それなら + 設定を + 手当たり次第に + 試さずに済みます: “If that is the case, [I] can avoid trying settings at random.” 設定を marks 設定 as what is tried, while 手当たり次第に describes how someone would try them. The fixed translation naturally expresses this as “That saves me from guessing at random settings.”

9. うまく印刷できたら、ほかの人のために解決方法を記録しましょう。

   Once it prints, we should document the fix for others.

   うまく

   successfully

   印刷

   printing

   できたら

   once it works

   ほか

   other

   人

   person; people

   ために

   for; for the benefit of

   解決方法

   fix; solution

   記録しましょう

   let’s document

   More detail

   うまく means “well” or “successfully” here. It is an adverb describing how the printing succeeds. For example, うまくできました。 means “It worked well.” 印刷 means “printing” and is a noun that also combines with する to form 印刷する, “to print.” Here it combines with できる in 印刷できる, meaning “be able to print” or “printing works.” For example, このプリンターで印刷できます。 means “You can print with this printer.” できたら is できた, the past form of できる, plus ら. This form expresses a condition or a time point, such as “if it works” or “when it works.” With うまく印刷, it means “once printing has worked successfully.” The same pattern appears in 終わったら、教えてください。, “When it is finished, please tell me.” ほか means “other” or “another.” In ほかの人, の links it to the following noun, producing “other people.” 人 means “person.” In ほかの人, it is understood as “people”; Japanese does not add a separate plural ending here. The exact number is supplied by context rather than by the form 人 itself. ために expresses purpose or benefit: “for” or “for the sake of.” In ほかの人のために, it marks the people who benefit from the documentation. A reusable pattern is 勉強のために記録します。, “I record it for study.” 解決方法 is a compound meaning “solution method” or, naturally here, “fix.” 解決 concerns resolving a problem, while 方法 means “method” or “way.” Together, they refer to a way to solve the problem. For example, 解決方法を考えます。 means “I will think of a solution.” 記録しましょう comes from 記録する, “to record” or “document.” Its polite volitional form is 記録し + ましょう. This form proposes the action jointly, giving “let’s document” or, in the fixed translation, “we should document.” A similar example is 手順を記録しましょう。, “Let’s document the procedure.” The sentence first sets the condition or time point うまく印刷できたら, “once the printing has worked successfully.” It then gives the benefit ほかの人のために, “for other people,” and the proposed action 解決方法を記録しましょう, “let’s document the fix.” Taken together: “Once it prints, we should document the fix for others.”