Describing a Possible Heating Problem | Learn Japanese in English

Japanese lesson set in a contemporary Tokyo everyday setting: At home, a tenant describes a heating problem and discusses whether a technician will need access to different rooms..

EN → JA / Level: B2

About This Lesson

Use Describing a Possible Heating Problem to practice Japanese conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

A

暖房はつくのですが、部屋がいつまでたっても快適になりません。

dahn-BOH wa tsoo-KOO no dess-GAH, heh-YAH gah ee-tsoo-MAH-deh taht-teh-MOH kai-TEH-kee nee nah-REE-mah-sen. The heating switches on, but the room never becomes comfortable.
B

サーモスタットは動いていても、ラジエーターのバルブが固まったままかもしれません。

saa-MOH-suh-TAHT-toh wa oo-GOH-ee-teh-ee-teh-moh, rah-jee-eh-TAH-toh no bah-roo-BOO gah kah-TAH-maht-tah MAH-mah kah-mo-shee-REH-mah-sen. The thermostat may be working, while the radiator valve remains stuck.
A

その可能性も考えましたが、壁の近くではパイプが温かく感じられるからです。

soh-noh kah-NOH-seh-ee moh kahn-gah-EH-mah-shee-tah gah, KAH-beh noh CHEE-kah-koo deh-WAH PIE-poo gah ah-tah-TAH-kah-koo kahn-jee-rah-REH-roo KAH-rah dess. I wondered about that, because the pipe feels warm near the wall.
B

それなら、問題は電源ではなく、おそらく循環ですね。

soh-reh-NAH-rah, mon-DAI wa DEN-gen deh-WAH nah-koo, oh-soh-RAH-koo joon-KAHN dess-NEH. Then the problem is probably circulation rather than power.
A

技術者は、すべての部屋に入らずに確認できますか。

gee-joot-soo-SHAH wa soo-beh-TEH noh heh-YAH nee ee-rah-zoo-nee kah-koo-NIN deh-kee-MAHSS kah? Could a technician check it without entering every room?
B

アパート全体の温度を比べるために、各部屋に入れる必要があるかもしれません。

ah-PAH-toh ZEN-tai noh on-DOH oh koo-RAH-beh-roo tah-meh-nee, kah-koo heh-YAH nee ee-REH-roo nee-shoo-OH gah ah-roo kah-mo-shee-REH-mah-sen. They may need access to compare temperatures across the apartment.
A

十分な時間をあけて知らせてくれるなら、手配できます。

joo-BOON nah JEE-kahn oh ah-keh-TEH shee-rah-SEH-teh koo-reh-ROO nah-rah, teh-HAI deh-kee-MAHSS. I can arrange that if they give reasonable notice.
B

確認する前に、はっきりした時間帯を指定してもらうようお願いすべきです。

kah-koo-NIN soo-roo MAH-eh nee, hahk-kee-REE shee-tah JEE-kahn-tai oh shee-teh-EE shee-teh moh-RAH-oo yooh oh-neh-GAI soo-BEH-kee dess. We should request a clear time window before we confirm.

Word by Word

暖房 暖房 means the heating system in this dialogue. It is the topic in 暖房はつく, and the same word is useful for describing whether heating is operating at home.
は In 暖房はつく, は marks 暖房 as the topic: as for the heating, it comes on. This pattern is reusable when stating what happens with a particular system or object.
つく つく means come on or switch on here, referring to the heating starting to operate. A useful pattern is 電気がつく for a light coming on, while 暖房はつく describes heating.
の In つくのですが, の gives the preceding situation an explanatory tone before the speaker adds a qualification. Together with です and が, it helps present the fact that the heating comes on before explaining the problem.
です In つくのですが, です is the polite part of the explanatory expression つくのです. It makes the explanation polite before the contrast introduced by が.
が Here が means but and connects the fact that the heating comes on with the contrasting problem that the room does not become comfortable. This is a common way to soften a contrast in a polite explanation.
部屋 部屋 means room, specifically the room whose comfort is being discussed. 部屋が快適になる is a reusable pattern for saying that a room becomes comfortable.
いつまでたっても いつまでたっても means no matter how long it takes or even after waiting indefinitely, with the following result still not occurring. In this expression, いつまで asks how long, たって comes from time passing, and も adds the sense of even or regardless of that duration. It is useful when emphasizing that an expected change still has not happened.
快適 快適 means comfortable in this dialogue, describing the condition the room fails to reach. It commonly appears before になる, as in 快適になる for becoming comfortable.
に In 快適になりません, に marks 快適 as the result or state that the room does not become. This result pattern is also used with other conditions before なる.
なりません なりません means does not become in the polite negative form used here. In 快適になりません, it says that the room never reaches a comfortable condition.
サーモスタット サーモスタット means thermostat, the device being considered as a possible working part of the heating system. It can be used as the topic when discussing whether the thermostat is operating.
動いていても 動いていても means even if or even while it is operating, referring to the thermostat. 動いていて expresses an ongoing operating state, and も adds the concessive meaning even. This form is useful when one condition does not rule out another problem.
ラジエーター ラジエーター means radiator, the heating unit whose valve may be stuck. It commonly appears before の when identifying a part belonging to or associated with the radiator.
バルブ バルブ means valve in the heating-system context. Here it is the component described as remaining stuck, so it is the subject of the problem being considered.
固まった 固まった describes the valve as having become stuck or fixed in place. It is the form used before まま to show that this resulting state continues.
まま まま means remaining in the same state, so 固まったまま says that the valve stays stuck. This pattern is useful after a state description when that state has not changed.
かもしれません かもしれません expresses a polite possibility: the valve may still be stuck. In this construction, かも is the possibility part and しれません completes the polite expression. It is useful when offering a diagnosis without claiming certainty.
その その refers to the possibility just mentioned, namely the suggested valve problem. It is placed before a noun in その可能性 to point back to an already discussed matter.
可能性 可能性 means possibility, here referring to the possibility that the valve is stuck. その可能性も考えました is a useful pattern for saying that one has also considered a particular possibility.
も In その可能性も考えました, も means also, showing that the speaker considered that possibility as well. It can be attached to a noun when adding another item to the discussion.
考えました 考えました means considered or thought about in this polite past form. With その可能性も, it reports that the speaker had already considered the mentioned possibility.
壁 壁 means wall, used here as the reference point for where the pipe feels warm. 壁の近く is a reusable expression for near the wall.
近く 近く means near or nearby here, referring to the area close to the wall. In 壁の近く, it forms a location phrase with の and can be followed by a location particle such as で.
で In 壁の近くでは, で marks the place where the warmth is perceived. With は, the phrase specifically sets the area near the wall as the relevant location for the observation.
パイプ パイプ means pipe, the part whose warmth provides evidence in the explanation. It is the subject of パイプが温かく感じられる.
温かく 温かく means warm in the form used before 感じられる. It describes the perceived temperature of the pipe rather than an action performed warmly.
感じられる 感じられる means can be felt or is perceptible here, reporting that warmth can be sensed from the pipe. This form is useful when describing a physical sensation without presenting it as a deliberate action.
から から introduces the reason for the speaker's earlier consideration: the pipe feels warm near the wall. It commonly follows the reason clause before a polite ending such as です.
それ それ refers to the matter just described, especially the warm pipe observation. It is then used with なら to mean if that is the case or then.
なら それなら means if that is so or then, using the previous information as the basis for the next conclusion. This is useful when responding to an explanation or newly supplied fact.
問題 問題 means problem, referring to the source of the heating difficulty. 問題は followed by a diagnosis is a reusable way to state what the issue is.
電源 電源 means power supply or electrical power in this technical context. 電源ではなく identifies power as the cause that is being ruled out.
なく なく is the linking negative form used in 電源ではなく, meaning not being or not the case before the alternative 循環. The complete pattern 電源ではなく循環 means not power but circulation.
おそらく おそらく means probably and marks the diagnosis as likely rather than certain. It is useful before a noun or statement when giving a cautious conclusion.
循環 循環 means circulation here, referring to the movement of the heating system's fluid or heat. It is contrasted with 電源 in the pattern 電源ではなく、循環.
ね ね seeks confirmation or shared understanding at the end of the diagnosis. In 循環ですね, it makes the conclusion sound like a check with the listener rather than a forceful assertion.
技術者 技術者 means technician, the person who may inspect the heating system. It is the subject of the question about whether an inspection can be done without entering every room.
すべて すべて means all or every in this dialogue. Before の, as in すべての部屋, it refers to all the rooms as a group.
入らず 入らず means without entering in this written connective form. It links the condition of not entering every room to the question about whether the technician can still check the system.
確認 確認 means checking or verifying here, referring to the technician's inspection. In 確認できますか, it forms a polite question about whether the inspection is possible.
できます できます means can do or can check in this context, and its object is the inspection expressed by 確認. 確認できますか is a useful polite pattern for asking whether something can be checked.
か か marks the sentence as a question in 確認できますか. It is placed at the end of this polite question about possibility.
アパート アパート means apartment, the whole residence whose room temperatures are being compared. It is modified by 全体の in アパート全体の温度.
全体 全体 means the whole or entire area. In アパート全体, it expands the reference from one room to the apartment as a whole.
温度 温度 means temperature, the measurement the technician needs to compare. 温度を比べる is a reusable pattern for comparing temperatures.
を In 温度を比べる, を marks 温度 as the object being compared. This is the standard object pattern with 比べる.
比べる 比べる means compare, referring to comparing temperatures in different parts of the apartment. A useful pattern is AとBを比べる when naming the things being compared.
ため In 比べるために, ため expresses purpose: in order to compare the temperatures. The pattern verb plus ために is useful for stating the purpose of an action.
各部屋 各部屋 means each room, emphasizing the rooms individually rather than only the apartment as a whole. It is followed by 入れる to describe access to each room.
入れる 入れる means be able to enter here, referring to whether the technician can enter each room. In 各部屋に入れる, に marks the rooms as the destinations of entry.
必要 必要 means necessary or needed in this dialogue. In 必要がある, it forms the common expression that there is a need to do something.
ある ある means exist or there is here, so 必要がある says that a need exists. It is commonly used after a noun to state that something is present or required.
十分快 The dialogue form is 十分, meaning sufficient or reasonable, as in 十分な時間. Here it describes enough advance time for notice. It can be reused before a noun with な when saying that something is sufficient.
な In 十分な時間, な links the descriptive word 十分 to the noun 時間. This linking form is used when such a description directly modifies a noun.
時間 時間 means time, here referring to the amount of advance time given before the visit. 十分な時間をあけて is a useful pattern for leaving enough time.
あけて あけて means leave an interval or allow time to pass before an event. In 十分な時間をあけて知らせて, it describes giving advance notice with enough time beforehand.
知らせて 知らせて means let someone know or inform someone in this context. The pattern 時間をあけて知らせて describes informing the speaker with advance notice.
くれる くれる shows that the other person does the informing as a favor or for the speaker's benefit. In 知らせてくれる, it gives the request a personal sense of someone letting the speaker know.
手配 手配 means arrangement, referring to arranging access or the technician's visit. 手配できます is a useful polite expression for saying that the speaker can make the necessary arrangements.
する する means do or make in 確認する, so the phrase means confirm. This noun plus する pattern is commonly used to turn an action-related noun such as 確認 into a verb.
前 前 means before in 確認する前に, placing one action earlier than another. The pattern verb plain form plus 前に is useful for saying before doing something.
はっきり はっきり means clearly or distinctly, describing a time window that is definite rather than vague. It commonly appears before した to form a description such as はっきりした時間帯.
した In はっきりした時間帯, した helps form a description meaning clearly defined or definite. It modifies 時間帯 and presents the requested time window as settled and unambiguous.
時間帯 時間帯 means a time window or period during which something can happen. In a practical request, a clear time window helps the resident know when to expect the technician.
指定して 指定して means specify or designate in the connective form used before もらう. Here it describes asking the other party to set a definite time window.
もらう もらう means receive, but in 指定してもらう it expresses having someone perform the action for the speaker. This pattern is useful when arranging for another person to do something.
よう In 指定してもらうようお願いする, よう introduces the requested outcome: asking that the other party specify a time window. This pattern is useful for politely framing a request about someone else's action.
お願い お願い means request here, as part of the expression 指定してもらうようお願いする. It is used when asking someone to carry out a specific action politely.
すべき すべき means should or ought to, expressing a recommendation about what the speakers need to do before confirming. It follows the action phrase in 指定してもらうようお願いすべきです.

Grammar Points

〜ずに

技術者は各部屋に入らずに、問題を確認できます。

gee-joot-soo-SHAH wa kah-koo heh-YAH nee ee-rah-zoo-nee, mon-DAI oh kah-koo-NIN deh-kee-MAHSS.

The technician can check the problem without entering each room.

〜ずに means “without doing.” It is a formal alternative to 〜ないで and connects to the verb stem.

〜かもしれません

バルブが固まったままかもしれません。

bah-roo-BOO gah kah-TAH-maht-tah MAH-mah kah-mo-shee-REH-mah-sen.

The valve might remain stuck.

〜かもしれません expresses possibility or uncertainty. It follows the plain form of a verb, adjective, or noun.

Japanese Vocabulary

いつまでたっても adv
ee-tsoo-MAH-deh taht-teh-MOH no matter how long; ever
サーモスタット noun
saa-MOH-suh-TAHT-toh thermostat
つく verb
tsoo-KOO turn on; come on
バルブ noun
bah-roo-BOO valve
ラジエーター noun
rah-jee-eh-TAH radiator
可能性 noun
kah-NOH-seh-ee possibility
快適 adj
kai-TEH-kee comfortable 快適に
固まったまま phrase
kah-TAH-maht-tah MAH-mah remaining stuck
固まる verb
kah-tah-MAH-roo become stuck; harden 固まった
考える verb
kahn-gah-EH-roo think about; consider 考えました
暖房 noun
dahn-BOH heating
動く verb
oo-GOH-koo work; function 動いていても

Quiz

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

radiator

Show Answerラジエーター

no matter how long; ever

Show Answerいつまでたっても

thermostat

Show Answerサーモスタット

become stuck; harden

Show Answer固まった