About This Lesson
Use Verifying an Unexpected Maintenance Visitor to practice Japanese conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.
Dialogue
A
先ほど誰かがノックして、換気設備を点検しに来たと言いました。
sah-KI-hoh-doh dah-reh-KAH gah NOK-koo shee-TEH, kahn-kee seh-BEE-oh ten-KEN shee-nee KEE-tah toh ee-ee-mah-SHEE-tah. Someone knocked earlier and said they were here to inspect the ventilation.
B
メンテナンスの訪問は、通常、建物のシステムを通じて事前に通知されます。
men-teh-NAHN-soo noh HOH-mohn wah, tsoo-JOH, tah-teh-MOH-noh shee-soo-TEH-moo oh tsoo-JEE-teh jee-ZEN-nee too-CHHEE sah-reh-MAH-soo. Maintenance visits are usually announced through the building system.
A
それで用心して、中に入れませんでした。
soh-reh-DEH yoh-JEEN shee-TEH, nah-KAH-nee ee-reh-MAH-sen-deh-shee-TAH. That made me cautious, so I did not let them in.
B
それは正しい判断でした。まず、その人たちに入室許可があるか確認すべきです。
soh-REH wah tah-DAH-shee hahn-DAHN deh-shee-TAH. mah-ZOO, soh-noh hee-toh-TAH-chee nee nyoo-SHEET-soo kyoh-KAH gah AH-roo-kah kah-koo-NEEN soo-BEH-kee dehss. That was the right call. Their authorization to enter should be verified first.
A
点検が本当に予定されているか、確認していただけますか。
TEN-ken gah hohn-TOH-nee yoo-TEH sah-reh-TEH ee-roo kah, kah-koo-NEEN shee-TEH ee-tah-dah-keh-MAH-soo kah. Could you check whether an inspection is actually scheduled?
B
記録を確認して、あなたにポータルを通じてメッセージを送ります。
kee-ROH-koo oh kah-koo-NEEN shee-TEH, ah-nah-TAH nee POH-tah-roo oh tsoo-JEE-teh MES-seh-jee oh oh-koo-ree-MAH-soo. I will check the records and send you a message through the portal.
A
誰かがまた来る前に、知っておきたいです。
dah-reh-KAH gah mah-TAH KEE-roo MAH-eh nee, SHEET-teh oh-kee-TAH-ee dehss. I would rather know before anyone comes back.
B
確認が取れるまでは、来ると予想していた人でない限り、誰も中に入れないでください。
kah-koo-NEEN gah toh-REH-roo mah-TEH wah, KEE-roo toh yoo-SOH shee-TEH ee-TAH hee-toh deh-NAH-ee kah-GHEE-ree, dah-reh-MOH nah-KAH-nee ee-reh-NAH-ee deh KOO-dah-sah-ee. Until it is confirmed, do not let anyone in unless you were expecting them.Word by Word
先ほど
先ほど means “a short while ago” or “earlier,” referring here to the time when someone knocked. It is used before or near an event being reported, as in 先ほど誰かがノックして. Use it when politely referring to something that happened recently, such as a visitor arriving earlier.
誰か
誰か means “someone” in this dialogue. The か changes 誰 “who” into an indefinite person, and 誰かが marks that person as the subject of ノックして. Use 誰か when the person is unknown or does not need to be identified.
が
が marks 誰か as the subject of the action ノックして. In 誰かがノックして, it identifies who performed the action without necessarily making that person the main topic. A common pattern is person or thingが＋action.
ノック
ノック means “a knock” and is used here in the verb-like expression ノックして, “knocked and then…”. It is a loanword used with する, with the して form connecting this action to the next one. Use ノックする when describing knocking on a door.
して
して is the connecting form of する in ノックして, meaning “did and then” or “did, and…”. Here it links ノックする with the following action 言いました. Use this form to connect sequential actions, such as ドアを開けて入る, “open the door and enter.”
換気設備
換気設備 means “ventilation equipment” in this dialogue. It is the object marked by を in 換気設備を点検しに来た. Use it as a specific noun for equipment that provides or manages ventilation in a building.
を
を marks 換気設備 as the object of 点検する in 換気設備を点検しに来た. It shows what is being inspected. A common pattern is objectを＋transitive action.
点検
点検 means “inspection” or “checking,” specifically the checking of 換気設備 here. With する, 点検する means “to inspect,” as in 点検しに来た. Use it for checking equipment, facilities, or systems for proper condition.
しに
しに in 点検しに来た means “in order to inspect” or “to inspect.” It combines the し form of 点検する with に and is followed here by 来た, showing the purpose of coming. Use the pattern verb stem＋に来る for coming to do something.
来た
来た means “came” in the expression 点検しに来た, “came to inspect.” It describes the visitor’s arrival in the past. Use 来た after a purpose phrase when reporting that someone came to do an activity.
と
と marks the quoted content before 言いました in 点検しに来たと言いました. It shows what the person said: that they came to inspect the ventilation equipment. Use the pattern quoted statementと＋言う when reporting someone’s words.
言いました
言いました means “said” in this dialogue and reports the visitor’s statement. It is the polite past form used after the quoted content 点検しに来たと. Use it with と when politely reporting what someone said.
メンテナンス
メンテナンス means “maintenance” in メンテナンスの訪問. It refers here to building-related maintenance activity. Use it before の to describe a visit or activity connected with maintenance.
の
の links メンテナンス and 訪問 in メンテナンスの訪問, meaning “a maintenance visit.” Here it shows that the visit is related to maintenance. A common pattern is nounの＋noun for a relationship such as purpose, category, or connection.
訪問
訪問 means “visit,” especially a visit to a place or person. In メンテナンスの訪問, it refers to a maintenance-related visit. Use it with の to specify the purpose or type of visit, such as 会社への訪問 in a new example.
は
は marks メンテナンスの訪問 as the topic in メンテナンスの訪問は. The sentence then states what normally happens to those visits. Use は when setting the topic for a statement or comparison.
通常
通常 means “usually” or “normally” in 通常、建物のシステムを通じて事前に通知されます. It describes the standard procedure rather than this one unexpected visit. Use it when explaining a normal rule, process, or practice.
建物
建物 means “building” and modifies システム in 建物のシステム. It identifies the system as belonging to or being associated with the building. Use 建物 for a physical building in expressions such as 建物の入口, “the building’s entrance,” in a new example.
システム
システム means “system” in 建物のシステム. Here it is the channel through which maintenance visits are announced. Use it with の when identifying the system connected to an organization, building, or service.
通じて
通じて means “through” in 建物のシステムを通じて, indicating the channel used for notification. It follows the channel marked by を and connects it to the action 通知されます. Use the pattern means or channelを通じて＋action when something is done through that means.
事前
事前 means “in advance” or “beforehand” in 事前に通知されます. It indicates that the notification should happen before the maintenance visit. Use 事前に before an action when emphasizing preparation or advance notice.
に
に makes 事前 into the adverbial expression 事前に, “in advance.” In this sentence it shows when the notification occurs. Use に after certain nouns to mark the time or manner in which an action is carried out.
通知
通知 means “notification” or “notice” in 通知されます. It refers to informing residents about the maintenance visit. Use it with する for sending a notification or with される when the notification is received or carried out in a passive expression.
されます
されます completes 通知されます, meaning that the visit is “announced” or “notified.” In this sentence, the notification is presented as something done to the maintenance visits rather than by naming the person who sends it. Use it after a noun such as 通知 when describing a polite present or expected passive action.
それで
それで means “so” or “as a result” in それで用心して. It connects the unusual situation with the speaker’s cautious response. Use it at the start of a following clause when an earlier fact leads to a result.
用心
用心 means “caution” or “being careful” in 用心して. With する, 用心する means to take care or be cautious, and the して form connects it to the result 中に入れませんでした. Use 用心する when responding carefully to a possible risk.
中
中 means “inside” in 中に入れませんでした and 中に入れないでください. With に, it marks the inside as the destination or place of entering. Use 中に入る for entering inside and 中に入れる for letting someone inside.
入れませんでした
入れませんでした means “did not let [someone] in” in this dialogue. It is the polite past negative form used with 中に and refers to refusing entry to the unexpected visitors. Use it when politely reporting that you did not allow a person or thing to enter.
それ
それ means “that” in それは正しい判断でした. It points back to the action just described, namely not letting the visitors in. Use それ to refer to something already mentioned or understood from the conversation.
正しい
正しい means “right” or “correct” in 正しい判断, describing the decision as appropriate. It comes before 判断 to modify that noun. Use it when evaluating a decision, answer, method, or interpretation as correct.
判断
判断 means “judgment” or “decision” in 正しい判断. Here it refers to the choice not to let the unexpected visitors enter. Use 判断 when discussing a decision made after considering a situation or risk.
でした
でした means “was” in 正しい判断でした, giving the evaluation a polite past form. It states that the earlier action was the right decision. Use it after a noun or な-adjective when politely describing a past state or evaluation.
まず
まず means “first” or “as the first step” in まず、その人たちに入室許可があるか確認すべきです. It places verification before any decision to allow entry. Use it to introduce the first action in a procedure or sequence.
その
その means “those” or “that” before 人たち in その人たち. It refers to the visitors already mentioned in the conversation. Use その before a noun when pointing to something previously identified or understood by both speakers.
人たち
人たち means “those people” in その人たち. 人 refers to a person, and たち presents the referent as a group here. Use 人たち when referring to a particular group of people already known in the conversation.
入室許可
入室許可 means “permission to enter” in 入室許可があるか. It refers specifically to authorization to enter the speaker’s space or room. Use it with ある when asking whether someone has permission: 入室許可がある, “there is permission to enter.”
ある
ある means “exist” or “be available” in 入室許可があるか, so the phrase asks whether permission to enter exists. It is used for the existence or possession of a nonliving thing such as permission. Use nounがある when stating that a thing, approval, record, or option exists.
か
か marks the embedded question in 入室許可があるか and inquires whether the visitors have permission. It appears inside the larger sentence before 確認すべきです, rather than as a separate question ending. Use the pattern whether-clauseか＋確認する when checking if something is true.
確認
確認 means “confirmation” or “checking” in 入室許可があるか確認すべきです. It describes verifying the visitors’ authorization before allowing entry. Use it with する or a related form when checking records, schedules, permissions, or details.
すべき
すべき means “should” or “ought to” in 確認すべきです. It expresses that checking the authorization is the appropriate action. Use noun or verb-based expression＋すべきです to state a recommendation or duty when the action is clear.
です
です makes 確認すべきです polite and completes the statement that verification should be done. Here it gives a polite, firm recommendation. Use it after a noun or an expression such as すべき to form a polite statement.
本当に
本当に means “really” or “actually” in 本当に予定されているか. It emphasizes that the speaker wants to verify whether the inspection is genuinely scheduled. Use it before a predicate when checking the truth or reality of something.
予定
予定 means “schedule” or “plan” in 予定されている, referring to an inspection that has been scheduled. It is part of the expression 点検が本当に予定されているか. Use 予定 when talking about planned events, appointments, or arrangements.
されている
されている means “is scheduled” in 点検が本当に予定されているか. Together with 予定, it describes an existing scheduled arrangement, not merely the act of making a plan. Use nounが予定されている when checking whether an event has already been arranged.
いただけますか
いただけますか makes the request in 確認していただけますか polite: “Could you please check?” いただけます expresses the possibility of receiving the listener’s help, and か turns it into a question. Use it after a て-form, as in 新しい例の確認していただけますか, when politely asking someone to do something.
記録
記録 means “records” in 記録を確認します, referring to stored information about the inspection. It is marked by を as the thing being checked. Use 記録を確認する when verifying information in written, digital, or administrative records.
あなた
あなた means “you” in あなたにメッセージを送ります. The に marks the person who will receive the message. Use あなた when the listener needs to be identified as the recipient, though the person is often omitted when clear from context.
ポータル
ポータル means “portal,” here referring to the building’s online communication portal. In ポータルを通じて, it is the channel used to send the message. Use it with を通じて when explaining that communication happens through an online portal.
メッセージ
メッセージ means “message” in あなたにメッセージを送ります. It is the item being sent, marked by を. Use メッセージを送る when sending someone a written or digital message.
送ります
送ります means “will send” in メッセージを送ります. It states the speaker’s polite intention to send the message through the portal. Use it with a recipient marked by に and the item marked by を, as in 人にメッセージを送ります.
また
また means “again” in 誰かがまた来る前に. It shows that the speaker is considering another arrival after the earlier visit. Use it before an action when the action is repeated or expected to happen another time.
来る
来る means “come” in 誰かがまた来る前に. It is the action that is expected to happen again before which the speaker wants information. Use the dictionary-form action＋前に to say “before doing” or “before something happens.”
前
前 means “before” in 来る前に, marking the time before someone comes back. The に after 前 completes the time expression. Use verb dictionary form＋前に when one action must happen before another.
知って
知って means “know” or “be aware of” in 知っておきたい. It is the て-form of 知る and connects with おきたい. Use 知っている when describing knowledge, and use 知っておく when emphasizing knowing something beforehand.
おきたい
おきたい in 知っておきたい means “want to know in advance” or “want to have the information ready beforehand.” It combines 知って with おく and the desire form たい. Use the pattern verb-ておきたい when saying that you want to do something in preparation for a later situation.
取れる
取れる means “can be obtained” in 確認が取れる, which means that confirmation can be obtained or secured. Here, the subject is 確認, so it does not mean physically taking something. Use nounが取れる when a confirmation, agreement, or appointment can be secured.
まで
まで means “until” in 確認が取れるまで, setting the endpoint of the instruction not to let anyone in. The prohibition applies during the time before confirmation is obtained. Use clause＋まで when describing an action or state that continues up to a particular point.
誰も
誰も means “anyone” in 誰も入れないでください, but with the negative expression it means “no one.” It marks the people who must not be allowed inside. Use 誰も with a negative predicate when saying that nobody does something.
入れない
入れない means “do not let [someone] in” in 誰も中に入れないでください. Here it is followed by でください and expresses a prohibition on allowing anyone to enter. Use the pattern personを場所に入れない when saying that someone is not allowed into a place.
でください
でください completes the prohibition 誰も中に入れないでください, meaning “please do not let anyone in.” で connects the negative form 入れない to ください, which makes the request polite. Use negative form＋でください when politely asking someone not to do something.
予想
予想 means “expectation” or “prediction” in 来ると予想していた人. It describes the speaker’s expectation that a person would come. Use it with と and する, as in an expression meaning “expect that something will happen.”
していた
していた means “was expecting” in 来ると予想していた人. It shows that the expectation already existed before the current instruction. Use a noun＋していた when describing an ongoing or established past expectation, preparation, or activity.
人
人 means “person” in 来ると予想していた人, referring to a person whom the speaker had expected to come. It follows the clause 来ると予想していた, which modifies it. Use a descriptive clause before 人 when identifying a person by what they do or what is expected of them.
でない限り
でない限り means “unless” or “as long as it is not the case that” in 来ると予想していた人でない限り. The construction combines で, the negative ない, and 限り “as long as or provided that,” and it sets an exception to the instruction not to let anyone in. Use nounでない限り＋main clause when an action is allowed only if the stated condition is not true.
Grammar Points
～ておく（前もって準備する）
訪問が予定されているか、事前に確認しておきたい。
HOH-mohn gah yoo-TEH sah-reh-TEH ee-roo kah, jee-ZEN-nee kah-koo-NEEN shee-TEH oh-kee-TAH-ee.I want to check in advance whether a visit is scheduled.
「～ておく」は、将来のために前もって何かをすることを表します。
～までは
確認が取れるまでは、中に入れませんでした。
kah-koo-NEEN gah toh-REH-roo mah-TEH wah, nah-KAH-nee ee-reh-MAH-sen-deh-shee-TAH.Until it was confirmed, we couldn't let them in.
「～までは」は、ある条件が成立する時点まで別の行動をしないことを表します。
Japanese Vocabulary
システム
noun
SHEE-soo-TEH-moo
system
ノック
noun
NOK-koo
knock
ノックして
メンテナンス
noun
men-teh-NAHN-soo
maintenance
を通じて
phrase
oh tsoo-JEE-teh
through; via
換気設備
noun
kahn-kee seh-BEE
ventilation equipment
建物
noun
tah-teh-MOH-noh
building
事前に
adv
jee-ZEN-nee
in advance; beforehand
先ほど
adv
sah-KI-hoh-doh
earlier; a short while ago
誰か
pron
dah-reh-KAH
someone
通常
adv
tsoo-JOH
usually; normally
点検
noun
TEN-ken
inspection; checking
点検しに
訪問
noun
HOH-mohn
visit
Quiz
Spelling
Tap the letters to spell the word.
ventilation equipment
Show Answer
換気設備knock
Show Answer
ノックしてmaintenance
Show Answer
メンテナンスinspection; checking