Verifying an Unexpected Maintenance Visitor | Learn Japanese in English

Sentence explanations

1. 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。

   Someone knocked earlier and said they were here to inspect the ventilation.

   先ほど

   earlier

   誰か

   someone

   ノックして

   knocked and

   換気設備

   ventilation equipment

   点検しに

   to inspect

   来た

   came

   言いました

   said

   More detail

   先ほど means “earlier” or “a short while ago” and refers to a time before the current moment. It is more specific and recent than a broad expression such as 以前 (“previously”); the exact interval depends on context. 誰か means “someone.” The か makes the person unidentified to the speaker, while 誰 by itself asks “who?” In this sentence, 誰かが is the subject: “someone” performed the knocking and the saying. Japanese does not mark this form for the person’s gender. ノックして is the te-form of ノックする, “to knock.” The te-form connects this action to what follows, so ノックして、…言いました presents knocking and then saying as linked events. Example: ドアを開けて入りました。 — “I opened the door and entered.” 換気設備 means “ventilation equipment” or “ventilation facilities.” It is a compound noun: 換気 is “ventilation,” and 設備 is “equipment/facilities.” Here it is the thing being inspected. 点検しに expresses purpose: “to inspect.” 点検する is the verb “to inspect/check,” and its verb stem 点検し combines with に in the pattern [verb stem] + に来る, “come to do [something].” Example: 機械を点検しに来ました。 — “I came to inspect the machine.” 来た is the past form of the irregular verb 来る, “to come.” In 点検しに来た, it means that the person came for the purpose of inspecting. The form 来た itself does not specify the person’s gender. 言いました is the polite past form of 言う, “to say.” The polite nonpast form is 言います, and the plain past form is 言った. The quoted content comes before と in the full pattern …と 言いました, meaning “said that …”; と is the quotation marker. Together, 誰かがノックして gives “someone knocked,” and 換気設備を点検しに来たと言いました gives “said they came to inspect the ventilation equipment.” The complete utterance therefore means: “Someone knocked earlier and said they were here to inspect the ventilation.”

2. 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。

   Maintenance visits are usually announced through the building system.

   メンテナンス

   maintenance

   訪問

   visit

   通常

   usually

   建物

   building

   システム

   system

   を通じて

   through

   事前に

   in advance

   通知されます

   are announced

   More detail

   メンテナンス is a noun meaning “maintenance.” It is a loanword used for upkeep or servicing. Example: メンテナンスが必要です。 — “Maintenance is necessary.” 訪問 is a noun meaning “visit.” It can also combine with する: 訪問する means “to visit.” Example: 明日、会社を訪問します。 — “I will visit the company tomorrow.” 通常 is an adverb meaning “usually” or “normally.” It presents the statement as a general practice, not as an assertion that every individual case follows it. Example: 通常は午前中に届きます。 — “It usually arrives in the morning.” 建物 means “building,” the physical structure referred to here. Example: その建物は古いです。 — “That building is old.” システム means “system.” Here, together with 建物の, it means the building’s system. Example: このシステムを使います。 — “We use this system.” を通じて means “through” or “by means of.” In システムを通じて, the system is presented as the route or medium through which the notification occurs. Example: メールを通じて連絡します。 — “I will contact you by email.” 事前に means “in advance” or “beforehand.” It places the notification before the maintenance visit. Example: 事前に予約してください。 — “Please make a reservation in advance.” 通知されます means “are announced” or “are notified.” The corresponding active verb is 通知する, “to notify” or “to announce”; 通知される is its passive form, and 通知されます is the polite non-past form. The visits are therefore presented as receiving the notification, while the notifier is not specified. Here, the non-past form states a usual practice. Example: 変更は事前に通知されます。 — “Changes are announced in advance.” Together, メンテナンスの訪問 means “maintenance visits,” with の linking the type of visit to maintenance. 通常 says this is the usual practice. 建物のシステムを通じて identifies the building system as the communication route, and 事前に通知されます says that the visits are announced beforehand. Thus the complete sentence means: “Maintenance visits are usually announced through the building system.”

3. それで用心して、中に入れませんでした。

   That made me cautious, so I did not let them in.

   それで

   so; because of that

   用心して

   being cautious; taking care

   中に

   inside

   入れませんでした

   did not let in

   More detail

   それで connects this sentence to the preceding situation and means “so” or “because of that.” It points back to the relevant circumstance without naming it again. A reusable pattern is それで、… for stating a consequence: それで、帰りました。 — “So, I went home.” 用心して is the て-form of 用心する, “to be cautious” or “to take precautions.” Here it links caution with the following action: “being cautious, …” The て-form can connect actions or give the manner/background for what follows. 用心する is a verb formed with the noun 用心; the observed form itself is 用心して, not an adjective. 中に means “inside” or “into the inside.” 中 is “inside,” and に marks the destination or location relevant to the action. In this sentence, 中に identifies where entry would occur. Compare 中に入る — “enter/go inside” — with 中に入れる — “put or let [someone/something] inside.” 入れませんでした is the polite past negative of 入れる, “to put in” or “to let in.” The form chain is 入れる → 入れない → 入れませんでした: “let in” → “do not let in” → “did not let in.” In the fixed translation, the omitted object is understood as “them,” so this form describes the speaker’s refusal or failure to allow them to enter; it is not the potential form “could not enter.” The subject is also omitted in Japanese and is understood from the sentence as the speaker. Together, それで用心して gives the reason and cautious manner: “so, being cautious,” and 中に入れませんでした states the resulting action: “I did not let them in.” The complete meaning is therefore “That made me cautious, so I did not let them in.”

4. 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。

   That was the right call. Their authorization to enter should be verified first.

   それは

   that; as for that

   正しい

   right; correct

   判断

   judgment; call

   でした

   was

   まず

   first

   その人たち

   those people

   入室許可

   authorization to enter

   があるか

   whether there is

   確認すべきです

   should verify; should check

   More detail

   それは uses それ (“that”) with は marking it as the topic. Here, the fixed translation identifies “that” as the earlier decision, but それ itself is a demonstrative pronoun and does not name a specific noun. A reusable pattern is それは…です (“That is …”). 正しい means “right” or “correct” here. Its base form is also 正しい; it is an adjective, not a form derived from 判断. Its negative form is 正しくない (“not correct”), and its past form is 正しかった (“was correct”). Example: この答えは正しいです。 — “This answer is correct.” 判断 is a noun meaning “judgment” or, in this context, “call” or “decision.” It commonly combines with する: 判断する means “to judge” or “to make a decision.” Example: 早く判断しました。 — “I made a decision quickly.” でした is the polite past form of the copula です, so it presents the preceding description as something that was the case. Here, 正しい判断でした means “was the right call.” With a noun, the useful contrast is 判断です (“is a judgment/decision”) versus 判断でした (“was a judgment/decision”). まず means “first” or “first of all.” It sets the order of the action that follows; it does not itself say that only one action will occur. Example: まず名前を書いてください。 — “First, please write your name.” その人たち means “those people.” その is a demonstrative modifier and 人たち is a plural-marking expression for people. The form 人たち refers to a group of people, while 人 can refer to one person or to people more generally depending on context. Here, the translation’s “their” identifies this group as the people whose authorization is being checked. 入室許可 is a compact noun meaning “permission or authorization to enter a room.” 入室 means “entering a room,” and 許可 means “permission,” but the complete compound is the useful unit for this meaning. Example: 入室許可を確認してください。 — “Please check the authorization to enter.” があるか asks whether something exists or is available. ある is the nonliving-existence verb, and か turns the clause into an embedded yes-or-no question. Thus 入室許可があるか means “whether there is authorization to enter,” not simply “authorization.” Example: 鍵があるか確認します。 — “I will check whether there is a key.” 確認すべきです means “should verify” or “should check.” 確認する is the verb “to verify/check,” and べきだ expresses what is considered advisable or proper; the polite form here is べきです. The pattern V-るべきです means “should V,” as in 確認するべきです (“should check”). This expresses a recommendation or obligation, rather than merely describing a future check. Together, 正しい判断でした says that the earlier action was the right decision. Then まず places the next step first: checking その人たち’s 入室許可, specifically checking 入室許可があるか (“whether authorization to enter exists”). The final 確認すべきです presents that check as the appropriate action. The whole utterance therefore means: “That was the right call. Their authorization to enter should be verified first.”

5. 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。

   Could you check whether an inspection is actually scheduled?

   点検

   inspection

   本当に

   actually; really

   予定されているか

   whether it is scheduled

   確認していただけますか

   Could you check?

   More detail

   点検 means an inspection or check. It is a noun; the phrase does not itself say who will perform the inspection. A useful related verb is 点検する, “to inspect/check.” Example: 設備を点検する。 — “Inspect the equipment.” 本当に modifies the following statement and means “really” or “actually,” adding emphasis that the information should be verified rather than merely assumed. Example: 本当に必要ですか。 — “Is it really necessary?” 予定されているか expresses “whether it is scheduled.” 予定する means “to schedule/plan,” while 予定される is its passive form, “be scheduled/planned.” Here 予定されている combines the passive form with いる to describe the resulting scheduled state. The final か marks the embedded yes-or-no question: Xか means “whether X.” This is different from a direct question such as 予定されていますか。 — “Is it scheduled?” 確認していただけますか is a polite request meaning “Could you check?” 確認する means “to confirm/check.” In 確認して, the て form connects this action to the polite favor construction いただけますか, literally asking whether the listener can do the action as a favor for the speaker. It is a polite request pattern: Vていただけますか — “Could you please V?” Example: 資料を確認していただけますか。 — “Could you please check the materials?” Together, 点検が marks “an inspection” as the subject of the embedded statement, 本当に予定されているか asks whether that inspection is actually scheduled, and 確認していただけますか politely asks the listener to check that point. The whole utterance means: “Could you check whether an inspection is actually scheduled?”

6. 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。

   I will check the records and send you a message through the portal.

   記録

   records

   確認して

   check

   あなたに

   to you

   ポータル

   portal

   通じて

   through

   メッセージ

   message

   送ります

   send

   More detail

   記録 means “records” here. It is the noun 記録, used for recorded information or documents. With を, it is the object being checked: 記録を確認する means “check the records.” 確認して is the connective form of the verb 確認する, “to check” or “to confirm.” The ending -て links this action to the next one, giving the sequence “check … and …” here. Example: 内容を確認して返事します。 — “I will check the contents and reply.” あなたに marks the recipient “you.” あなた is the second-person pronoun, and に marks the person toward whom something is sent. Japanese often omits a pronoun when the context makes it clear, but this sentence explicitly includes it. ポータル is the noun “portal.” In this sentence it is part of the means expression ポータルを通じて, “through the portal.” 通じて is the connective form of 通じる in the expression Xを通じて, meaning “through X” or “by means of X.” Here, ポータルを通じて identifies the channel used for sending the message. Example: 担当者を通じて連絡します。 — “I will get in touch through the person in charge.” メッセージ means “message.” With を, it is the thing being sent: メッセージを送る means “send a message.” 送ります is the polite nonpast form of 送る, “to send.” Japanese nonpast forms can describe a future action, so it means “will send” here. The subject is not stated in the Japanese verb, while the fixed translation identifies the speaker as the sender. The polite form is useful in formal or respectful communication. Together, 記録を確認して means “check the records and,” and ポータルを通じてメッセージを送ります means “I will send a message through the portal.” The whole utterance therefore means: “I will check the records and send you a message through the portal.”

7. 誰かがまた来る前に、知っておきたいです。

   I would rather know before anyone comes back.

   誰か

   someone

   また

   again

   来る

   come

   前に

   before

   知っておきたいです

   would like to know in advance

   More detail

   誰か means “someone” here, while the English translation uses “anyone” because it appears in the open-ended time clause “before anyone comes back.” The particle が marks 誰か as the subject of 来る: 誰かが来る means “someone comes.” 誰か can refer to an unspecified person; the sentence does not identify which person. また means “again” and modifies the event of coming. Together, また来る means “come again” or, in this context, “come back.” It does not by itself identify who came previously. 来る is the plain nonpast form of the verb 来る, “to come.” Japanese commonly uses this nonpast form in a clause introduced by 前に when the event is expected to occur before another event: 人が来る前に means “before someone comes.” 前に means “before.” The pattern V-plain form + 前に places the event in the verb clause before another event or action. For example, 寝る前に歯を磨きます。 means “I brush my teeth before going to bed.” 知っておきたいです expresses a present desire to know something in advance. 知る means “come to know” or “know”; its て form combines with おく in 知っておく, meaning to learn or know something beforehand as preparation. たい attached to the verb stem expresses the speaker’s desire, and です makes the utterance polite. Thus, 知っておきたいです is “I would like to know in advance.” Putting the parts together, 誰かがまた来る前に means “before anyone comes back,” and 知っておきたいです means “I would like to know in advance.” The complete utterance means: “I would rather know before anyone comes back.”

8. 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。

   Until it is confirmed, do not let anyone in unless you were expecting them.

   確認が取れる

   receive confirmation

   までは

   until

   来る

   come

   予想していた

   was expecting

   人

   person

   でない限り

   unless

   誰も

   anyone

   中に

   inside

   入れないでください

   please do not let in

   More detail

   確認が取れる means that confirmation becomes available or that something is confirmed. 取れる is the form used in this expression; it is related to 取る “obtain/take,” but here the focus is on confirmation being obtained, not on someone taking an object. Example: 予約が取れました。 — “The reservation was obtained.” までは marks the endpoint up to which the first condition holds: “until.” まで marks the limit, and は adds focus to that limit. The pattern Xまでは is useful for “until X.” 来る is the dictionary form of “come.” Here it appears inside the clause 来ると, where と introduces the content of an expectation: “that [someone] will come.” Example: 彼は明日来ると思います。 — “I think he will come tomorrow.” 予想していた comes from 予想する “expect/predict.” The ていた form presents that expectation as a past state: 予想していた means “was expecting” or “had expected” in this context. Together, 来ると予想していた means “was expecting [someone] to come.” The person who held the expectation is not stated in the Japanese wording; the fixed translation supplies “you.” 人 means “person.” In 来ると予想していた人, it is the noun modified by the preceding clause: “the person [you] expected to come.” Japanese commonly places a modifying clause directly before the noun. でない限り means “unless” or “as long as it is not the case that.” でない is the negative form of だ after a noun, and 限り means “limit” or “provided condition” in this construction. The reusable pattern Xでない限り means “unless X.” Here, the condition is that the person is someone you expected to come. 誰も means “anyone” in this negative environment; with 入れない, 誰も入れない means “do not let anyone in” or “let no one in.” 誰も does not generally mean positive “everyone” by itself; a common form for that meaning is 誰もが. 中に means “inside” or “into the inside.” 中 is “inside/interior,” and に marks the destination or place involved with entering. Example: 部屋の中に入ります。 — “I will go into the room.” 入れないでください is a polite request not to let someone or something enter. It is based on transitive 入れる, “let in” or “put in”; ないでください means “please do not …” after a verb. This differs from 入らないでください, which asks someone not to enter themselves, because 入れる has another person or thing as what is allowed in. Putting the parts together, 確認が取れるまでは means “until it is confirmed.” 来ると予想していた人でない限り means “unless [the person] is someone you were expecting to come.” Finally, 誰も中に入れないでください politely requests that no one be allowed inside. The whole utterance therefore means: “Until it is confirmed, do not let anyone in unless you were expecting them.”