About This Lesson
Use Why a Payment Card Was Blocked to practice Japanese conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.
Dialogue
A
カードが使えませんでしたが、口座はまだ有効なはずです。
KAH-doh gah tsuk-eh-mah-SEN deh-shee-tah gah, KOH-zah wah mah-dah yoo-KOH nah hah-ZOO dess. My card was declined, but the account should still be active.
B
システムが通常とは異なる利用を検出した後に、カードがブロックされた可能性があります。
SHEE-suh-teh-moo gah tsoo-JOH-toh wah koh-toh-NAH-roo ree-YOH oh ken-SHOOT-soo shee-TAH ah-toh nee, KAH-doh gah bu-ROK-koo sah-REH-tah kah-NOH-SAY gah ah-ree-MAHS. It may have been blocked after the system flagged unusual activity.
A
最近旅行していたので、それがきっかけになったのかもしれません。
sai-KIN ryoh-KOH shee-teh-ee-TAH noh-deh, soh-REH gah keek-kah-KEH nee NAHT-tah noh kah moh-shee-REH-mah-SEN. I was traveling recently, so that might have triggered it.
B
それなら納得できますが、本人確認はやはり必要です。
soh-REH nah-rah nah-TOH-koo deh-kee-MAHS gah, hohn-NEEN kah-koo-NIN wah yah-HAH-ree hee-TSOO-YOH dess. That would make sense, but we still need to verify your identity.
A
すべての購入履歴を一つずつ確認しなくても、本人確認はできますか？
soo-BEH-teh noh koh-NYOO ree-REH-kee oh hee-TOH-tsoo-zoo-tsoo kah-koo-NIN shee-NAH-koo-teh-moh, hohn-NEEN kah-koo-NIN wah deh-KEE-mahss kah? Can we check that without going through every purchase?
B
必要なのは、本人確認と最近の利用状況の大まかな確認だけです。
hee-TSOO-yoh nah-NOH wah, hohn-NEEN kah-koo-NIN toh sai-KIN noh ree-YOH joh-KYOH noh oh-MAH-kah-nah kah-koo-NIN dah-KEH dess. We only need identity confirmation and a general sense of recent activity.
A
すべての取引を一つずつ挙げるより、そのほうが合理的に思えます。
soo-BEH-teh noh toh-ree-HEE-kee oh hee-TOH-tsoo-zoo-tsoo ah-GEH-roo yoh-ree, soh-NOH hoh gah goh-REE-teh-kee nee oh-MOH-eh-MAHS. That sounds more reasonable than listing every transaction.
B
本人確認が完了すれば、通常はすぐにカードの利用停止を見直せます。
hohn-NEEN kah-koo-NIN gah kahn-RYOH soo-REH-bah, tsoo-JOH wah soo-GOO-nee KAH-doh noh ree-YOH tay-SHEE oh mee-NAH-oh-seh-MAHS. Once your identity is verified, we can usually review the block right away.Word by Word
カード
In this dialogue, 「カード」 means the payment card whose use was declined. It commonly identifies the card in banking or payment-related conversations. A customer would use it when reporting a card problem to a bank or merchant.
が
In 「カードが使えませんでした」, 「が」 marks the card as the subject of the statement that it could not be used. It commonly follows the thing that has a particular state or experience. Use it when reporting what was unavailable or affected.
使えませんでした
「使えませんでした」 says that the card could not be used on that occasion. Here it reports the failed payment politely and in the past. A customer can use this form when explaining that a card or service did not work.
口座
Here, 「口座」 means a bank account, contrasted with the card that was declined. It is used for the account whose status is being discussed. A customer or bank employee would use it when checking account-related conditions.
は
In 「口座はまだ有効なはずです」, 「は」 marks the account as the topic and contrasts its status with the card problem. It commonly sets up the subject whose condition will be described. Use it when shifting attention to the account or another relevant topic.
まだ
「まだ」 means still: the account is believed to remain active at this point. It is placed before the description of the continuing state. Use it when saying that a condition has not changed yet.
有効
In this dialogue, 「有効」 means active or valid, describing the account’s current status. It appears before 「はず」 through 「有効な」. It is useful when discussing whether an account, card, or other authorization remains valid.
な
In 「有効なはず」, 「な」 connects the noun-like description 「有効」 to 「はず」. It shows that the following expectation concerns being active or valid. This same connection is used when a description comes before a noun-like expression.
はず
「はず」 expresses the speaker’s expectation that the account should still be active. In 「有効なはずです」, the expectation is presented politely rather than as an absolute fact. Use it when evidence or prior information supports what you expect to be true.
です
Here, 「です」 is the polite ending in 「有効なはずです」. It makes the statement about the expected account status suitable for a support conversation. It commonly follows a noun-like expression at the end of a polite statement.
システム
「システム」 means the system that detected the unusual card activity. It identifies the technical source of the bank’s explanation. It is useful when describing an automated process or technical check.
通常
In 「通常とは異なる」, 「通常」 means what is usual or normal for the customer’s activity. It provides the standard against which the activity is judged. Use it when explaining that something differs from a normal pattern.
と
In 「通常とは異なる」, 「と」 marks 「通常」 as the reference point from which the activity differs. Here it does not mean “and.” This construction is useful for describing something as different from a stated standard.
異なる
「異なる」 means to differ from or be different from the usual pattern. In the dialogue, it describes card usage that was not normal. It commonly appears with a reference marked by 「とは」 when comparing one thing with another.
利用
In 「通常とは異なる利用」, 「利用」 means use or usage, specifically the use of the card. It describes the activity examined by the system. It is useful in banking contexts when discussing how an account or card has been used.
を
In 「利用を検出した」, 「を」 marks 「利用」 as the object detected by the system. It commonly follows the thing that an action identifies, checks, or detects. Use it to show what the verb acts on.
検出
「検出」 means detection; in 「利用を検出した」, the system detected the unusual usage. It presents the finding as a technical or automated detection. It is useful when describing a system identifying activity, signals, or problems.
した
In 「検出した」, 「した」 shows that the detection was completed before the later blocking event. Together with 「検出」, it reports what the system did. Use this completed-action form when explaining an earlier check or action.
後
In 「検出した後に」, 「後」 means after the detection. It places the blocking event later in the sequence of events. It commonly follows a completed action when explaining what happened afterward.
に
In 「検出した後に」, 「に」 marks the time after which the blocking occurred. It connects that time point to the following event. Use it after 「後」 when describing what happens next.
ブロック
「ブロック」 means a block or restriction on the card. In 「ブロックされた」, it names the action that affected the card. It is useful in support conversations about a card being prevented from use.
された
In 「ブロックされた」, 「された」 shows that the card underwent the blocking action. The focus is on what happened to the card, not on who performed the action. Use this form when reporting that something was blocked or otherwise subjected to an action.
可能性
「可能性」 means possibility, and 「可能性があります」 presents the blocking as one possible explanation. It allows the employee to explain the cause without stating it as certain. Use it when discussing a suspected cause or outcome.
あります
In 「可能性があります」, 「あります」 says that a possibility exists. The polite expression means that there may be a particular explanation. It is useful when giving a cautious support explanation.
最近
「最近」 means recently and refers to the speaker’s travel in the recent past. It appears before the activity being dated. Use it when discussing recent events or recent account activity.
旅行
Here, 「旅行」 means travel or a trip, as part of 「旅行していた」. It explains the circumstance that may have led to the unusual activity flag. A customer would use it when mentioning recent travel to a bank.
していた
In 「旅行していた」, 「していた」 describes the speaker as having been traveling during the relevant recent period. It presents the travel as an ongoing or then-existing circumstance. Use this form when explaining what someone had been doing around the time of an event.
ので
「ので」 means because or since and links the recent travel to the possibility that it triggered the block. It gives the reason for the speaker’s suggestion. Use it to connect a circumstance with an explanation or result in a polite conversation.
それ
In 「それがきっかけになった」, 「それ」 refers back to the recently mentioned travel. It lets the speaker point to that preceding fact without repeating it. Use it when referring to a fact just discussed.
きっかけ
「きっかけ」 means a trigger or event that leads to something happening. Here, the travel may have been the trigger for the card block. It commonly describes the event that starts or prompts a later result.
なった
In 「きっかけになった」, 「なった」 says that the travel became or served as the trigger. It describes the resulting role of that earlier event. Use this form when explaining what something turned into or came to cause.
の
In 「きっかけになったのかもしれません」, 「の」 turns the preceding statement into the content being presented as a possibility. The uncertain claim is that the travel became the trigger. It commonly appears before 「かもしれません」 after a clause.
かもしれません
「かもしれません」 expresses a polite possibility: the travel might have triggered the block. In this construction, 「かも」 contributes the sense of possibility, while 「しれません」 completes the polite uncertain expression. Use it when offering a possible explanation without claiming certainty.
なら
In 「それなら納得できます」, 「なら」 means if that is the case or given that explanation. It makes the preceding information the condition for the speaker’s response. Use it when reacting to a newly stated explanation or situation.
納得
Here, 「納得」 means accepting or understanding an explanation as making sense. In 「納得できます」, the speaker says the explanation can be accepted. It is useful when responding to a reason, decision, or explanation.
できます
In 「納得できます」, 「できます」 means can or is able to, so the speaker can accept the explanation. It makes the response less absolute and presents acceptance as possible. Use it with 「納得」 when saying that a reason makes sense to you.
本人
「本人」 means the person themself, especially the actual account holder in this support context. It appears in the fixed expression 「本人確認」 for identity verification. Use it when distinguishing the person concerned from another person acting on their behalf.
確認
In 「本人確認」, 「確認」 means confirmation or checking, specifically checking the person’s identity. The same word also refers to the identity check mentioned later in the dialogue. It is useful for verification procedures involving identity or information.
やはり
「やはり」 means still or as expected, showing that identity verification remains necessary despite the explanation about travel. It signals that the requirement has not changed. Use it when returning to an expected or unavoidable point.
必要
「必要」 means necessary, and 「必要です」 states that identity verification is required. In the dialogue, it describes a remaining support requirement. Use it when explaining that an action or item is required.
すべて
「すべて」 means all or every and modifies the purchase records in 「すべての購入履歴」. It indicates the complete set rather than only selected records. Use it before a noun when referring to everything in a category.
購入
In 「購入履歴」, 「購入」 means purchase. It specifies that the records concern things bought with the card. It is useful in banking or shopping contexts when discussing purchase information.
履歴
「履歴」 means a history or record of past activity. In 「購入履歴」, it refers to the recorded purchase history that the customer does not want to review item by item. Use it for stored records of actions or activity.
ずつ
In 「一つずつ」, 「ずつ」 means each or one at a time. It shows that the purchase records would be checked individually. It commonly follows a quantity expression when describing equal or successive treatment of items.
しなくても
In 「確認しなくても」, 「しなくても」 means even without doing the checking. It presents checking every purchase as unnecessary for the requested verification. Use this form when asking whether a result is possible without performing an action.
か
At the end of 「できますか」, 「か」 marks the sentence as a question. It turns the polite statement into a request for information or permission. Use it at the end of a polite question.
状況
In 「利用状況」, 「状況」 means the situation or state of the activity. It refers to a general picture of recent card use rather than each individual purchase. Use it when discussing the overall condition or pattern of something.
大まか
「大まか」 means general or approximate, and 「大まかな確認」 means a broad check rather than a detailed review. It limits the level of detail needed. Use it when summarizing information without examining every individual point.
だけ
In 「確認だけです」, 「だけ」 means only or just, limiting what the bank needs to the stated checks. It emphasizes that a more extensive review is not required. Use it after a noun or phrase when restricting the scope to that item.
取引
「取引」 means a transaction, referring here to each recorded financial transaction. It is the type of information the customer does not want to list individually. Use it in banking conversations about payments or account activity.
挙げる
In 「一つずつ挙げる」, 「挙げる」 means to list or name items one by one. It describes verbally identifying every transaction. Use it when presenting specific items, examples, or transactions individually.
より
In 「挙げるより」, 「より」 means than or rather than and compares listing every transaction with the alternative approach. It introduces the action that is considered less reasonable. Use it when comparing two actions or options.
その
In 「そのほうが」, 「その」 refers to the alternative just discussed: identity confirmation plus a general review. It points back to information already known in the conversation. Use it before a noun or option that has just been mentioned.
ほう
In 「そのほうが合理的」, 「ほう」 means the option or approach being preferred. It identifies the alternative as more reasonable than listing every transaction. Use it when comparing two possible approaches.
合理的
「合理的」 means reasonable or rational, describing the alternative procedure as sensible. In 「合理的に思えます」, it is the speaker’s evaluation of that procedure. It is useful when judging whether a plan or process is logically suitable.
思えます
In 「合理的に思えます」, 「思えます」 means seems or appears to the speaker. It presents the judgment as a personal impression rather than an absolute fact. Use it when politely expressing that something appears reasonable or suitable.
完了
In 「本人確認が完了すれば」, 「完了」 means completion of the identity verification. It marks the point at which the next support action can usually happen. Use it when referring to a procedure or task reaching its finished state.
すれば
In 「完了すれば」, 「すれば」 means if or once the completion occurs. It connects completion of the identity check with the bank’s ability to review the block. Use it to introduce a condition that leads to a later result.
すぐ
「すぐ」 means immediately or soon, and in 「すぐに」 it says the block can usually be reviewed right away. It emphasizes the short time after identity verification. Use it when describing an action that follows with little delay.
停止
In 「利用停止」, 「停止」 means stopping or suspension. Together with 「利用」, it refers to the suspension of card use that the bank may review. Use it in support conversations about temporarily stopping a service or payment function.
見直せます
In 「利用停止を見直せます」, 「見直せます」 means can review or reconsider the suspension. It does not by itself promise that the suspension will be removed; it says the bank can reassess it. Use it when explaining that a decision or restriction can be reviewed after a required check.
Grammar Points
〜された（受け身）
カードがブロックされた。
KAH-doh gah bu-ROK-koo sah-REH-tah.The card was blocked.
Japanese passive form shows that the subject receives an action. された means “was done.”
〜ていた（過去進行）
最近、旅行していた可能性。
sai-KIN, ryoh-KOH shee-teh-ee-TAH kah-NOH-SAY.The possibility that someone was traveling recently.
〜ていた describes an action that was in progress or continued in the past.
Japanese Vocabulary
カード
noun
KAH-doh
card
システム
noun
SHEE-suh-teh-moo
system
ブロックされた
verb
bu-ROK-koo sah-REH-tah
was blocked
可能性
noun
kah-NOH-SAY
possibility
検出した
verb
ken-SHOOT-soo shee-TAH
detected
口座
noun
KOH-zah
account
最近
adv
sai-KIN
recently
使えませんでした
verb
tsuk-eh-mah-SEN deh-shee-tah
could not use; was unusable
通常とは異なる
phrase
tsoo-JOH-toh wah koh-toh-NAH-roo
unusual; different from usual
有効
adj
yoo-KOH
active; valid
利用
noun
ree-YOH
use; usage
旅行していた
verb
ryoh-KOH shee-teh-ee-TAH
was traveling
Quiz
Spelling
Tap the letters to spell the word.
detected
Show Answer
検出したwas blocked
Show Answer
ブロックされたunusual; different from usual
Show Answer
通常とは異なるcould not use; was unusable