About This Lesson
Use Politely requesting a quieter restaurant table to practice Japanese conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.
Dialogue
A
静かな席を予約しましたが、この辺りは思っていたよりずっと騒がしいです。
shee-zoo-kah-nah seh-kee oh yoh-yah-koo shee-mah-SHEE-tah gah, KOH-noh ah-TAH-ree wah oh-MOHT-teh ee-TAH yoh-ree ZOOT-toh sah-wah-gah-SHEE dess. We reserved a quiet table, but this area is much louder than expected.
B
申し訳ありません。そのエリアは予想より早く満席になってしまいました。
moh-SHEE-wah-keh ah-ree-mah-SEN. SOH-noh EH-ree-ah wah yoh-SOH yoh-ree HAH-yah-koo mahn-SEH-kee nee-NAHT-teh shee-MY mah-SHEE-tah. I'm sorry; that section filled up earlier than we expected.
A
このテーブルでは、私たちのグループはお互いの声が聞き取りにくくなります。
KOH-noh TAY-boo-roo deh-wah, wah-TAH-shee-tah-chee no GOO-roo-poo wah oh-TAH-guy no KOH-eh gah kee-kee-toh-REE nee-KOO-koo nah-ree-MAHSS. This table will make it hard for our group to hear each other.
B
周りにもっと余裕のある隅のテーブルへご案内できます。
mah-WAH-ree nee MOHT-toh yoh-YOO-roo no ah-roo soo-MEE no TAY-boo-roo eh goh-ah-nah-ee deh-kee-MAHSS. I can move you to a corner table that has more space around it.
A
それなら助かります。担当のスタッフが私たちのペースについてこられるなら。
soh-REH nah-rah tah-sah-kah-ree-MAHSS. tahn-TOH no soo-TAHF-foo gah wah-TAH-shee-tah-chee no PAYSS nee tsoo-EE-teh koh-RAH-reh-roo nah-rah. That would help, as long as our server can still keep up with us.
B
その隅のテーブルも同じ担当スタッフが受け持ちますので、サービスはこれまでどおり進むはずです。
SOH-noh soo-MEE no TAY-boo-roo moh oh-NAH-jee tahn-TOH soo-TAHF-foo gah oo-keh-MOH-chee-MAHSS noh-deh, SAH-bee-soo wah KOH-reh mah-DEH doh-REE soo-SOO-moo hah-zoo dess. The same server covers that corner, so service should stay on track.
A
では、皆さんが席に着く前に移動しましょう。
deh-WAH, mee-NAHN-sahn gah SEH-kee nee TSOO-koo MAH-eh nee ee-DOH shee-mah-SHOH. Then let's move before everyone sits down.
B
今すぐテーブルを整え直します。
ee-MAH soo-GOO TAY-boo-roo oh toh-toh-NOH-eh nah-oh-SHEE-MAHSS. I'll have the table reset now.Word by Word
静かな
「静かな」 means quiet and describes the kind of 「席」 being requested. It appears before a noun in this form, as in a quiet seat or table place. A diner can use it when asking for a quieter place in a restaurant.
席
「席」 means a seat or a place at a table; here it refers to the reserved restaurant place. It commonly follows descriptions such as a quiet or window-side place. Use it when discussing where someone will sit.
を
「を」 marks 「席」 as the object of the reservation action in 「席を予約しました」. It links the thing being reserved to the verb. The same marker is used after a direct object before an action verb.
予約
「予約」 refers to a reservation, and in 「予約しました」 it expresses making the reservation. It combines with しました to describe a completed, polite action. Use it for reserving a table, room, ticket, or other service.
しました
「しました」 politely says that the reservation was made in the past, as part of 「予約しました」. Here it presents the speaker's completed action before explaining the problem. It is useful after an action noun such as 予約 when reporting that something was arranged.
が
In 「予約しましたが」, 「が」 connects the completed reservation with a contrasting problem: the place is not as quiet as expected. Here it functions like but rather than marking the subject. It is useful for presenting a request or complaint politely after some background information.
この
「この」 means this and points to something near the speaker, here the surrounding area. It comes directly before a noun or noun phrase. A speaker can use it to identify the table, section, or area currently being discussed.
辺り
「辺り」 means this area or vicinity in 「この辺り」. Together, the phrase refers broadly to the surrounding restaurant area rather than one exact point. It is useful when describing the general conditions around a place.
は
「は」 marks 「この辺り」 as the topic of the statement about how noisy it is. It sets the area up for comparison with what the speaker expected. The topic marker is commonly followed by information about that place or thing.
思って
In 「思っていたより」, 「思って」 contributes the idea of having thought or expected something. Together with 「いた」, it refers to the speaker's earlier expectation before comparing it with reality. This pattern is useful when actual conditions differ from what someone expected.
いた
In 「思っていたより」, 「いた」 places the expectation in an earlier ongoing state: what the speaker had thought. It works with 「思って」 rather than expressing the current noise itself. Use this form when referring to an earlier expectation or belief.
より
「より」 marks the point of comparison in 「思っていたより」, meaning than what was expected. It introduces the standard against which the area is judged. It commonly follows the thing or situation used for comparison.
ずっと
「ずっと」 strongly intensifies the comparison in 「ずっと騒がしい」, meaning much or far more noisy. It shows that the difference is considerable, not slight. It can be used before a comparison or description when emphasizing a large degree.
騒がしい
「騒がしい」 means noisy or loud here and describes the area. In 「ずっと騒がしいです」, it politely states that the current environment is much noisier than expected. A guest can use it to describe an unsuitable sound level.
です
「です」 gives the statement 「騒がしいです」 a polite sentence ending. It presents the description respectfully to the restaurant staff. This ending is commonly used after an adjective when making a polite statement.
申し訳ありません
「申し訳ありません」 is a formal apology for the inconvenience caused by the seating problem. In this whole expression, 「申し訳」 presents the basis for an apology, while 「ありません」 says that there is no adequate excuse. Staff can use it when acknowledging responsibility or inconvenience in a polite service interaction.
その
「その」 means that and points to the section already being discussed. It comes directly before 「エリア」 to identify that particular area. Use it when referring to a place or object understood from the conversation.
エリア
「エリア」 means area or section, here the restaurant section that became full. It is a common loanword for a defined part of a larger place. It can identify a seating area, work area, or other zone.
予想
「予想」 means expectation or prediction in 「予想より」. It provides the standard for saying that the section filled up earlier than expected. It is useful when comparing an actual event with what someone had predicted.
早く
「早く」 means earlier in 「予想より早く」, describing when the section became full. The comparison shows that it happened sooner than staff had expected. This form can be used before an event or change to describe its earlier timing.
満席
「満席」 means full, with no seats available, in 「満席になってしまいました」. It describes the resulting condition of the restaurant section. Use it when all seats in a table area, restaurant, or venue are occupied.
に
In 「満席になって」, 「に」 marks 「満席」 as the resulting state. It connects the idea of becoming with the condition that resulted. This use commonly follows a noun describing a new state.
なって
In 「満席になってしまいました」, 「なって」 means becoming or ending up full. It links the resulting state to the following expression 「しまいました」. Use this form when describing a change into a particular condition.
しまいました
In 「なってしまいました」, 「しまいました」 presents the change as completed and adds regret about the result. The staff member is apologizing that the section ended up full. This construction is useful when an unwanted or regrettable outcome has occurred.
テーブル
「テーブル」 means table in the restaurant setting. In 「このテーブルでは」, it identifies the place where the group will have difficulty hearing. It is a common term for a restaurant table or similar piece of furniture.
では
In 「このテーブルでは」, 「では」 marks the table as the setting in which the difficulty will occur. It combines the location marker with topic emphasis. Use it to describe what happens at or in a particular place.
私たち
「私たち」 means we or us and identifies the speaker's group. Here it is the group whose members need to hear one another. It can be used when referring to the speaker together with other people.
の
In 「私たちのグループ」 and 「お互いの声」, 「の」 marks association or possession. It links one noun to the noun that follows it. Use it to show whose group or whose voices are being discussed.
グループ
「グループ」 means group, here the people dining together. In 「私たちのグループ」, it identifies the speaker's party. It is useful for referring to a set of people in a restaurant or other shared situation.
お互い
「お互い」 means each other in 「お互いの声」. It shows that the voices belong mutually to the members of the group. Use it when describing a reciprocal relationship or action between people.
声
「声」 means voice, and 「お互いの声」 refers to the group members' voices. The voices are the sounds that are difficult to make out at this table. It is useful when discussing whether people can hear one another.
聞き取りにくく
「聞き取りにくく」 means difficult to hear or make out in 「声が聞き取りにくくなります」. It describes the practical problem caused by the noisy table. This form can describe speech or sounds that are not easy to understand by listening.
なります
In 「聞き取りにくくなります」, 「なります」 means becomes and politely states the resulting difficulty. It shows that the table will make the voices harder to hear. Use it after a description when explaining that a condition will change.
周り
「周り」 means the area around something, here the space surrounding the corner table. In 「周りにもっと余裕」, it identifies where the additional room exists. It is useful when describing space around a person, object, or place.
もっと
「もっと」 means more in 「もっと余裕」. It indicates that the alternative table has a greater amount of surrounding space. Use it before a quantity or degree when requesting or describing an increase.
余裕
「余裕」 means room or available space here, especially enough space around the table. It appears in 「周りにもっと余裕のある」 to describe the proposed table. This word is useful for discussing physical room or capacity in a place.
ある
In 「余裕のある隅のテーブル」, 「ある」 says that the table has or provides the surrounding space described by 「余裕」. It appears inside a noun-modifying phrase before 「隅のテーブル」. Use it when describing a place or object that has a particular feature or amount of room.
隅
「隅」 means corner, here referring to a quieter corner of the restaurant. It is part of 「隅のテーブル」, a table located in the corner. Use it when identifying a corner location in a room or building.
へ
「へ」 marks the direction toward the alternative table in 「隅のテーブルへ」. It shows where the staff can guide the guests. It commonly follows a destination or direction of movement.
ご案内
「ご案内」 is a polite service expression for guiding or showing someone to a place. In 「ご案内できます」, the staff member offers to lead the group to the corner table. It is useful when staff politely help a guest reach a seat, room, or other destination.
できます
「できます」 means can or is able to, and here it makes the offer 「ご案内できます」: the staff can guide the guests. It presents the service as available. Use it after an action or service expression when offering what can be done.
それ
「それ」 means that and refers to the staff member's offer to move the group. In 「それなら」, it provides the situation to which the speaker is responding. Use it to point back to something just mentioned.
なら
In 「それなら」, 「なら」 means if that is the case and treats the previous offer as a condition. The speaker says that the move would help under that condition. It is useful when responding to information or an offer by stating its consequence.
助かります
「助かります」 means that would help or that would be appreciated in this context. The speaker politely accepts the proposed move while adding a condition about service. It is useful when acknowledging that someone's help will make a situation easier.
担当
「担当」 means being in charge of a responsibility, here the staff member assigned to the group. In 「担当のスタッフ」, it describes the staff member who handles this table. Use it when identifying the person or role responsible for a customer, task, or area.
スタッフ
「スタッフ」 means staff member or staff, here the person serving the group. It appears in 「担当のスタッフ」 and is later understood as the server covering the corner. It is useful for referring to service personnel without naming a specific person.
ペース
「ペース」 means pace, here the group's pace of ordering, eating, or requesting service. In 「私たちのペース」, it identifies the speed the staff member needs to keep up with. Use it when discussing the speed or rhythm of an activity.
ついて
In 「ついてこられる」, 「ついて」 contributes the idea of following or keeping up with the group. Together with 「こられる」, it asks whether the server can keep pace with them. This construction is useful when checking whether someone can follow an ongoing activity.
こられる
In 「ついてこられる」, 「こられる」 contributes the possibility or ability to keep up. The full expression means that the server can continue following the group's pace. Use it when asking whether someone can stay with or follow another person or activity.
も
「も」 means also or too in 「その隅のテーブルも」. It says that the same staff member covers the corner table in addition to the current area. Use it to add another person, place, or item to something already mentioned.
同じ
「同じ」 means same in 「同じ担当スタッフ」. It reassures the guests that the staff member responsible will not change after the move. Use it before a noun when identifying something as identical to an earlier person or arrangement.
受け持ちます
「受け持ちます」 means will be responsible for or will handle, here describing the staff member's responsibility for the corner table. The subject is understood to be the same assigned staff member. It is useful when confirming who will handle a customer, area, or task.
ので
「ので」 connects the fact that the same staff member handles the corner with the conclusion about service. It means because or so and gives a reason in a relatively polite, explanatory way. Use it to provide the basis for reassurance or a conclusion.
サービス
「サービス」 means service in the restaurant, including the staff's ongoing attention to the guests. It is the thing expected to continue smoothly after the move. Use it when discussing the quality or continuity of customer service.
これまでどおり
「これまでどおり」 means as before or in the same way as up to now. In this expression, 「これまで」 refers to the time until now, and 「どおり」 says that the manner will remain the same. It is useful when reassuring someone that an arrangement or service will not change.
進む
「進む」 means proceed or continue, here describing how the restaurant service should continue. It appears with 「はず」 to express an expected smooth continuation. Use it for an activity, process, or service that moves forward.
はず
「はず」 expresses an expectation based on the information just given: service should continue as before. It follows 「進む」 in 「進むはず」 and presents the conclusion as something expected rather than guaranteed. Use it when a result is supported by a reason or prior knowledge.
皆さん
「皆さん」 means everyone or all of you and refers politely to the people in the dining group. In 「皆さんが席に着く」, it identifies everyone who needs to take a seat. It is useful when addressing or referring respectfully to a group.
着く
In 「席に着く」, 「着く」 means take one's seat rather than simply arrive. It describes the group sitting down at their places. This expression is useful when talking about people settling into seats at a restaurant, meeting, or event.
前
In 「席に着く前に」, 「前」 means before the event of taking a seat. It places the move earlier than everyone sitting down. Use it after an action or event to state what happens before it.
移動
「移動」 means moving or relocating, here the group's move to another table. It combines with 「しましょう」 in 「移動しましょう」 to form a polite proposal. Use it when suggesting movement from one place to another.
しましょう
「しましょう」 means let's do it and politely proposes the action 「移動」. The speaker uses it to agree to move the group before everyone sits down. It is useful for making a cooperative suggestion.
今
「今」 means now and sets the timing of the table rearrangement. In 「今すぐ」, it strengthens the sense that the action will happen at once. Use it to refer to the present moment or immediate timing.
すぐ
「すぐ」 means immediately or right away in 「今すぐ」. It tells the guests that the staff will begin resetting the table without delay. It is useful when promising quick action or describing something that happens soon.
整え直します
「整え直します」 means will arrange or reset again, here referring to preparing the table for the guests' move. The form presents the staff member's polite intention to do it immediately. Use it when restoring or rearranging a place or object so it is ready again.
Grammar Points
Nより + adjective/adverb
予想より早く満席になってしまいました。
yoh-SOH yoh-ree HAH-yah-koo mahn-SEH-kee nee-NAHT-teh shee-MY mah-SHEE-tah.It ended up becoming fully booked sooner than expected.
より marks the point of comparison, meaning “than.” It can be followed by an adjective or adverb.
V-にくくなる
お互い聞き取りにくくなります。
oh-TAH-guy kee-kee-toh-ree nee-KOO-koo nah-ree-MAHSS.It becomes difficult for us to hear each other.
にくい means “difficult to do.” With なる, it describes a change that makes an action difficult.
Japanese Vocabulary
お互い
pron
oh-TAH-guy
each other; one another
ずっと
adv
ZOOT-toh
much; by far
申し訳ありません
phrase
moh-SHEE-wah-keh ah-ree-mah-SEN
I’m sorry
静かな
adj
shee-zoo-kah-nah
quiet
席
noun
seh-kee
seat; table
早く
adv
HAH-yah-koo
early; sooner
騒がしい
adj
sah-wah-gah-SHEE
noisy; loud
聞き取りにくくなります
phrase
kee-kee-toh-ree nee-KOO-koo nah-ree-MAHSS
becomes difficult to hear
辺り
noun
ah-TAH-ree
area; vicinity
満席になってしまいました
phrase
mahn-SEH-kee nee-NAHT-teh shee-MY mah-SHEE-tah
became fully booked; ended up being full
予想より
phrase
yoh-SOH yoh-ree
than expected
予約しました
verb
yoh-yah-koo shee-mah-SHEE-tah
reserved; made a reservation
Quiz
Spelling
Tap the letters to spell the word.
reserved; made a reservation
Show Answer
予約しましたI’m sorry
Show Answer
申し訳ありませんthan expected
Show Answer
予想よりnoisy; loud