About This Lesson
Use Reporting a Lost Pair of Headphones to practice Japanese conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.
Dialogue
A
待合エリアにヘッドホンを置き忘れたと思います。
mah-chee-AH-ee EH-ree-ah nee heh-doh-HOHN oh oh-kee-wah-soo-REH-tah toh oh-moh-ee-MAHSS I think I left my headphones in the waiting area.
B
どこに座っていたか覚えていますか。
doh-koh nee sah-tteh ee-TAH kah oh-boh-eh-teh ee-MAHSS kah Do you remember where you were sitting?
A
窓の近くで、充電スポットのそばです。
mah-doh noh chee-kah-koo deh, joo-DEHN soo-POH-ttoh noh soh-bah dess Near the window, by the charging points.
B
それなら、スタッフも場所を絞り込めます。
soh-reh nah-rah, soo-TAH-foo moh bah-shoh oh shee-boh-ree-koh-meh-MAHSS That narrows it down for the staff.
A
費用よりも、保存した設定を失うことのほうが心配です。
hee-YOH yoo-ree-moh, hoh-ZOHN shee-tah seh-TAY oh oo-shee-NAH-oo koh-toh noh hoh-gah shee-PAI dess I am more worried about losing the saved settings than the cost.
B
それなら、エリアが片付けられる前に届け出ましょう。
soh-reh nah-rah, EH-ree-ah gah kah-tsoo-keh-rah-reh-roo mah-eh nee toh-doh-keh-DEH-mah-SHOH Then let us report it before the area gets cleared.
A
紛失物の届け出には何を書けばよいですか。
foon-shee-tsoo-boo-tsoo noh toh-doh-keh-DEH nee-wah nah-nee oh kah-keh-bah yoh-ee dess kah What should I include in the lost item report?
B
色と種類、それからケースの変わった点を説明してください。
EE-roh toh shoo-ROO-ee, soh-reh kah-rah KAY-soo noh kah-wah-tah ten oh seh-tsoo-MAY shee-teh koo-dah-SAI Describe the color, the type, and anything unusual about the case.Word by Word
待合エリア
「待合エリア」 means the waiting area where people stay before departure or service. Here it is the place where the headphones may have been left. A common reuse pattern is 「待合エリアにいる」 for being in the waiting area.
に
「に」 marks 「待合エリア」 as the location where the headphones were left. It connects a place with an action or state. The same location pattern appears in 「駅に着く」 as a new example.
ヘッドホン
「ヘッドホン」 means headphones, the item being reported as missing here. It is the object marked by 「を」 in the sentence. You can use it with descriptions such as color or type when identifying an item.
を
「を」 marks 「ヘッドホン」 as the object affected by 「置き忘れた」. It shows what was accidentally left behind. A common reuse pattern is 「物を置く」, meaning to put an item somewhere.
置き忘れた
「置き忘れた」 means accidentally left something behind, as in forgetting an item at a place. Here it describes what happened to the headphones in the waiting area. A useful pattern is 「場所に物を置き忘れる」 for leaving an item somewhere.
と
「と」 marks the preceding statement 「置き忘れた」 as the content of the thought in 「置き忘れたと思います」. It connects a quoted idea with 「思います」. This pattern is useful when cautiously stating what you think happened.
思います
「思います」 means think or believe, and here it makes the report less definite: the speaker thinks the headphones were left there. It follows the thought content with 「と」 in 「置き忘れたと思います」. Use it to give a personal belief or judgment politely.
どこ
「どこ」 asks where, referring here to the place where the speaker was sitting. It introduces the location part of the embedded question 「どこに座っていたか」. A common reuse pattern is 「どこにありますか」 when asking where something is.
座って
「座って」 means sitting in the form used inside 「座っていた」. It combines with 「いた」 to describe the speaker’s sitting state at that time. A common pattern is 「ここに座ってください」 when asking someone to sit here.
いた
「いた」 shows that the state of sitting existed at the relevant past time in 「座っていたか」. Together with 「座って」, it asks where the person was sitting. This form is useful for asking about an ongoing state in the past.
か
「か」 marks the embedded question in 「どこに座っていたか」. The question is part of the larger polite question ending with 「覚えていますか」. It commonly follows an embedded question when its answer is requested indirectly.
覚えています
「覚えています」 means remember and asks whether the listener still has the information in memory. Here it takes the embedded question 「どこに座っていたか」 as what is remembered. A common reuse pattern is 「名前を覚えています」 for remembering a name.
窓
「窓」 means window and identifies one landmark near the place where the speaker was sitting. Here it is linked to 「近く」 in 「窓の近く」. It can be used with location expressions to give a clear reference point.
の
「の」 links 「窓」 and 「近く」 in 「窓の近く」, meaning near the window. It shows that the following location is related to the window. The same linking pattern can describe a place near another landmark.
近く
「近く」 means near or nearby, and here it identifies the location as near the window. It combines with 「の」 in 「窓の近く」. A common reuse pattern is 「駅の近く」 for near the station.
で
「で」 marks the setting or location associated with the statement 「窓の近くで」. Here it helps describe where the speaker was sitting. It is commonly used after a place when an action or situation occurs there.
充電スポット
「充電スポット」 means a charging point or place where devices can be charged. Here it is another landmark, located beside the speaker’s seat. It is useful when giving specific location details in a station or public facility.
そば
「そば」 means beside or close to, and here it refers to the area beside the charging points. It appears in 「充電スポットのそば」, where 「の」 links the landmark to the nearby location. A common reuse pattern is 「人のそばにいる」 for being beside someone.
です
「です」 politely presents the preceding location information as a statement in 「充電スポットのそばです」. Here it completes the short answer about where the speaker was sitting. It is commonly used after a noun or location phrase in polite speech.
それ
「それ」 refers to the location details just given, especially the window and charging points. In 「それなら」, it provides the basis for the next conclusion. It can refer to information already mentioned in the conversation.
なら
「なら」 means if that is the case or given that information. Here 「それなら」 means that, with those location details, the staff can narrow the search. It is useful for responding to information and drawing a related conclusion.
スタッフ
「スタッフ」 means the staff responsible for helping at the station or facility. Here they are the people who can use the location details to narrow the search. It can refer generally to workers at a service location.
も
「も」 means also or too, adding the staff to the people who can act on the information. In 「スタッフも場所を絞り込めます」, it indicates that the staff can also narrow down the location. It commonly adds another person or group to an action.
場所
「場所」 means place or location, and here it is the possible place where the headphones were left. It is the object of 「絞り込めます」 in 「場所を絞り込めます」. A common reuse pattern is 「場所を確認する」 for checking a location.
絞り込めます
「絞り込めます」 means can narrow down, here referring to reducing the possible locations for the lost headphones. The location being narrowed is marked by 「を」 in 「場所を絞り込めます」. Use it when details make a search or choice more specific.
費用
「費用」 means cost or expense, and here it refers to the financial value of replacing or losing the headphones. It is the comparison point in 「費用よりも」. A common reuse pattern is 「費用がかかる」 for something costing money.
より
「より」 marks 「費用」 as the comparison point in 「費用よりも、保存した設定を失うことのほうが心配です」. The sentence says that losing the saved settings worries the speaker more than the cost does. It is useful in comparisons where one concern or choice is stronger than another.
保存
「保存」 relates to saving or storing information, and here it refers to the stored settings of the headphones. It forms 「保存した設定」 with 「した」, describing settings that were saved. This word is commonly used for data, files, or device settings.
した
「した」 marks the saving action as completed in 「保存した設定」, meaning settings that have been saved. It is the completed form of 「する」 used inside the noun description. It commonly follows a verb stem in a completed-action description.
設定
「設定」 means settings or configurations, and here it refers to the saved device preferences the speaker does not want to lose. It is described by 「保存した」 in 「保存した設定」. A common reuse pattern is 「設定を変更する」 for changing settings.
失う
「失う」 means lose, and here it refers to losing the saved settings rather than merely losing the physical headphones. It appears in the noun-like expression 「失うこと」. A common reuse pattern is 「機会を失う」 for losing an opportunity.
こと
「こと」 turns the action 「失う」 into an act or fact that can be discussed as a concern in 「失うことのほうが心配です」. It lets the speaker compare losing the settings with the cost. This pattern is useful when an action is treated as a subject or topic.
ほう
「ほう」 means the side or option that is more applicable in the comparison 「費用よりも、保存した設定を失うことのほうが心配です」. It marks losing the settings as the greater concern. It is commonly used in comparisons with 「より」.
が
「が」 marks 「保存した設定を失うことのほう」 as the focus of the concern in 「ほうが心配です」. It identifies which side of the comparison is more worrying. A common pattern is 「何が心配ですか」 when asking what concerns someone.
心配
「心配」 expresses worry or concern, and here the speaker is more concerned about losing the saved settings than about the cost. It appears as 「心配です」 with the polite ending 「です」. A common reuse pattern is 「家族が心配です」 for saying that one is worried about family.
エリア
「エリア」 means area, and here it is the station waiting area that may be cleared. It is the subject of the clearing event in 「エリアが片付けられる前に」. It can refer to a defined part of a station, building, or other place.
片付けられる
「片付けられる」 describes the area being cleared or tidied by someone or by a cleaning process. Here it sets the event that should happen after the report in 「片付けられる前に」. It is useful when referring to an area or object being cleared.
前
「前」 means before in 「片付けられる前に」, placing the reporting action earlier than the clearing of the area. With 「に」, it creates a time boundary for the action. A common reuse pattern is 「出発する前に」 for before departing.
届け出ましょう
「届け出ましょう」 means let us report or file a notification, and here it proposes reporting the lost headphones. The form invites the listener to act together. It is useful when suggesting a joint action in a polite way.
紛失物
「紛失物」 means a lost item, and here it refers to the headphones being reported. It appears in the formal administrative expression 「紛失物の届け出」. This word is useful when dealing with a lost-and-found office or official report.
届け出
「届け出」 means a report or notification submitted to an authority or service desk. Here it is the report for the lost item in 「紛失物の届け出」. It is useful for formal notifications such as reporting a lost item.
は
「は」 marks the preceding phrase 「紛失物の届け出には」 as the topic of the question. The full phrase asks what should be written in the lost item report. This particle commonly sets the matter currently being discussed as the topic.
何
「何」 means what, and here it asks which information should be included in the lost item report. It is the object of 「書けば」 in 「何を書けばよいですか」. A common reuse pattern is 「何を持っていけばいいですか」 for asking what to bring.
書けば
「書けば」 presents writing as the condition in 「何を書けばよいですか」. With 「何」 as its object, it asks what should be written. This pattern is useful for asking what action or information is appropriate.
よい
「よい」 means good or appropriate, and in 「何を書けばよいですか」 it makes the question ask what would be the proper thing to write. Together with 「書けば」, it gives a polite way to ask what should be done. It is commonly used when asking for an appropriate action.
色
「色」 means color, and here it is one detail to give when identifying the lost item. It is listed with 「種類」 and other case details in the report instructions. A common reuse pattern is 「色を説明する」 for describing an item’s color.
種類
「種類」 means type or kind, and here it asks for the category or type of headphones. It is one of the identifying details to include in the report. It is commonly used when distinguishing among different kinds of objects.
から
「から」 means and then in 「色と種類、それからケースの変わった点」. Here it introduces the next item in a list rather than indicating a starting point. It is useful for adding another detail after information already mentioned.
ケース
「ケース」 means the case or protective container associated with the headphones. Here the listener is asked to describe unusual features of this case. It is useful when identifying an item by its container or accessory.
変わった
「変わった」 means unusual or distinctive in 「ケースの変わった点」. It identifies features of the case that may help distinguish it from other cases. A common reuse pattern is 「変わった特徴」 for an unusual feature.
点
「点」 means a point, aspect, or feature, and here it refers to a distinctive aspect of the case. The phrase 「変わった点」 asks for anything unusual that could help identify it. It is useful when listing specific features or details.
説明
「説明」 means description or explanation, and here it is the information the listener should provide about the item. It appears in the request 「説明してください」. A common reuse pattern is 「特徴を説明する」 for explaining features.
して
「して」 is the linking form of 「する」 in 「説明してください」. It connects the action of describing with 「ください」 to form a polite request. This pattern is useful when asking someone to carry out an action.
ください
「ください」 makes 「説明してください」 a polite request meaning please describe it. Here the listener is being asked to provide the color, type, and unusual case details. It commonly follows this linking form when requesting an action politely.
Grammar Points
〜ていた
窓の近くに座っていた。
mah-doh noh chee-kah-koo nee sah-tteh ee-TAHI was sitting near the window.
The pattern 〜ていた describes an action or state that was continuing in the past.
〜られる（受け身）
片付けられる。
kah-tsoo-keh-rah-reh-rooIt is cleared away.
Here, 〜られる shows that the subject receives an action; context determines the exact passive meaning.
Japanese Vocabulary
スタッフ
noun
soo-TAH-foo
staff
そば
noun
soh-bah
near; beside
ヘッドホン
noun
heh-doh-HOHN
headphones
覚えていますか
phrase
oh-boh-eh-teh ee-MAHSS kah
do you remember
絞り込めます
verb
shee-boh-ree-koh-meh-MAHSS
can narrow down
座っていた
verb
sah-tteh ee-TAH
was sitting
充電スポット
noun
joo-DEHN soo-POH-ttoh
charging point
窓の近く
phrase
mah-doh noh chee-kah-koo
near the window
待合エリア
noun
mah-chee-AH-ee EH-ree-ah
waiting area
置き忘れた
verb
oh-kee-wah-soo-REH-tah
left behind
ヘッドホンを置き忘れた
費用
noun
hee-YOH
cost
保存した設定
phrase
hoh-ZOHN shee-tah seh-TAY
saved settings
Quiz
Spelling
Tap the letters to spell the word.
near the window
Show Answer
窓の近くheadphones
Show Answer
ヘッドホンcan narrow down
Show Answer
絞り込めますcharging point