About This Lesson
Use Calmly addressing late-night noise to practice Japanese conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.
Dialogue
A
あなたの音楽が壁越しにはっきり聞こえることをお伝えしたいと思っていました。
ah-NAH-tah-noh ohn-GAH-koo-gah kah-BEH-goh-shee-nee HAK-kee-ree kee-KOH-eh-roo koh-toh-oh oh-TSOO-tah-eh shee-TAI-toh oh-MOHT-teh ee-MAH-shee-tah. I wanted to mention that your music carries clearly through the wall.
B
そちらまで聞こえているとは気づきませんでした。
soh-CHEE-rah mah-DEH kee-KOH-eh-teh ee-ROO toh-WAH kee-DZOO-kee-mah-SEN-deh-shee-tah. I did not realize it was reaching your side.
A
特に気になるのは、建物が静かになる夜遅い時間です。
toh-koo-nee kee-nee-NAH-roo-noh-WAH, tah-teh-MOH-noh-gah shee-ZOO-kah-nee nah-ROO yoh-roo oh-SOH-ee jee-KAHN dess. It is mostly noticeable late at night, when the building is quiet.
B
低音を下げて、スピーカーを壁から離せます。
teh-ee-OHN-oh sah-GEH-teh, soo-PEE-kah-oh kah-BEH-kah-rah hah-NAH-seh-mahss. I can lower the bass and move the speakers away from the wall.
A
それなら助かります。特に仕事のある夜は。
seh-REH nah-rah tah-soo-kah-ree-MAHSS. toh-koo-nee shee-GOH-toh-noh ah-ROO yoh-roo-WAH. That would help, especially on work nights.
B
その変更で十分でなければ、教えてください。
soh-noh hen-KOH-deh joo-BOON-deh nah-keh-REH-bah, oh-SHEH-teh koo-dah-SAI. Please tell me if the change is not enough.
A
話し合うつもりでいてくださって、ありがたいです。
hah-nah-shee-ah-OO tsoo-MOH-ree deh ee-TEH koo-dah-SAH-tteh, ah-ree-gah-TAI dess. I appreciate you being willing to talk about it.
B
気まずくなる前に、これを解決しておくほうがよいです。
kee-MAH-zoo-koo nah-ROO mah-eh-nee, koh-REH-oh kai-KEH-tsu shee-TEH oh-KOO hoh-GAH yoh-EE dess. It is better to sort this out before it turns into tension.Word by Word
あなた
「あなた」 refers to the person being addressed, here the neighbor whose music is being discussed. It is used before 「の」 to identify whose music it is. In this conversation, it directly identifies the other person without changing the calm tone of the request.
の
「の」 marks possession in 「あなたの音楽」, meaning that the music belongs to or is associated with the person addressed. It comes between the possessor and the noun. This pattern is useful whenever one noun identifies the owner or source of another noun.
音楽
「音楽」 means music, specifically the sound that is carrying through the wall in this conversation. It is the noun marked as the subject by 「が」. It can be used for discussing music as a sound, activity, or type of entertainment.
が
「が」 marks 「音楽」 as the subject of 「聞こえる」, so the music is what can be heard. It commonly follows the thing that is audible or noticeable. Here it keeps the focus on the sound rather than on the person producing it.
壁越し
「壁越し」 means through or across a wall, describing how the sound reaches the other side. It forms a compound with 「に」 in 「壁越しにはっきり」. This is useful when explaining that a sound, view, or signal passes through a barrier.
に
In 「壁越しに」, 「に」 marks the channel or manner through which the music is heard. Together with 「壁越し」, it gives the meaning through the wall. This placement is useful when describing how something reaches another place.
はっきり
「はっきり」 means clearly or distinctly in this dialogue, emphasizing that the music can be heard without difficulty. It modifies 「聞こえる」. It is useful for describing sounds, words, images, or facts that are easy to perceive.
聞こえる
「聞こえる」 means to be audible or to be heard, here describing music that reaches the neighbor naturally through the wall. It presents the sound as perceptible rather than describing someone intentionally listening. It is useful for reporting whether a sound can be heard in a particular place.
こと
「こと」 turns the preceding situation, 「あなたの音楽が壁越しにはっきり聞こえる」, into the fact being conveyed. It is the object of 「お伝え」. This use is helpful when talking politely about an entire fact or event rather than a single noun.
を
「を」 marks the fact expressed by 「こと」 as the object of 「お伝えしたい」. It shows what the speaker wants to convey. This particle commonly follows the thing or information affected by an action.
お伝え
「お伝え」 means conveying or telling something politely, here referring to informing the neighbor about the music. The polite form appears in 「お伝えしたい」. It is useful for communicating information or concerns respectfully.
したい
「したい」 expresses the speaker’s wish to do the preceding action, so 「お伝えしたい」 means wanting to convey something. It follows the convey expression and makes the opening sound less abrupt. This form is useful when introducing a request, concern, or piece of information gently.
と
「と」 introduces the content of the speaker’s thoughts in 「お伝えしたいと思っていました」. It links the wish to the following expression of thinking. This use is common when reporting what someone thinks, says, or intends.
思って
「思って」 presents the speaker as having been thinking or intending to say something, here in 「お伝えしたいと思っていました」. It links the thought to the polite past state that follows. This form is useful for explaining a prior intention before finally raising a topic.
いました
「いました」 gives the preceding thought a polite past-state meaning: the speaker had been thinking or intending to mention the issue. It completes 「思っていました」. This polite form is useful when referring respectfully to a state or intention that existed earlier.
そちら
「そちら」 refers to the other person’s side or location, here the neighbor’s side of the wall. It is followed by 「まで」 to show that the sound reaches that far. This expression is useful when referring politely to the other person’s place or side.
まで
「まで」 marks the endpoint reached by the sound in 「そちらまで」, meaning as far as the other person’s side. It emphasizes the extent of the sound’s reach. This particle is useful for identifying how far an action, movement, or effect extends.
聞こえて
「聞こえて」 is the linking form of 「聞こえる」 in 「聞こえている」, describing the music as being audible on the neighbor’s side. It connects the audible state to 「いる」. This form is useful when one state continues or is observed as ongoing.
いる
「いる」 shows that the audible state in 「聞こえている」 continues or exists at that time. Together, 「聞こえている」 means that the sound is reaching the other side and can be heard. This pattern is useful for describing an ongoing perceptible condition.
は
「は」 adds emphasis to the content in 「聞こえているとは気づきませんでした」. It highlights the fact that the sound was reaching the neighbor’s side, which the speaker had not realized. This use can give a quoted or stated fact a contrastive or emphatic focus.
気づき
「気づき」 is the form used before 「ませんでした」 to express noticing or realizing something. In 「気づきませんでした」, the speaker says they did not realize that the music was reaching the other side. It is useful when reporting a realization or lack of awareness.
ませんでした
「ませんでした」 makes the preceding action politely negative and past, so 「気づきませんでした」 means did not realize. It places the lack of realization before the current conversation. This form is useful for politely describing something that did not happen in the past.
特に
「特に」 means especially or particularly, narrowing the complaint to the time when the noise is most noticeable. Here it emphasizes the late hours rather than all times of day. It is useful when identifying the most relevant part of a situation.
気になる
As a whole, 「気になる」 means to catch someone’s attention or become a concern; here the noise is particularly noticeable late at night. 「気」 contributes the person’s attention or concern, 「に」 marks what that attention is directed toward, and 「なる」 presents that state as arising. This expression is useful for describing a sound, detail, or situation that keeps attracting attention.
建物
「建物」 means building, here the shared building that becomes quiet at night. It is the subject of 「静かになる」. It is useful when discussing conditions or events connected with a particular building.
静か
「静か」 describes the building as quiet in 「静かになる」. It names the state that the building enters as the night progresses. This form is useful for describing a place with little or no noise.
なる
「なる」 means become, and in 「静かになる」 it shows a change into a quiet state. It links a state such as 「静か」 with the process of reaching that state. This pattern is useful when describing something becoming quieter, busier, easier, or different.
夜
「夜」 means night, the part of the day being discussed in 「夜遅い時間」. It combines with 「遅い」 to identify late nighttime hours. It is useful for locating an event or condition within the day.
遅い
「遅い」 means late here and modifies 「時間」 in 「夜遅い時間」. It identifies the nighttime period when the music is most noticeable. This use is helpful when specifying a late time rather than simply mentioning night.
時間
「時間」 means time or hours, here referring to the late nighttime period when the building is quiet. It is described by 「夜遅い」. It is useful for identifying when an event or condition occurs.
です
「です」 politely states the identification in 「特に気になるのは、建物が静かになる夜遅い時間です」. It completes the sentence by saying that the late nighttime hours are the particularly noticeable time. This polite ending is useful for presenting information or an explanation respectfully.
低音
「低音」 means bass or low-frequency sound, the part of the music that the neighbor offers to reduce. It is the object of 「下げて」. It is useful when discussing the lower sound range of music or other audio.
下げて
「下げて」 means lowering the bass and then continuing to the next action in 「下げて、スピーカーを壁から離せます」. It links the proposed volume adjustment with moving the speakers. This form is useful for connecting two actions performed as part of one practical solution.
スピーカー
「スピーカー」 means speaker, the audio equipment that can be moved away from the wall. It is the object being moved in the proposed adjustment. It is useful when discussing the position or setup of sound equipment.
壁
「壁」 means wall, here the surface from which the speakers can be moved away. It is followed by 「から」 to mark the point of separation. This noun is useful when describing the physical location or source of a sound barrier.
から
「から」 marks the wall as the point from which the speakers can be separated in 「壁から離せます」. It gives the meaning away from the wall. This particle is useful for describing movement or distance from a starting point.
離せます
「離せます」 means can move or position something away, here saying that the speakers can be separated from the wall. It presents the adjustment as a practical ability or available action. This form is useful when offering a way to create more distance between objects.
それ
「それ」 refers to the adjustment just proposed: lowering the bass and moving the speakers away from the wall. It lets the speaker respond without repeating the whole proposal. This pronoun is useful for referring to something that has just been mentioned.
なら
「なら」 means if that is the case or then, connecting 「それ」 with the speaker’s positive response. In 「それなら助かります」, it makes the help conditional on that proposed adjustment. This form is useful when responding to a suggestion or condition.
助かります
「助かります」 means that something will help or that the speaker appreciates the assistance. Here it responds positively to the proposed noise reduction. It is useful for acknowledging practical help in a polite way.
仕事
「仕事」 means work, here referring to work obligations connected with certain nights. It is part of 「仕事のある夜」. This noun is useful when identifying a schedule or situation involving work.
ある
「ある」 expresses existence in 「仕事のある夜」, identifying nights on which work exists or is scheduled. It modifies 「夜」 through the surrounding phrase. This pattern is useful for describing a noun associated with a particular condition or availability.
その
「その」 means that or the specified, here pointing to the adjustment already discussed. It modifies 「変更」 so the listener knows which change is meant. This demonstrative is useful when referring to something previously identified in the conversation.
変更
「変更」 means change or adjustment, here referring to lowering the bass and moving the speakers. It is evaluated with 「十分」 in the question about whether the adjustment is enough. It is useful for discussing a deliberate modification to a plan or arrangement.
で
In 「その変更で十分でなければ」, 「で」 frames the change as the means or condition being evaluated. The question asks whether the situation is sufficient with that adjustment. This use is helpful when assessing whether a particular measure solves a problem.
十分
「十分」 means enough or sufficient, here asking whether the proposed change adequately reduces the noise. It is followed by the negative conditional form 「なければ」. It is useful for judging whether an action or amount meets a need.
なければ
「なければ」 gives the condition if something is not the case; here, if the change is not enough. It introduces the condition under which the neighbor should report the remaining problem. This pattern is useful for politely setting a condition for a later action.
教えて
「教えて」 means tell me or let me know, here asking the neighbor to report whether more adjustment is needed. It is followed by 「ください」 to make a polite request. This form is useful when asking someone to provide information or feedback.
ください
「ください」 makes the preceding request polite in 「教えてください」. Together, the expression asks the other person to let the speaker know. This form is useful after a request to another person to perform an action.
話し合う
「話し合う」 means to discuss or talk something over together, here referring to calmly addressing the noise issue. It presents the conversation as a joint effort rather than a one-sided complaint. This expression is useful when people need to work through an issue together.
つもり
「つもり」 means intention or plan, here referring to the neighbor’s intention to remain willing to discuss the issue. It appears in 「話し合うつもりでいて」. This noun is useful when describing what someone intends or plans to do.
いて
「いて」 shows remaining in the state expressed by 「話し合うつもり」 in 「話し合うつもりでいてくださって」. It links that state to the appreciative expression that follows. This form is useful when describing someone continuing to hold an intention or condition.
くださって
「くださって」 indicates that the other person is kindly doing something for the speaker, here being willing to discuss the issue. It adds respectful appreciation to 「いてくださって」. This form is useful when thanking someone for an action or attitude that benefits the speaker.
ありがたい
「ありがたい」 means grateful or appreciative, here expressing thanks that the neighbor is willing to talk. It describes the speaker’s positive evaluation of the other person’s cooperation. This word is useful when acknowledging help, consideration, or cooperation.
気まずく
「気まずく」 means awkwardly or into an awkward state in 「気まずくなる」. It describes the possible change in the relationship if the issue is left unresolved. This form is useful before 「なる」 when describing something becoming uncomfortable or socially awkward.
前
「前」 means before in 「気まずくなる前に」, marking the time before the situation turns awkward. It places the act of resolving the issue earlier than that possible outcome. This use is helpful when setting a deadline or taking action before an unwanted result.
これ
「これ」 means this, referring to the current noise issue that the neighbors are discussing. It is the object of the resolving action. This pronoun is useful when pointing to a matter that is present or currently under discussion.
解決
「解決」 means resolving or bringing an issue to a solution, here referring to settling the noise matter. It is followed by 「しておく」 to show that the issue should be dealt with in advance. It is useful for discussing problems that need a clear solution.
して
「して」 links the resolving action to 「おく」 in 「解決しておく」. It presents resolving the issue as the action to be completed before tension develops. This form is useful for connecting an action to a following auxiliary expression.
おく
「おく」 acts as an auxiliary in 「解決しておく」, showing that the issue should be resolved in advance. The point is to settle it before the situation becomes awkward. This pattern is useful when taking an action ahead of a later event or possible problem.
ほう
「ほう」 identifies one side or option in the comparison 「解決しておくほうがよい」. It helps present resolving the issue early as the preferable choice. This form is useful when comparing options or recommending one course of action.
よい
「よい」 means good or preferable, and in 「ほうがよい」 it gives the recommendation that resolving the issue beforehand is better. It completes the comparison introduced by 「ほう」. This expression is useful for giving calm advice about what action would be preferable.
Grammar Points
Vる前に
気まずくなる前に、話し合います。
kee-MAH-zoo-koo nah-ROO mah-eh-nee, hah-nah-shee-ah-ee-MAHS.We will talk it over before things become awkward.
前に means “before.” Use the dictionary form of a verb before 前に.
Vておく
夜遅くなる前に、変更を解決しておきます。
yoh-roo oh-SOH-koo nah-ROO mah-eh-nee, hen-KOH-oh kai-KEH-tsu shee-TEH oh-kee-MAHS.We will sort out the change in advance before it gets late at night.
ておく shows that an action is completed in advance for a later situation.
Japanese Vocabulary
お伝えする
verb
oh-TSOO-tah-eh soo-ROO
tell; mention politely
お伝えしたい
お伝えしたいと思っていました
そちら
pron
soh-CHEE-rah
your side; over there
そちらまで聞こえている
はっきり
adv
HAK-kee-ree
clearly
はっきり聞こえる
音楽
noun
ohn-GAH-koo
music
あなたの音楽が壁越しにはっきり聞こえる
気づく
verb
kee-DZOO-koo
realize; notice
気づきませんでした
聞こえているとは気づきませんでした
気になる
phrase
kee-nee-NAH-roo
be noticeable; be concerning
特に気になるのは
建物
noun
tah-teh-MOH-noh
building
建物が静かになる
静か
adj
shee-ZOO-kah
quiet
建物が静かになる
特に
adv
toh-koo-nee
especially; particularly
特に気になるのは
聞こえる
verb
kee-KOH-eh-roo
be audible; can be heard
音楽が壁越しにはっきり聞こえる
壁越し
phrase
kah-BEH-goh-shee
through the wall
壁越しにはっきり聞こえる
夜遅い
phrase
yoh-roo oh-SOH-ee
late at night
夜遅い時間
Quiz
Spelling
Tap the letters to spell the word.
tell; mention politely
Show Answer
お伝えしたいbe noticeable; be concerning
Show Answer
気になるbe audible; can be heard
Show Answer
聞こえるclearly