Discussing Shared Hallway Safety | Learn Japanese in English

Japanese lesson set in a contemporary Tokyo everyday setting: In a shared building hallway, two neighbors discuss boxes blocking access and plan a neutral safety message to residents..

EN → JA / Level: B2

About This Lesson

Use Discussing Shared Hallway Safety to practice Japanese conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

A

共有廊下にいくつか箱が置きっぱなしになっています。

KYOH-yoo ROH-kah nee ee-KOOT-soo-kah HAH-koh gah oh-kee-pah-NAH-shee nee NAHT-teh ee-MAHS. Some boxes have been left in the shared hallway.
B

特に緊急時には、通行の妨げになる可能性があります。

toh-KOO-nee keen-KYOO-jee nee wah, tsoo-KOH noh sah-mah-TAH-geh nee nah-roo kah-noh-SAY ah-ree-MAHS. That could block access, especially in an emergency.
A

誰のものか分からないので、移動させていません。

DAH-reh noh MOH-noh kah wah-kah-rah-NAI noh-deh, ee-DOH sah-SEH-teh ee-MAH-sen. I am not sure whose they are, so I have not moved them.
B

住民に中立的なメッセージを送るべきです。

JOO-meen nee CHOO-ree-tsuh-TEH-kee nah meh-SEH-jee oh oh-KOO-roo beh-KEE dess. We should send a neutral message to the residents.
A

そのメッセージは、責任を追及するよりも安全に重点を置くべきです。

soh-noh meh-SEH-jee wah, seh-kee-NIN oh tsoo-KYOO soo-roo YOH-ree-moh ahn-ZEN nee JOO-ten oh oh-KOO beh-KEE dess. The message should focus on safety rather than blame.
B

そのような伝え方のほうが、普通は良い反応を得られます。

soh-noh YOH-oh-nah tsoo-tah-EH-kah-tah noh HOH-oh gah, foo-TSOO wah yoh-EE hahn-NOH oh eh-rah-REH-mahs. That framing usually gets a better response.
A

誰も自分のものだと申し出なければ、管理側が次の対応を決められます。

DAH-reh moh jee-BOON noh MOH-noh dah-toh moh-SHEE-deh nah-keh-reh-bah, kahn-ree-GAH-wah gah TSOO-gee noh tah-ee-OH oh kee-meh-RAH-reh-mahs. If nobody claims them, management can decide the next step.
B

それなら、手続きが公平になり、記録も残ります。

soh-reh nah-rah, teh-tsoo-KEE gah koh-HEI nee nah-ree, kee-ROH-koo moh noh-koh-ree-MAHS. That keeps the process fair and documented.

Word by Word

共有 共有 means shared or common here, describing the hallway used by multiple residents. It commonly appears before a noun, as in 共有廊下. Use it when describing something jointly used by several people.
廊下 廊下 means hallway, the passage where the boxes have been left in this dialogue. It commonly combines with a modifier such as 共有廊下. Use it when referring to an indoor passage between rooms or units.
に に marks the location where the boxes are present in 共有廊下に. Here it points to the place affected by the situation. It is commonly used after a place when saying that something exists or is located there.
いくつか いくつか means some or several in いくつか箱. It indicates an unspecified small number of boxes rather than a precise quantity. Use it before a noun when the exact number is not important.
箱 箱 means box or boxes in this dialogue. The form itself does not show whether there is one box or more, and いくつか supplies the plural-like quantity here. Use it for a container with sides and a fixed shape.
が が marks 箱 as the subject of the situation: the boxes are the things left in the hallway. It commonly follows the person or thing being newly described or identified. Use it to mark what performs an action or exists in a stated condition.
置きっぱなし 置きっぱなし describes something left as it was put, without being dealt with or moved. In this expression, 置き contributes the idea of being put down, and っぱなし adds the sense that it has been left in that state. Use 置きっぱなし for items left unattended or not put away.
なっています なっています says that the boxes are currently in the resulting state expressed by 置きっぱなしになっています. It presents the situation as an existing condition rather than simply mentioning an earlier action. Use the pattern Xになっています when something is now in a particular state.
特に 特に means especially in 特に緊急時には, highlighting emergencies as an important case. It commonly comes before the situation or item receiving special emphasis. Use it when one case deserves more attention than others.
緊急時 緊急時 means in an emergency or at an emergency time. In 緊急時には, it identifies the circumstances in which blocked access would be particularly serious. Use it when discussing procedures or risks during an emergency.
は は marks 緊急時 as the topic or specific situation being highlighted in 緊急時には. Here it gives special focus to emergencies. Use it after a time, place, or topic when setting the context for what follows.
通行 通行 means passage or movement through, especially the ability to pass along the hallway. In 通行の妨げ, it specifies what is being obstructed. Use it with の妨げ when describing something that interferes with passage.
の の links 通行 to 妨げ in 通行の妨げ, showing that the hindrance concerns passage. It commonly connects two nouns so that the first describes or specifies the second. Use it to form relationships such as XのY.
妨げ 妨げ means an obstruction or hindrance in 通行の妨げになる. It identifies the boxes as something that interferes with passage. Use it for something that prevents or makes an activity more difficult.
なる なる means become or result in here, as in 妨げになる: the boxes may result in an obstruction to passage. It is commonly used in the pattern Xになる to say that something becomes or serves as X. Use it when describing a change or resulting role.
可能性 可能性 means possibility in 通行の妨げになる可能性. It presents the obstruction as something that may happen, not as a certain result. Use it before があります or a similar expression when discussing the possibility of an event or condition.
あります あります says that the possibility exists in 可能性があります. Here it completes the statement that there is a possibility that passage will be obstructed. Use あります with non-living things, conditions, or abstract matters such as 可能性.
誰 誰 means who in 誰のものか分からない. It asks which person is connected to the belongings, within an expression of uncertainty. Use it before のもの when asking whose property something is.
もの もの means thing or belonging in 誰のものか. With a person before の, it refers to something belonging to that person. Use the pattern Xのもの when identifying ownership.
か か marks the embedded uncertainty in 誰のものか分からない. It turns the preceding phrase into an uncertain question-like clause rather than a direct question to the listener. Use Xか分からない when you do not know whether or what X is.
分からない 分からない means do not know or cannot tell here, referring to the unknown owner of the boxes. In 誰のものか分からない, it says the speaker cannot determine whose belongings they are. Use it after a question-like clause when the answer is unknown.
ので ので means because or since in 誰のものか分からないので, giving the reason for not moving the boxes. It commonly follows a clause and introduces a relatively measured explanation. Use XのでY when X is the reason for Y.
移動 移動 means moving or relocating in 移動させていません. It identifies the action that has not been carried out on the boxes. Use it with する or させる when referring to moving something from one place to another.
させて させて contributes the idea of having the boxes moved in 移動させていません. It connects that action to いません, producing the meaning that the speaker has not had them moved. Use Xさせて with いません when saying that someone has not caused or arranged for X to happen.
いません いません makes the action in 移動させていません negative: the speaker has not had the boxes moved. Here it completes the polite negative expression rather than describing a person's absence. Use it after a verb in this pattern to say that an action is not being done or has not been done.
住民 住民 means residents, the people living in the shared building. In 住民に, they are the recipients of the message. Use it for people who live in a particular area or building.
中立的 中立的 means neutral in 中立的なメッセージ, describing a message that does not take sides or directly accuse someone. It commonly comes before な when modifying a noun. Use it when communication should remain impartial.
な な links 中立的 to メッセージ in 中立的なメッセージ. It allows this type of adjectival form to describe the following noun. Use it between a な-type description and the noun it modifies.
メッセージ メッセージ means message, the communication intended for the residents. In メッセージを送る, it is the thing being sent. Use it for written or spoken information communicated to someone.
を を marks メッセージ as the direct object of 送る in メッセージを送る. It identifies what is sent. Use it after the noun receiving the action of a transitive verb.
送る 送る means send in メッセージを送る. Here it describes sending a neutral message to the residents. Use the pattern Xを送る for sending a message, item, or other object.
べき べき expresses that sending the message is the appropriate or expected action in 送るべきです. It is followed by です here to make the recommendation polite. Use the pattern verb dictionary form plus べきです when stating what someone ought to do.
です です gives the recommendation in 送るべきです a polite, formal ending. It does not supply the meaning of obligation; that meaning comes from べき. Use it after べき when presenting advice or an expectation politely.
その その means that or the mentioned in そのような伝え方, referring back to the approach just described. It comes directly before the expression it specifies. Use it when pointing to something associated with the listener or already mentioned.
伝え方 伝え方 means a way of conveying or presenting something, here referring to the way the safety message is framed. It commonly appears with の, as in Xの伝え方, to identify how X is communicated. Use it when discussing different ways to explain or communicate an idea.
ほう ほう in 伝え方のほうが identifies that way of communicating as the option receiving the comparison. In this dialogue, it is the framing that is said to get the better response. Use the pattern Xのほうが when comparing options and presenting X as preferable or greater.
責任 責任 means responsibility, and in 責任を追及する it refers to assigning or pursuing blame for the boxes. It is the object of 追及する in this dialogue. Use it when discussing who is responsible for an action or problem.
追及する 追及する means pursue responsibility or blame in 責任を追及する. Here it describes focusing on identifying or challenging whoever caused the problem. Use the pattern 責任を追及する when discussing the pursuit of accountability.
より より introduces the comparison in 責任を追及するよりも安全に重点を置く, meaning rather than pursuing blame. It sets the first option against the action preferred in the message. Use it with XよりもY when contrasting X with Y.
も も adds emphasis to the comparison in よりも. Together, よりも makes the contrast between pursuing blame and focusing on safety clear. Use it after より when strengthening a rather-than comparison.
安全 安全 means safety in 安全に重点を置く. It is the main concern the message should emphasize instead of blame. Use it with に重点を置く when describing safety as the focus of an action or policy.
重点 重点 means the main focus or emphasis in 安全に重点を置く. It identifies safety as the area receiving priority in the message. Use the pattern Xに重点を置く when saying that an activity emphasizes X.
置く 置く normally means put or place, but in 重点を置く it means place emphasis or focus on something. Here, 安全に重点を置く means to make safety the priority. Use the pattern Xに重点を置く for a topic that receives special emphasis.
ような ような means such or of that kind in そのような伝え方, referring to a way of communicating like the one just described. It modifies the following noun, 伝え方. Use そのような＋noun when pointing to something of the mentioned kind.
普通 普通 means usually or ordinarily in 普通は, describing what generally happens with this kind of framing. It commonly comes before は when stating a general tendency. Use it when describing what normally occurs rather than an exceptional case.
良い 良い means good in 良い反応, and the context presents this response as better than the alternative. It directly describes 反応. Use it before a noun when evaluating something positively.
反応 反応 means response or reaction in 良い反応. Here it is the reaction residents are likely to give to the message. Use it when describing how people respond to communication, events, or actions.
得られます 得られます means can obtain or receive in 反応を得られます, so the framing can produce a better response. It commonly follows を when describing something that can be obtained. Use the pattern Xを得られる when saying that someone can gain or receive X.
自分 自分 means oneself or one's own in 自分のものだ. Here it identifies the person claiming the boxes as their owner. Use 自分のもの when referring to something belonging to oneself.
だ だ is the plain copula in 自分のものだと, stating that the boxes are one's own. The と marks this statement as the content of 申し出る. Use Xだと when reporting or including the statement that something is X.
申し出なければ 申し出なければ means if no one comes forward or claims them in 誰も自分のものだと申し出なければ. The form sets a condition under which management will decide what to do next. Use the pattern Xと申し出る for claiming or offering oneself for a role, and Xなければ for an if-not condition.
管理側 管理側 means the management side, referring to the people responsible for managing the building. In 管理側が, it is the subject that can decide the next action. Use 側 after a group or role when distinguishing that side from another involved party.
次 次 means next in 次の対応, referring to what should happen after the ownership issue is addressed. It commonly comes before の and a noun. Use 次の＋noun when referring to the following step, event, or item.
対応 対応 means response, handling, or action taken in 次の対応. Here it refers to the management action that follows if nobody claims the boxes. Use it when discussing how an organization deals with a problem or situation.
決められます 決められます means can decide in 管理側が次の対応を決められます. It expresses that management has the ability or authority to determine the next action. Use the pattern Xを決められる when saying that someone can decide X.
それなら それなら means if so or then, connecting the second speaker's conclusion to the preceding proposal. Here it signals that the proposed process would lead to the benefits that follow. Use it when responding to information or a suggestion and drawing a consequence from it.
手続き 手続き means process or procedure in 手続きが公平になり. It refers to the steps used to handle the boxes and decide what happens next. Use it for an organized procedure used to complete or manage something.
公平 公平 means fair or impartial in 公平になり. It describes a process that treats the people involved without unfair preference. Use it with になる when saying that a process or result becomes fair.
なり なり means becomes or turns out to be here, as in 公平になり, and it connects the fair result to the following clause. It is the connecting form of the expression になる in this sentence. Use Xになり、Y when linking a resulting state with another result or action.
記録 記録 means a record or documentation in 記録も残ります. It refers to information about the process remaining available afterward. Use it when referring to written or stored evidence of events, decisions, or procedures.
残ります 残ります means remains or is left behind in 記録も残ります. Here it says that a record of the process will continue to exist. Use it with 記録 when saying that documentation remains after an action or process.

Grammar Points

〜させる（使役）

箱を移動させてください。

HAH-koh oh ee-DOH sah-SEH-teh koo-DAH-sai.

Please move the box.

使役形は「誰かに何かをさせる」意味です。ここでは移動させる＝物を動かす、という意味になります。

〜なければ

誰かが申し出なければ、管理側が対応します。

DAH-reh-kah gah moh-SHEE-deh nah-keh-reh-bah, kahn-ree-GAH-wah gah tah-ee-OH shee-MAHS.

If no one comes forward, management will respond.

「〜なければ」は「もし〜しなかったら」や「〜でない場合」を表す条件表現です。

Japanese Vocabulary

移動させる verb
ee-DOH sah-SEH-roo to move something 移動させて
可能性 noun
kah-noh-SAY possibility; likelihood
共有廊下 noun
KYOH-yoo ROH-kah shared hallway
緊急時 noun
keen-KYOO-jee in an emergency; during an emergency
住民 noun
JOO-meen resident
責任を追及する phrase
seh-kee-NIN oh tsoo-KYOO soo-roo to assign blame; to hold someone responsible
誰のものか phrase
DAH-reh noh MOH-noh kah whose it is
置きっぱなし phrase
oh-kee-pah-NAH-shee left unattended; left where it was
中立的な adj
CHOO-ree-tsuh-TEH-kee nah neutral
通行 noun
tsoo-KOH passage; traffic
箱 noun
HAH-koh box
妨げ noun
sah-mah-TAH-geh obstruction; hindrance

Quiz

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

whose it is

Show Answer誰のものか

left unattended; left where it was

Show Answer置きっぱなし

to move something

Show Answer移動させて

shared hallway

Show Answer共有廊下