Clarifying Repair Responsibility | Learn Japanese in English

Sentence explanations

1. この修理が私の責任なのかどうか、よく分かりません。

   I am unsure whether this repair is my responsibility.

   この

   this

   修理

   repair

   私

   I; me

   責任

   responsibility

   なのかどうか

   whether … is

   よく

   well; clearly

   分かりません

   do not understand; am unsure

   More detail

   この points to a specific nearby or contextually identified item and comes directly before the noun it modifies. Here, the fixed translation identifies that item as “this repair.” Unlike a standalone demonstrative, この normally needs a following noun: この修理 means “this repair.” 修理 is a noun meaning “repair” or “the repair work” here. It can also be used in compounds or with verbs, for example 修理する means “to repair.” In this sentence it is the subject marked by が inside the embedded question. 私 means “I” or “me,” depending on its role in the sentence. Japanese personal pronouns generally do not mark grammatical gender or plural number in this form. In 私の責任, の connects it to the following noun: 私の責任 means “my responsibility.” 責任 is a noun meaning “responsibility.” The phrase 私の責任 identifies whose responsibility is being considered. A useful contrasting expression is 責任がある, “to have responsibility” or “to be responsible,” but that is a different construction from the noun phrase used here. なのかどうか forms an embedded yes-or-no question after a noun or noun-like predicate. Here, 責任なのかどうか asks whether something is responsibility: “whether it is responsibility.” Because 責任 is a noun, the copular form before のか is な: 責任なのか. The pattern can be reused as Aなのかどうか分かりません, “I do not know whether A is the case.” どうか makes the alternative-question meaning explicit rather than asking for a specific information word. よく is an adverb meaning “well” in this use. It modifies the following expression 分かりません, so the combined meaning is that the matter is not understood clearly or confidently. It is not part of the meaning of 責任 or なのかどうか. 分かりません is the polite negative form of 分かる, “to understand,” “to know,” or “to be clear.” The negative polite ending is ません; thus 分かりません literally presents a lack of understanding, while in this sentence the natural meaning is “I am unsure” or “I cannot tell.” For example, 答えが分かりません。 means “I do not know the answer.” Together, この修理 identifies the repair being discussed, and 私の責任 gives the possible responsibility relation. この修理が私の責任なのかどうか means “whether this repair is my responsibility.” Adding よく分かりません says that the speaker cannot determine that clearly, producing the full meaning: “I am unsure whether this repair is my responsibility.”

2. 通常の使用による損傷かどうかによります。

   It depends on whether the damage came from normal use.

   通常の

   normal; ordinary

   使用

   use

   による

   caused by; due to

   損傷

   damage

   かどうか

   whether or not

   よります

   depends on

   More detail

   通常の means “normal” or “ordinary” here and modifies 使用. The form 通常の + noun is a reusable way to describe something as ordinary or usual; 通常 itself is a noun/adverb-like word, and の links it attributively to the following noun. 使用 means “use.” It is a noun here, but it also appears in the verb 使用する, “to use.” For example: この機能を使用します。 — “I use this function.” による expresses a cause or source: “caused by” or “resulting from.” In 通常の使用による損傷, the noun phrase before による identifies the cause of the damage. The related pattern AによるB means “B caused by A” or “B due to A.” 損傷 means “damage” or “physical damage.” It is a noun. In this sentence it is the thing whose cause is being considered. For example: 水による損傷 means “damage caused by water.” かどうか turns the preceding clause or phrase into an embedded yes-or-no question: “whether or not.” Here, 通常の使用による損傷かどうか asks whether it is damage caused by normal use. The pattern 〜かどうか分かりません means “I do not know whether …,” as in the preceding context’s 私の責任なのかどうか、よく分かりません (“I am unsure whether it is my responsibility”). よります is the polite nonpast form of よる in the expression 〜による, “depend on.” The construction Aによります means “it depends on A.” This によります is different in function from the causal による earlier in the sentence: the earlier form links a cause to a noun, while this ending says that the answer varies according to the stated condition. Together, 通常の使用による損傷かどうか means “whether the damage was caused by normal use,” and によります says that the matter depends on that determination. The complete utterance is therefore: “It depends on whether the damage came from normal use.”

3. 固定具は、特に強い力を加えなくても、徐々に緩みました。

   The fixture loosened gradually, without any unusual force.

   固定具

   fixture

   特に

   especially

   強い

   strong

   力

   force

   加えなくても

   without applying

   徐々に

   gradually

   緩みました

   loosened

   More detail

   固定具 is the noun meaning “fixture” or “fastening device” here. It names the thing that loosened; the sentence does not specify a more particular type of device. 特に means “particularly” or “especially.” Here it highlights the degree of 強い力, making the phrase mean “particularly strong force.” 強い is the i-adjective “strong.” Its basic form is 強い; before a noun, as here, it stays 強い: 強い力 (“strong force”). In adverbial use, the related form is 強く, as in 強く押す (“push strongly”). 力 is the noun “force” or “strength.” In this sentence it refers to force being applied, not to a person’s general physical strength. 加えなくても comes from the transitive verb 加える (“apply” or “add”). The negative form 加えない combines with ても: 加えなくても means “even without applying” or “even if [someone] does not apply.” The object of the applying is understood from the nearby phrase: 力を加える means “apply force.” 徐々に means “gradually,” describing a change that happens little by little over time. It modifies the loosening rather than naming a separate action. 緩みました is the polite past form of the intransitive verb 緩む, “become loose” or “loosen.” The subject is the 固定具, and the form presents its loosening as an event that occurred. This differs from transitive 緩める, “loosen something,” which would require an agent acting on an object. Together, 特に強い力を加えなくても means “even without applying particularly strong force,” 徐々に means “gradually,” and 固定具は…緩みました means “the fixture loosened.” The complete utterance is: “The fixture gradually loosened without any unusual force being applied.”

4. それなら、通常の維持管理に当たる可能性があります。

   Then it may fall under routine maintenance.

   それなら

   then; in that case

   通常の

   routine; ordinary

   維持管理

   maintenance and management

   に当たる

   fall under; correspond to

   可能性があります

   there is a possibility; may be

   More detail

   それなら means “then” or “in that case.” それ is a demonstrative referring to something already established, and なら presents that situation as the condition for what follows. Example: それなら、始めましょう。 — “In that case, let’s begin.” 通常の means “routine” or “ordinary” here. 通常 is a noun meaning “the usual state” or “normal practice”; の links it attributively to the noun that follows. Example: 通常の手順 — “the usual procedure.” 維持管理 is a compound noun meaning “maintenance and management,” and in this sentence it refers to routine maintenance work. It is a noun, not an inflected verb. Example: 設備の維持管理 — “maintenance and management of the equipment.” に当たる means “to fall under” or “to qualify as.” The particle に marks the category or classification, while 当たる is the base form of the verb meaning “to correspond to” or “to apply.” In this usage, Aに当たる means “fall under category A.” Example: この作業は点検に当たる。 — “This work falls under inspection.” 可能性があります expresses that a possibility exists, so in this context it gives the cautious meaning “may” or “there is a possibility.” 可能性 is the noun “possibility,” and あります is the polite non-past form of ある, “to exist” for something non-living or abstract. The pattern V-plain form + 可能性がある means “there is a possibility that V”; here, に当たる可能性があります means “there is a possibility that it falls under [that category].” Example: 遅れる可能性があります。 — “There is a possibility that it will be late.” Together, それなら sets the preceding situation as the condition. 通常の維持管理に当たる classifies the matter as routine maintenance, and 可能性があります softens that classification into a possibility rather than a definite conclusion. The whole utterance therefore means: “Then it may fall under routine maintenance.”

5. 評価結果を記録に残していただきたいです。

   I would prefer the assessment to be documented.

   評価結果

   assessment result

   記録

   record

   残して

   leave or keep

   ていただきたいです

   would like someone to …

   More detail

   評価結果 means “assessment result”: 評価 is “evaluation/assessment,” and 結果 is “result.” Together they form a compound noun, so this chunk refers to the result of an assessment rather than to the act of assessing. Example: 調査結果 means “investigation results.” 記録 means “record” or “documentation.” It is a noun that can refer to a written or otherwise preserved record. Example: 記録を確認する means “check the record.” 残して is the て-form of 残す, “to leave” or “to preserve.” Here it describes preserving something in a record. The て-form connects this action to the following expression; it does not by itself mark past time. Example: 名前を残す means “leave one’s name behind” or “preserve a name,” depending on context. ていただきたいです is a polite way to express the speaker’s wish that someone perform an action for them. The pattern is verb-ていただきたいです, literally presenting the desired action as something the speaker would like to receive as a favor. In this sentence, 残していただきたいです means “I would like you to leave/preserve it.” いただきたい is built from the polite humble form いただく plus たい, which expresses desire; です makes the statement polite. This is more deferential than a direct request such as 残してください (“please leave/preserve it”). Together, 評価結果を marks the assessment result as the object, 記録に marks the record as the place or destination in which it is preserved, and 残していただきたいです politely expresses the speaker’s preference that someone preserve it there. The whole utterance therefore means: “I would prefer the assessment to be documented.”

6. 責任は原因に基づいて判断されるべきですから、それは理にかなっています。

   That makes sense, since responsibility should be based on the cause.

   責任

   responsibility

   原因

   cause

   基づいて

   based on

   判断される

   be judged

   べき

   should

   ですから

   since; because

   それは

   that; as for that

   理にかなっています

   makes sense

   More detail

   責任 means “responsibility.” It is a noun. In the sentence, 責任は makes responsibility the topic; は is outside the selected quote and marks what the statement is about. 原因 means “cause.” It is a noun. The particle に in 原因に combines with 基づく in the pattern Nに基づく: “be based on N.” 基づいて is the て-form of 基づく, “to be based on” or “to be founded on.” In 原因に基づいて, it connects “based on the cause” to the following judgment. Example: 事実に基づいて決めます。 — “I decide based on the facts.” 判断される is the passive, nonpast form of 判断する (“to judge” or “to assess”): 判断する → 判断される. Here it means “be judged” or “be assessed,” with the person making the judgment left unstated. The passive reading is supported by the meaning of responsibility being assessed. べき expresses what is proper, expected, or advisable. With the preceding nonpast verb, 判断されるべきです means “should be judged.” A useful negative contrast is 判断されるべきではありません, “should not be judged.” The form べき applies to the judgment, not to 責任 as an adjective. ですから connects a reason to a conclusion. After the preceding clause, it means “since” or “because” here: “since it should be judged.” ですから can also introduce a result in other sentence arrangements, but the fixed translation supports the causal reading here. それは consists of それ, “that,” and topic-marking は. Here それ refers to the preceding proposition as a whole—responsibility being judged based on the cause—rather than identifying a particular noun. The topic then receives the evaluation in the final part. 理にかなっています is a polite expression meaning “makes sense” or “is reasonable.” Its base expression is 理にかなう, “to be reasonable” or “to accord with reason”; 理にかなっている presents that as a current state, and 理にかなっています is its polite form. Example: その説明は理にかなっています。 — “That explanation makes sense.” Together, 責任は原因に基づいて判断されるべきですから says “since responsibility should be judged based on the cause.” それは理にかなっています then says “that makes sense.” Japanese places the reason clause before the conclusion here, while the English translation uses “since” to show the same relationship.

7. 保守依頼と一緒に写真を送ることができます。

   I can send photos with the maintenance request.

   保守依頼

   maintenance request

   と一緒に

   together with

   写真

   photos

   送る

   send

   ことができます

   can do so

   More detail

   保守依頼 means “maintenance request” here. 依頼 is a request or service request, and 保守 specifies the maintenance-related domain. This noun compound is reusable: [service area] + 依頼, such as 修理依頼 (“repair request”) when that is the intended service. と一緒に means “together with” and marks something accompanying another item. The particle と links the accompanying noun, while 一緒に expresses being together. For example, 書類と一緒に送ります。 means “I will send it together with the documents.” 写真 means “photos” here. The form itself does not mark plural number; the context and translation identify multiple photos. 写真を uses を to mark the direct object of the sending action. For example, 写真を確認します。 means “I will check the photos.” 送る is the dictionary form “to send.” In this sentence it is followed by こと, which turns the verb phrase into a noun-like expression: 送ること means “sending” or “to send” as an action. The object marked by を comes before the verb: 写真を送る means “send photos.” ことができます expresses ability or possibility: literally, the nominalized action 送ること plus できます, “can do.” The polite form できます is the non-past polite form of できる, “to be able to” or “to be possible.” The construction verb-dictionary-form + ことができる is a reusable way to say that someone can perform an action. For example, オンラインで申請することができます。 means “You can apply online.” Together, 保守依頼と一緒に sets the accompanying item, 写真を送る means “send photos,” and ことができます adds the ability meaning. The complete utterance therefore means “I can send photos with the maintenance request.”

8. 写真を添付し、問題がどのように進行したかを説明してください。

   Please attach them and describe how the problem developed.

   写真

   photo; photograph

   添付し

   attach and…

   問題

   problem; issue

   どのように

   how; in what way

   進行したか

   how it progressed

   説明してください

   please explain

   More detail

   写真 means “photo” here. Japanese nouns generally do not mark singular versus plural, so this form can refer to one photo or multiple photos. In the supplied context, the translation identifies the intended items as the photos being sent. Example: 写真を送ります。 — “I will send photos/a photo.” 添付し is the connective form of 添付する (“to attach”). It links this action to the following request: 写真を添付し、… means “attach the photo(s), and …”. The form 添付し is not a separate past-tense form; it is the continuative form used here to join clauses. Example: ファイルを添付し、送信します。 — “I will attach the file and send it.” 問題 means “problem” or “issue.” It is a noun and does not itself show number. Example: 問題を確認します。 — “I will check the problem.” どのように asks “how” or “in what way.” It introduces the manner in which something happens. It is more explicit than simply asking whether something happened. Example: どのように修理しましたか。 — “How did you repair it?” 進行した is the past form of 進行する, “to progress” or “to develop.” In this sentence, it describes how the problem unfolded or developed over time. The past form is appropriate because the requested description concerns what happened. Example: 作業は順調に進行した。 — “The work progressed smoothly.” か closes the embedded question どのように進行したか, literally asking “how it progressed.” In this construction, か does not make the whole sentence a direct question; the embedded question is the object of 説明してください. 説明してください is a polite request meaning “please explain.” It combines 説明する (“to explain”) with てください, a polite request pattern. The subject of the request is understood from context rather than stated in this sentence. Example: 理由を説明してください。 — “Please explain the reason.” Together, 写真を添付し asks the listener to attach the photo(s), and 問題がどのように進行したかを説明してください asks the listener to explain how the problem developed. The complete meaning is: “Please attach them and describe how the problem developed.”