About This Lesson
Use Clarifying Repair Responsibility to practice Japanese conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.
Dialogue
A
この修理が私の責任なのかどうか、よく分かりません。
koh-NOH shoo-REE gah wa-ta-SHEE noh seh-kee-NEEN nah-noh-kah doh-KAH, YOH-koo wa-kah-ree-ma-SEN. I am unsure whether this repair is my responsibility.
B
通常の使用による損傷かどうかによります。
tsoo-JOH noh shee-YOH nee YOH-roo sohn-SHOH kah doh-KAH nee yoh-ree-MAS. It depends on whether the damage came from normal use.
A
固定具は、特に強い力を加えなくても、徐々に緩みました。
koh-TAY-goo wa, toh-KOO-nee tsoo-YOH-ee CHEE-kah-rah oh koo-wah-EH-nah-koo-teh-moh, JOH-joh nee yoo-roo-mee-ma-SHEE-tah. The fixture loosened gradually, without any unusual force.
B
それなら、通常の維持管理に当たる可能性があります。
soh-REH-nah-rah, tsoo-JOH noh ee-JEE kahn-REE nee ah-tah-ROO kah-NOH-say-gah ah-ree-MAS. Then it may fall under routine maintenance.
A
評価結果を記録に残していただきたいです。
hyoh-KAH KEK-kah oh kee-ROH-koo nee noh-KOH-shee-teh ee-tah-dah-kee-TAH-ee dess. I would prefer the assessment to be documented.
B
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。
seh-kee-NEEN wa geh-NIN nee moh-TOH-zoo-ee-teh han-DAHN sah-REH-roo beh-KEE dess kah-RAH, soh-REH wa ree nee kah-NAHT-teh ee-MAS. That makes sense, since responsibility should be based on the cause.
A
保守依頼と一緒に写真を送ることができます。
hoh-SHOO ee-RAI toh ee-SHOH nee SHAH-shin oh oh-KOO-roo koh-toh gah deh-kee-MAS. I can send photos with the maintenance request.
B
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。
SHAH-shin oh ten-POO shee, moh-DAI gah doh-NOH yoh-NEE sheen-KOH shee-TAH kah oh sets-MAY shee-teh koo-DAH-sai. Please attach them and describe how the problem developed.Word by Word
この
この means “this” and points to the repair being discussed. It comes directly before a noun, as in この修理. Use it when identifying something near the speaker or already clear in the conversation.
修理
修理 means “repair” here, referring to the work needed to fix the problem. It is used as a noun in この修理. A common pattern is 修理を依頼する, “request a repair,” as a new example.
が
が marks この修理 as the subject of the embedded question. In この修理が私の責任なのかどうか, it identifies what is being considered. Use it after the subject when stating or asking what something is.
私
私 means “I” here and identifies the tenant speaking. With の, 私の means “my” in 私の責任. This is a standard way to refer to oneself in a neutral or polite setting.
の
の links 私 to 責任 and shows the relationship “my responsibility.” In 私の責任, it places the describing noun before the noun it modifies. Use the pattern AのB when B belongs to or is associated with A.
責任
責任 means “responsibility” here, specifically responsibility for この修理. In 私の責任, it is the noun being identified in the embedded question. Use 責任を負う, “bear responsibility,” as a new example.
な
な links the noun 責任 to the embedded question marker か in 責任なのか. It is used because the question concerns whether something is a responsibility. This pattern can follow a noun before か when asking whether it is that thing.
か
か marks the embedded question in 責任なのかどうか. Here it helps express uncertainty about whether the repair is the speaker’s responsibility. It can follow a question clause inside a larger sentence.
どうか
どうか completes なのかどうか and means “whether or not.” The full expression presents two possibilities without choosing one. Use the pattern Aかどうか, “whether A or not,” as a new example.
よく
よく means “well” or “clearly” in よく分かりません, so the speaker does not clearly understand. Here it modifies 分かりません rather than meaning “often.” Use よく分かりません when politely saying that something is not clear.
分かり
分かり contributes “understand” or “know” in よく分かりません. This form connects to the polite negative ません to make the complete expression 分かりません. Use it in patterns such as 内容が分かりません, “I do not understand the content,” as a new example.
ません
ません makes 分かりません a polite negative expression, meaning “do not understand” in this dialogue. It follows 分かり and gives the sentence a respectful tone. Use it after the appropriate connected verb form when politely describing what you do not know or do not do.
通常
通常 means “normal” or “usual” in 通常の使用, referring to ordinary use. With の, it describes 使用. Use 通常の手順, “the usual procedure,” as a new example.
使用
使用 means “use” in 通常の使用, referring to the ordinary use of something. It is linked to 通常 by の and to 損傷 by による. In formal contexts, 使用する means “to use,” as a new example.
に
に helps form による in 通常の使用による損傷. Together with よる, it marks the cause or basis connected to the damage. Use による before a noun when describing something caused by or resulting from something else.
よる
よる means “be caused by” or “be due to” in による. In 通常の使用による損傷, it says that the damage resulted from normal use. Use the pattern AによるB, “B caused by A,” as a new example.
損傷
損傷 means “damage” here, referring to the damage whose cause determines responsibility. It is modified by 通常の使用による. Use 損傷を確認する, “check the damage,” as a new example.
より
より is the connected form used in によります, meaning that the answer “depends on” whether the damage came from normal use. It connects to the polite ending ます. Use Xによります when saying that a result depends on X.
ます
ます makes によります polite and nonpast, giving the statement “it depends” a respectful tone. It follows the connected form より. Use the same polite ending after a suitable verb form in formal conversation.
固定具
固定具 means “fixture” or “fastening fitting” here, the object that gradually became loose. It is the topic marked by は in 固定具は. Use 固定具を取り付ける, “attach a fixture,” as a new example.
は
は marks 固定具 as the topic of the sentence. The sentence then explains what happened to that fixture. Use は after the item you want to set as the topic of a statement.
特に
特に means “particularly” or “especially” in 特に強い力, emphasizing that no especially strong force was involved. It comes before the phrase it modifies. Use it to single out a notable degree or condition in a description.
強い
強い means “strong” in 強い力, describing the degree of 力. It comes before the noun it modifies. Use the pattern 強い力, “strong force,” when describing considerable physical force.
力
力 means “force” here, specifically the physical force that was not applied to the fixture. を marks it as the object of 加え. Use 力を加える, “apply force,” as a new example.
を
を marks 力 as the object of 加え in 力を加えなくても. It shows what would be applied or exerted. Use it after the direct object before the verb that acts on it.
加え
加え contributes “apply” or “exert” in 力を加えなくても. It is the connected form before なくても, which adds the meaning “even without applying.” Use 力を加える when describing the application of force.
なくても
なくても means “even without doing” in 力を加えなくても, so the fixture loosened despite no unusual force being applied. It follows the negative connected form of 加える. Use the pattern Aなくても, “even without doing A,” when describing a condition that was unnecessary.
徐々に
徐々に means “gradually” and describes the slow change in 徐々に緩みました. It indicates that the fixture did not loosen all at once. Use it before a verb when describing a process that develops little by little.
緩み
緩み means “loosened” in 徐々に緩みました, describing the fixture becoming less tight. This form connects to the polite past ending ました. Use 緩む for a fixture or fastening fitting that becomes loose, as a new example.
ました
ました makes 緩みました polite and past, indicating that the fixture loosened. It follows the connected form 緩み. Use this ending to report a completed past event politely.
それ
それ means “that” or “it” in それなら, referring to the information just given about how the fixture loosened. It points back to the preceding statement. Use it when responding to something already mentioned.
なら
なら means “if so” or “then” in それなら. It introduces the conclusion that follows from the previous information. Use それなら when drawing a response or conclusion from what someone has just said.
維持
維持 contributes “maintenance” or “upkeep” in 維持管理. It describes keeping something in its existing condition. Together with 管理, it forms the formal maintenance-related expression used in this discussion.
管理
管理 contributes “management” in 維持管理. With 維持, it refers to routine upkeep and management rather than a particular repair action. Use 維持管理 as a formal term for ongoing upkeep.
当たる
当たる means “fall under” or “apply to” in 維持管理に当たる. It says that the matter may be classified as routine maintenance. Use the pattern Aに当たる when deciding that something belongs to a category.
可能性
可能性 means “possibility” in 可能性があります, indicating that the classification is not certain. It is followed by があります to state that such a possibility exists. Use 可能性がある when presenting a possible outcome without asserting it as definite.
あり
あり contributes “exist” or “be present” in 可能性があります. It connects the noun 可能性 to the polite ending ます. Use it in expressions such as 問題があります, “there is a problem,” as a new example.
評価
評価 means “assessment” or “evaluation” in 評価結果. It refers to the office’s assessment of the repair responsibility. Use 評価を行う, “conduct an assessment,” as a new example.
結果
結果 means “result” in 評価結果, referring to the result of the assessment. It follows 評価 to form a compound noun. Use 結果を記録する, “record the result,” as a new example.
記録
記録 means “record” or “documentation” in 記録に残す. It refers to a written or otherwise retained record of the assessment result. Use 記録を残す when asking that information be kept on file.
残し
残し contributes “leave” or “retain” in 記録に残していただきたいです. It connects to て and expresses the action of leaving the result on record. Use 記録に残す when documenting an important decision or event.
て
て connects 残し to いただきたい in 残していただきたいです. Here it links the requested action with the polite request construction. Use a verb in this connected form before ください or いただきたい when making a polite request.
いただき
いただき is the humble request component in 残していただきたいです, showing that the speaker would like the listener to perform the action. It follows the て-form of 残す. Use Vていただきたいです when politely saying that you would like someone to do something.
たい
たい expresses “want to” or “would like to” in いただきたいです. In this sentence, it makes the request sound like a respectful preference rather than a direct command. Use it after a connected verb form to state what you would like to do or have done.
です
です gives いただきたいです a polite sentence ending. It presents the speaker’s preference respectfully in the housing-office discussion. Use it after a polite nominal or adjective-like expression when making a courteous statement.
原因
原因 means “cause” in 原因に基づいて, referring to what caused the damage. It is the basis used for judging responsibility. Use 原因を調べる, “investigate the cause,” as a new example.
基づいて
基づいて means “based on” in 原因に基づいて判断されるべきです. It shows that the judgment should use the cause as its basis. Use the pattern Aに基づいてB, “do B based on A,” as a new example.
判断
判断 means “judgment” or “assessment” in 判断されるべきです. It refers to deciding responsibility after considering the cause. Use 判断を下す, “make a judgment,” as a new example.
される
される means “be judged” in 判断されるべきです. It presents the judgment as something done to responsibility rather than by naming the judge. Use it after a noun such as 判断 when describing an action carried out on something.
べき
べき expresses “should” or “ought to” in 判断されるべきです. It says that responsibility is expected to be judged according to the cause. Use Vるべきです when stating what should be done.
から
から means “because” or “since” in 判断されるべきですから. It gives the reason why the speaker agrees that the assessment should be documented. Use it after a clause when explaining the reason for the following statement.
理にかなっています
理にかなっています as a whole means “makes sense” or “is reasonable.” 理 refers to reason or sound logic, に marks the relationship to that standard, かなって expresses being in accord with it, and います gives the polite state-like ending. Use the whole expression to agree that someone’s proposal or conclusion is reasonable.
保守
保守 means “maintenance” or “servicing” in 保守依頼. It describes the maintenance-related service being requested. Together with 依頼, it forms a formal term for a maintenance request.
依頼
依頼 means “request” in 保守依頼, referring to the request submitted to the housing office. It follows 保守 to specify what kind of request it is. Use 依頼を出す, “submit a request,” as a new example.
と
と means “with” in 保守依頼と一緒に, linking the maintenance request with the photos sent alongside it. It identifies the item accompanying the action. Use Aと一緒にB when doing B together with or alongside A.
一緒
一緒 means “together” in 保守依頼と一緒に. With に, the expression means “together with” or “along with.” Use Aと一緒に when indicating that two things are handled or sent together.
写真
写真 means “photo” or “photograph” here, referring to images of the fixture and damage. It is the object sent in 写真を送る. Use 写真を添付する, “attach a photo,” as a new example.
送る
送る means “send” in 写真を送る. It describes sending the photos with the maintenance request. Use the pattern Aを送る when sending an item or message to someone.
こと
こと nominalizes 写真を送る in 写真を送ることができます, turning the action into “the act of sending photos.” This allows できます to express ability to perform that action. Use Vることができる when saying that someone can do something.
でき
でき contributes “can” or “be able to” in ことができます. It connects to ます to make the ability statement polite. Use Vることができます when describing an available action or capability.
添付し
添付し means “attach” in 添付し, and it links the instruction to the following instruction about describing the problem. Here the object being attached is the photos mentioned previously. Use 写真を添付する when adding photos to a request or form.
問題
問題 means “problem” in 問題がどのように進行したか, referring to the repair issue. It is the subject of the embedded question about how the issue developed. Use 問題が起きる, “a problem occurs,” as a new example.
どの
どの means “which” or “what kind of” in どのように. Together with ように, it asks about the manner or process of development. Use it before a noun in direct questions, or in どのように to ask how something happened.
よう
よう means “way” or “manner” in どのように. With どの and に, it forms the expression “how” or “in what way.” Use どのように説明するか, “how to explain it,” as a new example.
進行した
進行した means “developed” or “progressed” in 問題がどのように進行したか. It asks how the problem changed over time. Use it to describe the course of a problem, process, or situation that has progressed.
説明して
説明して means “explain” or “describe” in 説明してください. It is the connected form used before ください to make a polite request. Use Vてください when politely asking someone to perform an action.
ください
ください makes 説明してください a polite request meaning “please explain.” It follows the connected form 説明して and addresses the housing-office worker respectfully. Use it after a verb in this form when requesting an action.
Grammar Points
〜てください
説明してください。
sets-MAY shee-TEH koo-DAH-saiPlease explain.
The て-form＋ください makes a polite request. It is used when asking someone to do something.
〜に基づいて〜される
評価結果に基づいて判断される。
hyoh-KAH KEK-kah nee moh-TOH-zoo-ee-teh han-DAHN sah-REH-rooIt is determined based on the assessment result.
に基づいて means “based on,” and される is passive, showing that a decision is made about something.
Japanese Vocabulary
それなら
conj
soh-REH-nah-rah
then; in that case
それなら、通常の維持管理に当たる可能性があります。
よく分かりません
phrase
YOH-koo wa-kah-ree-ma-SEN
am unsure; do not understand well
この修理が私の責任なのかどうか、よく分かりません。
維持管理
noun
ee-JEE kahn-REE
routine maintenance
それなら、通常の維持管理に当たる可能性があります。
緩む
verb
yoo-ROO-moo
to loosen
緩みました
固定具は、特に強い力を加えなくても、徐々に緩みました。
強い
adj
tsoo-YOH-ee
strong
固定具は、特に強い力を加えなくても、徐々に緩みました。
固定具
noun
koh-TAY-goo
fixture
固定具は、特に強い力を加えなくても、徐々に緩みました。
修理
noun
shoo-REE
repair
この修理が私の責任なのかどうか、よく分かりません。
徐々に
adv
JOH-joh nee
gradually
固定具は、特に強い力を加えなくても、徐々に緩みました。
責任
noun
seh-kee-NEEN
responsibility
この修理が私の責任なのかどうか、よく分かりません。
損傷
noun
sohn-SHOH
damage
通常の使用による損傷かどうかによります。
通常の使用
phrase
tsoo-JOH noh shee-YOH
normal use
通常の使用による損傷かどうかによります。
特に
adv
toh-KOO-nee
particularly; especially
固定具は、特に強い力を加えなくても、徐々に緩みました。
Quiz
Spelling
Tap the letters to spell the word.
am unsure; do not understand well
Show Answer
よく分かりませんnormal use
Show Answer
通常の使用to loosen
Show Answer
緩みましたroutine maintenance