New here? This is lesson 110 of a free 240-lesson Japanese course.
Hotel problems in Japanese
Leo is away from Yanaka on a short work trip and checks into a hotel. His room key works once, then refuses at the door.
The room is loud, the air conditioner is silent, and the shower has no hot water. Leo apologizes as if he caused every problem.
At the desk, he learns to report problems clearly and ask for another room. Staff—not Leo—will handle the repair.
By the end of this lesson
Report a hotel room problem and politely ask to change rooms.
- 部屋がうるさすぎます。The room is too noisy.
- エアコンが動きません。The air conditioning isn't working.
- ルームキーが使えません。The room key doesn't work.
- お湯が出ません。There's no hot water.
- 部屋に入れません。I can't get into the room.
- 部屋を変えてもらえますか。Could I change rooms?
Scene — a room with problems
On a short work trip, Leo returns to his hotel room after stepping into the hallway. His key will not open the door, so he goes to reception.
After staff lets him back in, he notices loud noise, a silent air conditioner, and a cold shower. He wonders if he broke something.
Learn — tell the hotel staff
These six lines cover common room troubles: noise, a key that does not work, no hot water, and being locked out.
Finish by asking politely to change rooms.
部屋がうるさすぎます。
The room is too noisy.
When to use it: Use this to tell hotel staff that noise in your room is excessive.
すぎます after an adjective stem means that something is too much.
エアコンが動きません。
The air conditioning isn't working.
When to use it: Use this when the air conditioner will not run.
が marks the air conditioner as the thing that is not working.
ルームキーが使えません。
The room key doesn't work.
When to use it: Use this when your room key will not open the door.
が marks the key as the thing you cannot use.
お湯が出ません。
There's no hot water.
When to use it: Use this when no hot water comes from the tap or shower.
が marks hot water as the thing that is not coming out.
部屋に入れません。
I can't get into the room.
When to use it: Use this when you are locked out of your room.
に marks the room as the place you cannot enter.
部屋を変えてもらえますか。
Could I change rooms?
When to use it: Use this to politely ask hotel staff for a different room.
もらえますか politely asks someone to do something for you.
Story — a noisy room
Leo finds more than one problem in his hotel room and reports them at the desk. He apologizes as if the faulty equipment were his fault.
Highlighted phrases are the new lines. Turn on Show English if you want a gloss.
- Leo's key will not open the door. He heads back to reception.
Leoすみません。部屋に入れません。Excuse me. I can't get into the room.- Hotel staffカードキーを確認いたします。少々お待ちください。I'll check your key card. Please wait a moment.
- Leoルームキーが使えません。The room key doesn't work.
- Hotel staffお待たせいたしました。どうぞお入りください。Thank you for waiting. Please go in.
- Leoありがとうございます。Thank you.
- Back inside, Leo hears the traffic and checks the silent air conditioner.
- Leo部屋がうるさすぎます。エアコンが動きません。The room is too noisy. The air conditioning isn't working.
- Hotel staff申し訳ございません。すぐに確認いたします。I'm very sorry. I'll check right away.
- Leoお湯が出ません。私が壊したのでしょうか。There's no hot water. Did I break it?
- Hotel staffいいえ、お客様のせいではありません。設備の問題です。No, it's not your fault. It's an equipment problem.
- Leo部屋を変えてもらえますか。Could I change rooms?
- Hotel staffはい。別のお部屋をご用意いたします。Certainly. I'll prepare another room.
- Leoありがとうございます。Thank you.
Practice — report the right problem
Report specific room problems, choose the right particle, and build a polite request.
The situations will help you tell a broken key from a noisy room.
0 of 10 done
What did you hear?
What did you hear?
Fill the gap
Fill the gap
There's no hot water.
お湯____出ません。
What do you say?
What do you say?
You are already inside your room. The key worked, but the air conditioner will not turn on. Tell the front desk.
Build the line
Build the line
Could I change rooms?
。
Tap the words in order.
Pick the reply
Hotel staff says:
Pick the reply
今、お部屋に入れませんか。
Can't you get into your room right now?
And you reply with:
What do you say?
What do you say?
You are at the front desk. Your room key will not open the door. Report the key problem.
Find the mistake
Find the mistake
What does it mean?
What does it mean?
すみません。
What do you say?
What do you say?
The hotel staff has arranged another room for you. Thank them.
What do you say?
What do you say?
The desk confirms your room has several problems and asks what you would like. Ask politely to move to another room.
Say it — ask to move rooms
You are Leo at the hotel desk. Listen to each prompt, then record your reply when it is your turn.
You can play the model first. Your recording is for practice and is not scored.
- Hotel staffエアコンの調子はいかがですか。How is the air conditioner working?
- Leo (you)Tell the staff the air conditioner isn't working.
Tell the staff the air conditioner isn't working.
エアコンが動きません。
The air conditioning isn't working.
0 of 4 said
Recap — what you can say now
| Japanese | English | Play |
|---|---|---|
| 部屋がうるさすぎます。 | The room is too noisy. | |
| エアコンが動きません。 | The air conditioning isn't working. | |
| ルームキーが使えません。 | The room key doesn't work. | |
| お湯が出ません。 | There's no hot water. | |
| 部屋に入れません。 | I can't get into the room. | |
| 部屋を変えてもらえますか。 | Could I change rooms? |
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Keep practicing with Yak Cards
Keep these room-problem phrases ready for your next trip. Open the Yak Cards for this lesson and review them on the train.
A short Yak Cards review helps you explain a problem clearly when you need to.
Open Yak Cards