New here? This is lesson 123 of a free 240-lesson Japanese course.
Reschedule a plan in Japanese
Leo sends Haruka a time for the weekend, then stares at his phone. The hour on the message is wrong.
At Kissa Hotaru they pick a new day, and Leo offers Sunday instead of the old slot.
He also needs to warn her: work might make him a little late, so she should not wait.
You will suggest a better day or time, and you will hedge when you may be late.
By the end of this lesson
Suggest a new day or time and say you might be late.
- 何曜日が一番都合がいいですか。What day works best for you?
- その時間は別の予定があります。I have another appointment then.
- ___のほうがいいですか。Would ___ be better?
- 少し遅れるかもしれません。I may be a little late.
- 私のことは待たないでください。Please don't wait for me.
- 時間を間違えました。I got the time wrong.
Scene — a wrong hour
Yanaka is quiet this afternoon. Leo steps into Kissa Hotaru with his phone still open to a message.
Haruka already sits in a booth with her sketchbook. In the corner, Goro has thick toast and a blend coffee he has not touched.
Learn — a new day
These six lines help you move a plan. You ask which day works, offer a better slot, and warn that you may be late.
One line also tells a friend not to wait.
何曜日が一番都合がいいですか。
What day works best for you?
When to use it: Ask this when you need to pick a new day with someone.
が after 何曜日 marks the day you are asking about.
その時間は別の予定があります。
I have another appointment then.
When to use it: Use this when that time is already taken.
は marks that time as the topic you cannot do.
___のほうがいいですか。
Would ___ be better?
When to use it: Offer a different day or time and check it.
のほう points to the option you are suggesting.
少し遅れるかもしれません。
I may be a little late.
When to use it: Use this before a meeting when a delay is possible.
かもしれません softens the line because you are not sure.
私のことは待たないでください。
Please don't wait for me.
When to use it: Say this so a friend can start without you.
ないでください asks someone politely not to do that.
時間を間違えました。
I got the time wrong.
When to use it: Use this when you wrote or said the wrong hour.
を marks the thing you got wrong, here the time.
Story — Sunday instead
Leo sits down with Haruka at the booth and admits that the hour in his message was wrong.
Highlighted phrases are the new lines. Turn on Show English if you want a gloss.
- Leo checks the message again. Haruka looks up from her sketchbook.
Harukaメッセージに二時と書いてあります。The message says two o'clock.
Leo時間を間違えました。I got the time wrong.- Haruka本当は三時からですよ。It actually starts at three.
- Leo bows a little too deep, then sits.
- Leoその時間は別の予定があります。I have another appointment then.
- Harukaあ、そうですか。Ah, I see.
- Leo何曜日が一番都合がいいですか。What day works best for you?
- Haruka週末は大丈夫です。The weekend is fine.
- Leo日曜日のほうがいいですか。Would Sunday be better?
- Harukaはい、そうしましょう。Yes, let's do that.
- Leo待ち合わせはどこですか。Where shall we meet?
- Haruka駅の前でいいですよ。In front of the station is fine.
- Leo何時に会いますか。What time shall we meet?
- Haruka二時ごろはどうですか。How about around two?
- Leo少し遅れるかもしれません。I may be a little late.
- Goro glances from the corner booth, then goes back to his toast.
- Leo私のことは待たないでください。Please don't wait for me.
- Haruka大丈夫ですよ。That's fine.
Practice — move the plan
Eleven short tasks wait in this round. You will listen, fill a gap, build a line, and fix a swap.
Each one is small, so you move on quickly.
0 of 11 done
What did you hear?
What did you hear?
What does it mean?
What does it mean?
少し遅れるかもしれません。
What do you say?
What do you say?
You need a new day with Haruka. Ask which day works best.
Fill the gap
Fill the gap
I have another appointment then.
その時間は別の予定が____。
Pick the reply
Haruka says:
Pick the reply
ここで待ちますよ。
I'll wait here.
And you reply with:
Build the line
Build the line
I may be a little late.
。
Tap the words in order.
Swap the word
Swap the word
You mixed up the hour. Fix the verb.
時間を____。
What do you say?
What do you say?
Saturday will not work. Ask if Sunday would be better.
Pick the reply
Haruka says:
Pick the reply
駅の前で会いましょうか。
Shall we meet in front of the station?
And you reply with:
What do you say?
What do you say?
You already have a day. Ask where to meet.
Fill the gap
Fill the gap
What time shall we meet?
何時に____か。
Say it — your turn to speak
You are Leo at the booth with Haruka. When the cue is yours, tap the microphone and say the line.
Tap play first if you want to hear it. The recording stays on this device.
- Harukaメッセージに二時と書いてあります。The message says two o'clock.
- Leo (you)Tell her you got the time wrong.
Tell her you got the time wrong.
時間を間違えました。
I got the time wrong.
0 of 6 said
Recap — what you can say now
| Japanese | English | Play |
|---|---|---|
| 何曜日が一番都合がいいですか。 | What day works best for you? | |
| その時間は別の予定があります。 | I have another appointment then. | |
| ___のほうがいいですか。 | Would ___ be better? | |
| 少し遅れるかもしれません。 | I may be a little late. | |
| 私のことは待たないでください。 | Please don't wait for me. | |
| 時間を間違えました。 | I got the time wrong. |
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Keep practicing with Yak Cards
Keep these reschedule lines in your pocket. Open the Yak Cards for this lesson and run them on the train.
A short Yak Cards round before you text keeps a new day ready.
Open Yak Cards