New here? This is lesson 144 of a free 240-lesson Japanese course.
Phone, charger and Wi-Fi in Japanese
Leo's phone dies at Haruka's co-working space near Ueno. He needs the restroom, then Wi-Fi, a password, and a place to plug in.
Goro has taken two chairs. A charger cord runs under his coat, and he has not noticed.
You will ask for the restroom, Wi-Fi, the password, an outlet, and a charger, and say the battery is dead.
Keep it polite. These are the lines for a workspace, a cafe, or a friend's place.
By the end of this lesson
Ask for Wi-Fi, a charger, and a power outlet, and say the phone is dead.
- お手洗いをお借りしてもいいですか。May I use the restroom?
- Wi-Fiはありますか。Is there Wi-Fi?
- パスワードは何ですか。What is the password?
- 電源はどこですか。Where is the power outlet?
- 充電器を借りてもいいですか。May I borrow a charger?
- 電池が切れました。My battery died.
Scene — a dark phone
Haruka's co-working space near Ueno is quiet this afternoon. Leo sits at a shared desk with a blank computer and a dark phone.
Haruka looks up from her sketchbook. In the next chair, Goro fills two seats. A charger cord runs under his olive coat.
Learn — restroom, Wi-Fi, and power
These six lines cover a restroom, Wi-Fi, a password, an outlet, and a charger.
You also get a short line for when the phone is already dead.
お手洗いをお借りしてもいいですか。
May I use the restroom?
When to use it: Ask this in a cafe, office, or home that is not yours.
A て-form plus もいいですか asks for permission.
Wi-Fiはありますか。
Is there Wi-Fi?
When to use it: Ask this when you need the network in a cafe or workspace.
は marks Wi-Fi as the topic of this existence question.
パスワードは何ですか。
What is the password?
When to use it: Ask this after you hear that the place has Wi-Fi.
何ですか asks what the word or number is.
電源はどこですか。
Where is the power outlet?
When to use it: Use this when you need a wall socket for your phone.
どこですか asks for a place, not a thing.
Say it: Give ん in 電源 its own beat.
充電器を借りてもいいですか。
May I borrow a charger?
When to use it: Ask this when you need to borrow someone else's charger.
を marks the charger as what you want to borrow.
電池が切れました。
My battery died.
When to use it: Say this to explain why you need power or a charger.
が marks the battery as the thing that ran out.
Say it: Give ん in 電池 its own beat.
Story — the cord under Goro
Leo's phone dies at the shared desk. He asks for Wi-Fi, then notices the charger under Goro.
Highlighted phrases are the new lines. Turn on Show English if you want a gloss.
- The phone screen goes black. Leo stands up from the shared desk.
Leoすみません。お手洗いをお借りしてもいいですか。Excuse me. May I use the restroom?
Harukaはい、どうぞ。奥にありますよ。Sure, go ahead. It's in the back.- Leo comes back. The phone is still dark.
- Leo電池が切れました。My battery died.
- Harukaあ、困りましたね。Oh, that's a problem.
- LeoWi-Fiはありますか。Is there Wi-Fi?
- Harukaはい、ありますよ。Yes, there is.
- Leoパスワードは何ですか。What is the password?
- Haruka今、教えますね。I'll tell you now.
- Leo電源はどこですか。Where is the power outlet?
- Harukaあ、ゴローさんの下ですよ。Oh, it's under Goro.
Goroあ、すみません。コードの上に座っていました。Oh, sorry. I was sitting on the cord.- The cord slides free. Leo still has no charger of his own.
- Leo充電器を借りてもいいですか。May I borrow a charger?
- Harukaはい、どうぞ。Sure, go ahead.
Practice — pick the right ask
Ten short tasks wait in this round. You will listen, match, fill a gap, and swap a word.
Each one is small, so you move on quickly.
0 of 10 done
What did you hear?
What did you hear?
Match the pairs
Japanese
Wi-Fiはありますか。Drop the English hereパスワードは何ですか。Drop the English here電源はどこですか。Drop the English hereEnglish
What do you say?
What do you say?
You are at Haruka's co-working space and need the restroom.
Fill the gap
Fill the gap
May I borrow a charger?
充電器____借りてもいいですか。
What does it mean?
What does it mean?
電池が切れました。
Pick the reply
Haruka says:
Pick the reply
はい、Wi-Fiはありますよ。
Yes, there is Wi-Fi.
And you reply with:
Build the line
Build the line
Where is the power outlet?
。
Tap the words in order.
Swap the word
Swap the word
You need to borrow a charger, not buy one.
充電器を____もいいですか。
True or false?
True or false?
This line asks to borrow someone else's charger.
What do you say?
What do you say?
You want Haruka's attention before you ask. Use the usual excuse-me.
Say it — your turn to speak
You are Leo at the co-working space near Ueno. 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こんにちは。Hello.
- Leo (you)Ask if you may use the restroom.
Ask if you may use the restroom.
お手洗いをお借りしてもいいですか。
May I use the restroom?
0 of 6 said
Recap — what you can say now
| Japanese | English | Play |
|---|---|---|
| お手洗いをお借りしてもいいですか。 | May I use the restroom? | |
| Wi-Fiはありますか。 | Is there Wi-Fi? | |
| パスワードは何ですか。 | What is the password? | |
| 電源はどこですか。 | Where is the power outlet? | |
| 充電器を借りてもいいですか。 | May I borrow a charger? | |
| 電池が切れました。 | My battery died. |
Save your progress — it’s free
Keep your place in the course and see which lines you’ve learned.
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Keep practicing with Yak Cards
Keep these Wi-Fi and charger lines in your pocket. Open the Yak Cards for this lesson and run them on the train.
A short Yak Cards round on the train keeps the outlet ask ready.
Open Yak Cards