New here? This is lesson 49 of a free 240-lesson Japanese course.
Keys from the landlord in Japanese
Leo stops at the gate of his new Yanaka building. Ono-san waits with a ring of keys and a bamboo broom, with no time for small talk.
She hands him the keys, names the floor, and points at the mailbox.
You will take the keys, ask where the mailbox is, and learn which day to put out the rubbish.
Keep it polite. She is brief, so your questions can be brief too.
By the end of this lesson
Get the keys and ask about the mailbox and rubbish day.
- 鍵をどうぞ。Here are the keys.
- 鍵は二つです。There are two keys.
- 二階です。It's the second floor.
- ポストはどこですか。Where is the mailbox?
- ゴミの日はいつですか。When is rubbish day?
- ゴミの日は月曜日です。Rubbish day is Monday.
Scene — at the gate
Leo reaches the gate of his new building in Yanaka. Ono-san stands there with a bamboo broom and a ring of keys.
The old two-storey building has an outside metal staircase. A row of mailboxes sits by the gate, each one blank.
Learn — keys and the floor
These six lines cover keys, the second floor, the mailbox, and rubbish day.
Ono-san is brief, so each line is short and ready to use.
鍵をどうぞ。
Here are the keys.
When to use it: Use this when you hand someone the keys.
Learn it as one piece for handing over keys.
Say it: Hold the long o in どうぞ.
鍵は二つです。
There are two keys.
When to use it: Use this to say there are two keys.
Learn it as one piece for a two-key count.
Say it: The u in です is almost silent.
二階です。
It's the second floor.
When to use it: Use this to say the room is on the second floor.
Learn it as one piece for the second floor.
ポストはどこですか。
Where is the mailbox?
When to use it: Ask this when you cannot see the mailbox.
Learn it as one piece to ask for the mailbox.
ゴミの日はいつですか。
When is rubbish day?
When to use it: Ask this to learn the building's rubbish day.
Learn it as one piece to ask the rubbish day.
ゴミの日は月曜日です。
Rubbish day is Monday.
When to use it: Use this to say rubbish day is Monday.
Learn it as one piece for Monday collection.
Story — two keys at the gate
Ono-san waits at the gate with the keys. She is brief. Leo says sorry, then asks about the mailbox and rubbish day.
Highlighted phrases are the new lines. Turn on Show English if you want a gloss.
- Leo reaches the gate. Ono-san already has the keys in her hand.
Ono-san鍵をどうぞ。Here are the keys.
Leoすみません。Excuse me.- Ono-san鍵は二つです。There are two keys.
- Leoありがとうございます。Thank you.
- Ono-san二階です。It's the second floor.
- Leoポストはどこですか。Where is the mailbox?
- Ono-san points at the row of mailboxes by the gate.
- Leoゴミの日はいつですか。When is rubbish day?
- Ono-sanゴミの日は月曜日です。Rubbish day is Monday.
Practice — pick the right line
Ten short tasks wait in this round. You will listen, fill a gap, build a line, and spot a mistake.
Each task focuses on a useful moment at the gate.
0 of 10 done
What did you hear?
What did you hear?
What does it mean?
What does it mean?
二階です。
What do you say?
What do you say?
You have the keys but cannot see a mailbox by the gate. Ask where it is.
Fill the gap
Fill the gap
There are two keys.
鍵は____です。
Pick the reply
Leo says:
Pick the reply
ゴミの日はいつですか。
When is rubbish day?
And you reply with:
Build the line
Build the line
When is rubbish day?
。
Tap the words in order.
Swap the word
Swap the word
Ono-san is telling Leo the building's rubbish day. Fix the day.
ゴミの日は____です。
Find the mistake
Find the mistake
What do you say?
What do you say?
Ono-san is at the gate, and you need to get her attention politely before asking a question.
What do you say?
What do you say?
Ono-san has just handed you the keys. Thank her.
Say it — your turn to speak
You are Leo at the gate. When the cue is yours, tap the microphone and say the line.
Tap play first if you want to hear it. This is a recording, not a pronunciation score.
- Ono-san鍵をどうぞ。Here are the keys.
- Leo (you)Say how many keys there are.
Say how many keys there are.
鍵は二つです。
There are two keys.
0 of 4 said
Recap — what you can say now
| Japanese | English | Play |
|---|---|---|
| 鍵をどうぞ。 | Here are the keys. | |
| 鍵は二つです。 | There are two keys. | |
| 二階です。 | It's the second floor. | |
| ポストはどこですか。 | Where is the mailbox? | |
| ゴミの日はいつですか。 | When is rubbish day? | |
| ゴミの日は月曜日です。 | Rubbish day is Monday. |
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 key and rubbish-day lines in your pocket. Open the Yak Cards for this lesson and run them on the train.
A short Yak Cards round before Monday keeps rubbish day ready at the gate.
Open Yak Cards