New here? This is lesson 140 of a free 240-lesson Japanese course.
What's in the flat in Japanese
Ono-san waits on the metal staircase with a ring of keys. Leo follows her into the small second-floor room in Yanaka.
Goro squeezes through the door and opens a cupboard, as if a fridge might be hiding there.
You will name what a Japanese flat has, ask where things are, and say what is missing or broken.
Keep it polite. These are the lines you use with a landlady.
By the end of this lesson
Name things in a flat and say what is broken or missing.
- エアコンはありますか。Is there an air conditioner?
- 洗濯機はどこですか。Where is the washing machine?
- 冷蔵庫がありません。There is no fridge.
- このコンセントは使えません。This outlet doesn't work.
- トイレの水が流れません。The toilet won't flush.
- 窓が開きません。The window won't open.
Scene — the second-floor room
Yanaka is quiet this afternoon. Ono-san waits at the foot of the metal staircase with a ring of keys. Leo holds his clear plastic umbrella though the lane is dry.
Goro has followed them up, coat pockets bumping the rail. The second-floor room is small, with a cupboard Goro already wants to open.
Learn — what the flat has
These six lines help you check a Japanese apartment: air con, a washer, a fridge, an outlet, a toilet, and a window.
You ask what is there, then say what is missing or will not work.
エアコンはありますか。
Is there an air conditioner?
When to use it: Ask a landlord if the room has an air conditioner.
は marks the thing you are asking about with ありますか.
Say it: In エアコン, say エ then ア, not a long エー.
洗濯機はどこですか。
Where is the washing machine?
When to use it: Ask where the washing machine is in the flat.
は names the machine, then どこですか asks where it is.
冷蔵庫がありません。
There is no fridge.
When to use it: Tell someone the room has no fridge.
が marks what is missing when you say ありません.
このコンセントは使えません。
This outlet doesn't work.
When to use it: Tell a landlord this wall outlet does not work.
この points to the outlet right in front of you.
Say it: Give ん in コンセント its own beat.
トイレの水が流れません。
The toilet won't flush.
When to use it: Tell a landlord the toilet will not flush.
の links the toilet to the water that should flow.
窓が開きません。
The window won't open.
When to use it: Say the window in the room will not open.
が marks the window as the thing that will not open.
Story — a cupboard with no fridge
Ono-san shows Leo the small second-floor room. One outlet is dead, and there is no fridge at all.
Highlighted phrases are the new lines. Turn on Show English if you want a gloss.
- Ono-san holds out a ring of keys on the landing.
Ono鍵をどうぞ。Here are the keys.
Leoお邪魔します。Thanks for having me in.- They step into the small second-floor room. Goro's horns barely clear the door.
- Ono部屋は小さいです。The room is small.
- Leoエアコンはありますか。Is there an air conditioner?
- Onoはい、あります。Yes, there is.
- Leo洗濯機はどこですか。Where is the washing machine?
- Ono外にあります。It's outside.
- Leo tries a plug by the wall. Nothing happens.
- Leoこのコンセントは使えません。This outlet doesn't work.
- Onoそうですか。I see.
- Goro opens a cupboard anyway.
- Leo冷蔵庫がありません。There is no fridge.
Goro中にあります。It's inside.- Onoいいえ、ありません。No, there isn't.
- Leoトイレの水が流れません。The toilet won't flush.
- Onoちょっと待ってください。Just a moment, please.
- Leo窓が開きません。The window won't open.
- Ono困りましたね。That's a problem.
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 one is small, so you move on quickly.
0 of 10 done
What did you hear?
What did you hear?
Match the pairs
Japanese
洗濯機はどこですか。Drop the English hereこのコンセントは使えません。Drop the English here窓が開きません。Drop the English hereEnglish
What do you say?
What do you say?
You need to wash clothes. Ask Ono-san where the washing machine is.
Fill the gap
Fill the gap
There is no fridge.
冷蔵庫____ありません。
What do you say?
What do you say?
Ono hands you the keys. As you step inside, what do you say?
Build the line
Build the line
This outlet doesn't work.
。
Tap the words in order.
What does it mean?
What does it mean?
トイレの水が流れません。
Swap the word
Swap the word
The window is stuck shut. Put the right verb in.
窓が____。
True or false?
True or false?
This line means the room is large.
Find the mistake
Find the mistake
Say it — your turn to speak
You are Leo walking into the small flat. 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.
- Ono鍵をどうぞ。Here are the keys.
- Leo (you)Step inside and greet her as a guest.
Step inside and greet her as a guest.
お邪魔します。
Thanks for having me in.
0 of 7 said
Recap — what you can say now
| Japanese | English | Play |
|---|---|---|
| エアコンはありますか。 | Is there an air conditioner? | |
| 洗濯機はどこですか。 | Where is the washing machine? | |
| 冷蔵庫がありません。 | There is no fridge. | |
| このコンセントは使えません。 | This outlet doesn't work. | |
| トイレの水が流れません。 | The toilet won't flush. | |
| 窓が開きません。 | The window won't open. |
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 flat lines in your pocket. Open the Yak Cards for this lesson and run them on the stairs.
A short Yak Cards round before you see a landlord keeps these ready.
Open Yak Cards