New here? This is lesson 208 of a free 240-lesson Japanese course.
A leaking tap in Japanese
A steady drip interrupts Leo in his small Yanaka apartment. He steps onto the metal staircase and calls his landlady, Ono-san, to report the leaking kitchen tap.
She asks when he will be home and keeps the call short. Leo agrees on a time, then checks with the repair worker when the tap is fixed.
Learn how to describe an ongoing leak, ask for a visit, and arrange a repair politely.
By the end of this lesson
Report a leaking tap and arrange a repair visit.
- 蛇口がずっと漏れています。The tap keeps leaking.
- 見に来てもらえますか。Could you come and take a look?
- いつ来られますか。When can you come?
- 3時以降なら大丈夫です。After three is fine.
- もう直りましたか。Has it been fixed yet?
- できるだけ早くお願いします。Please do it as soon as you can.
Scene — a drip upstairs
A drip keeps tapping in Leo's kitchen. He leaves the apartment and stands on the outside metal staircase, phone in hand.
The lane below is quiet. He calls Ono-san, his landlady, to explain what is happening and arrange a time for someone to come by.
Learn — reporting a repair
These six lines help you explain that a tap keeps leaking, ask someone to inspect it, and agree on a visit time.
You can also check whether the repair is done and politely ask for it soon.
蛇口がずっと漏れています。
The tap keeps leaking.
When to use it: Use this to report a tap that has been leaking continuously.
ずっと shows the leak has continued and is still happening; が marks 蛇口 as what is leaking.
見に来てもらえますか。
Could you come and take a look?
When to use it: Ask someone to come over and inspect a problem.
てもらえますか politely asks someone to do you a favor.
いつ来られますか。
When can you come?
When to use it: Ask when someone is able to come for a visit.
Use this to ask about the other person's available time.
3時以降なら大丈夫です。
After three is fine.
When to use it: Say that a time after three works for you.
以降 means from that time onward; なら sets it as the condition.
もう直りましたか。
Has it been fixed yet?
When to use it: Check whether a repair has been completed.
もう asks whether something has happened by now; 直りました asks about the completed repair.
できるだけ早くお願いします。
Please do it as soon as you can.
When to use it: Politely ask someone to handle a task as soon as possible.
できるだけ means as much as possible; 早く makes the request urgent but polite.
Story — a visit after three
Leo calls Ono-san from the metal staircase to report a dripping kitchen tap. She asks when he is available and arranges for a repair worker to visit.
The highlighted phrases are this lesson's new lines. Turn on Show English if you want a gloss.
- A steady drip comes from the kitchen. Leo steps outside and makes a call.
Ono-sanはい、大野です。Hello, Ono speaking.
Leoこんにちは。Hello.- Leoすみません。Excuse me.
- Leo蛇口がずっと漏れています。The tap keeps leaking.
- Leo見に来てもらえますか。Could you come and take a look?
- Ono-sanいつならご都合がいいですか。When would be convenient for you?
- Leo3時以降なら大丈夫です。After three is fine.
- Leoいつ来られますか。When can you come?
- Ono-san3時半ごろ、修理の人が伺います。The repair worker will come around three thirty.
- Later, the repair worker checks the tap while Leo waits in the kitchen.
- Leoできるだけ早くお願いします。Please do it as soon as you can.
- Repair workerもう少し確認しますね。I'll check it a little more.
- Leoもう直りましたか。Has it been fixed yet?
- Repair workerはい、水は止まりました。Yes, the water has stopped.
Practice — arrange the repair
Try ten quick tasks: listen for the repair request, build a question, choose a time reply, and fix a learner's mistake.
The review lines bring back useful phrases for phone calls and brief pauses.
0 of 10 done
What did you hear?
What did you hear?
Fill the gap
Fill the gap
The tap keeps leaking.
蛇口____ずっと漏れています。
What do you say?
What do you say?
You have reported the leak to your landlady. Now politely ask her to come and inspect the tap.
Build the line
Build the line
When can you come?
。
Tap the words in order.
Pick the reply
Ono-san says:
Pick the reply
いつならご都合がいいですか。
When would be convenient for you?
And you reply with:
Swap the word
Swap the word
Ask whether the tap is fixed. Replace the verb with the one that means fixed.
もう____か。
Find the mistake
Find the mistake
What does it mean?
What does it mean?
できるだけ早くお願いします。
What do you say?
What do you say?
You call your landlady and want to get her attention before explaining the problem.
What do you say?
What do you say?
The call is still connected. Ask Ono-san to wait a moment while you find your calendar.
Say it — your call to Ono-san
You are Leo, calling Ono-san from the staircase about the dripping kitchen tap. Listen to her questions and answer with the line cued in English.
Tap play first if you want to hear each voice. The speaking activity is for your own recording.
- Ono-san蛇口はいつから漏れていますか。How long has the tap been leaking?
- Leo (you)Tell her the tap keeps leaking.
Tell her the tap keeps leaking.
蛇口がずっと漏れています。
The tap keeps leaking.
0 of 6 said
Recap — what you can say now
| Japanese | English | Play |
|---|---|---|
| 蛇口がずっと漏れています。 | The tap keeps leaking. | |
| 見に来てもらえますか。 | Could you come and take a look? | |
| いつ来られますか。 | When can you come? | |
| 3時以降なら大丈夫です。 | After three is fine. | |
| もう直りましたか。 | Has it been fixed yet? | |
| できるだけ早くお願いします。 | Please do it as soon as you can. |
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Keep practicing with Yak Cards
Keep the repair phrases handy. Open the Yak Cards for this lesson and practise them before your next phone call.
A short review helps you explain a problem and arrange a visit when you need to.
Open Yak Cards