New here? This is lesson 222 of a free 240-lesson Japanese course.
If only in Japanese
Leo put off asking Ono-san about a repair date, and now his preferred slot seems to be gone.
At Kissa Hotaru, he imagines how things might have turned out if he had asked sooner.
Haruka listens, then points him toward one useful question: is there still time to change the plan?
Practice regret, a wish to start again, and cautious hope before Leo makes the call.
By the end of this lesson
Express regret, imagine a different outcome, and ask whether there is still time to act.
- もっと早く聞いておけばよかったです。I should have asked sooner.
- やり直せるものなら、やり直したいです。If I could do it over, I would.
- まだ間に合うかもしれません。There might still be time.
- 今さら遅いでしょうか。Is it too late now?
- あの選択をしていなければ、今は違ったでしょう。If I hadn't made that choice, things would be different now.
- 惜しいことをしました。That was a missed chance.
Scene — the appointment he never checked
Leo and Haruka sit beside the window at Kissa Hotaru in Yanaka. His phone lies between two mismatched cups.
He agreed to have a repair next month, then realized this Saturday would suit him better. He has delayed asking Ono-san to change it.
Learn — regret and a little hope
These six lines help you describe a missed opportunity and imagine how another choice could have changed things.
You can also ask whether anything can still be done.
もっと早く聞いておけばよかったです。
I should have asked sooner.
When to use it: Use this when you regret not checking something earlier.
聞いておけばよかった looks back at an action you wish you had taken earlier.
Say it: Hold a brief closure at the small っ before releasing the next consonant.
やり直せるものなら、やり直したいです。
If I could do it over, I would.
When to use it: Use this when you wish you could undo a decision and start again.
ものなら presents doing it over as an imagined possibility that the speaker wishes for.
まだ間に合うかもしれません。
There might still be time.
When to use it: Use this to offer cautious hope when the opportunity may still be open.
かもしれません leaves the possibility open without promising a successful outcome.
今さら遅いでしょうか。
Is it too late now?
When to use it: Ask this after delaying when you wonder whether the opportunity has passed.
でしょうか softens the question and asks for the listener's judgment.
あの選択をしていなければ、今は違ったでしょう。
If I hadn't made that choice, things would be different now.
When to use it: Use this to imagine how a past decision could have changed your present situation.
していなければ imagines the past choice not happening, then contrasts it with the present.
惜しいことをしました。
That was a missed chance.
When to use it: Use this when you realize you let a good opportunity slip away.
This phrase looks back on a promising opportunity that you let slip away.
Story — a phone call beats wishing
Leo turns a repair appointment into a major life regret while Haruka searches for a practical next step.
Listen for the moment their conversation shifts from imagining yesterday to doing something today.
- Leo unlocks his phone, then puts it down again.
Haruka大野さんに、修理の日程は聞けた？Did you manage to ask Ono-san about the repair date?
Leoまだです。昨日は聞かずに帰りました。Not yet. Yesterday I went home without asking.- Leoもっと早く聞いておけばよかったです。I should have asked sooner.
- Haruka昨日なら、土曜の午前も空いてたんだって。Apparently Saturday morning was still available yesterday.
- Leo惜しいことをしました。That was a missed chance.
- Haruka午後のことは、まだ聞いてないんでしょ？But you haven't asked about the afternoon yet, right?
- Leo今さら遅いでしょうか。Is it too late now?
- Harukaまだ間に合うかもしれません。There might still be time.
- Leo来月でいいですって、先に言ってしまって。I already told her next month would be fine.
- Harukaそれで、今は来月の予定になってるんだ。So that's why it's currently scheduled for next month.
- Leoあの選択をしていなければ、今は違ったでしょう。If I hadn't made that choice, things would be different now.
- Harukaそんなに大げさな話？Is it really that dramatic?
- Leoやり直せるものなら、やり直したいです。If I could do it over, I would.
- Harukaまず聞いてみたらいいと思います。I think you should ask first.
- Haruka slides the phone toward him. Leo finally calls.
Ono-sanはい、大野です。Hello, this is Ono.- Leoレオです。修理の日時を確認してもらえますか。This is Leo. Could you confirm the date and time of the repair?
- Ono-san今の予定は、来月の十日です。It's currently scheduled for the tenth of next month.
- Leo今週の土曜に変更できますか。Could we change it to this Saturday?
- Ono-san午後なら空いています。The afternoon is available.
- Leoでは、午後でお願いします。Then the afternoon, please.
Practice — past choices, present possibilities
Work through ten tasks about regret, imagined alternatives, and the possibility of acting now.
Listen carefully to distinguish wishing things had been different from being glad about what happened.
0 of 10 done
What did you hear?
What did you hear?
Build the line
Build the line
If I could do it over, I would.
、。
Tap the words in order.
What do you say?
What do you say?
You do not know whether the deadline has passed, but think there may still be time; express that uncertainty.
What does it mean?
What does it mean?
今さら遅いでしょうか。
Build the line
Build the line
If I hadn't made that choice, things would be different now.
、。
Tap the words in order.
Pick the reply
Haruka says:
Pick the reply
昨日なら希望の時間が空いていたのに、確認しなかったんですね。
Your preferred time was available yesterday, but you didn't check.
And you reply with:
Fill the gap
Fill the gap
I should have asked sooner.
もっと早く____よかったです。
What does it mean?
What does it mean?
まず聞いてみたらいいと思います。
What does it mean?
What does it mean?
日時を確認してもらえますか。
True or false?
True or false?
The speaker imagines a different present resulting from a different past choice.
Say it — is there still time?
Take Leo's part while Haruka helps you think through the missed appointment slot.
Record five different lines, moving from regret toward the possibility that you can still change things.
- Haruka昨日なら、午前も空いてたんだって。Apparently the morning was still available yesterday.
- Leo (you)Say you should have asked sooner.
Say you should have asked sooner.
もっと早く聞いておけばよかったです。
I should have asked sooner.
0 of 5 said
Recap — what you can say now
| Japanese | English | Play |
|---|---|---|
| もっと早く聞いておけばよかったです。 | I should have asked sooner. | |
| やり直せるものなら、やり直したいです。 | If I could do it over, I would. | |
| まだ間に合うかもしれません。 | There might still be time. | |
| 今さら遅いでしょうか。 | Is it too late now? | |
| あの選択をしていなければ、今は違ったでしょう。 | If I hadn't made that choice, things would be different now. | |
| 惜しいことをしました。 | That was a missed chance. |
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Keep practicing with Yak Cards
Revisit regret and cautious hope with [Yak Cards](https://yakyacker.com/yak-cards/). Picture a missed opportunity, then recall the line that fits.
Practice the difference between wishing you had acted earlier and thinking there may still be time.
Open Yak Cards