New here? This is lesson 226 of a free 240-lesson Japanese course.
The repair argument in Japanese
The kitchen tap in Leo's Yanaka room is still dripping. He waits at Ono-san's gate, not to report the leak again, but to settle who pays.
Ono-san is brief and polite. Leo holds his ground: the lease, the cost, and a deadline this week.
By the end, you'll argue a repair politely: how long it has gone on, who is responsible, and when it should be fixed.
By the end of this lesson
Argue politely with the landlady about a repair and who pays.
- この件、もう二週間になっています。This has already been going on for two weeks.
- 契約では、修繕は貸主の負担です。Under the lease, repairs are the landlord's responsibility.
- こちらで壊したわけではありません。I didn't break this.
- 費用は、どちらが持つんですか。Who covers the cost?
- 折半でもかまいません。I don't mind splitting it.
- 今週中に対応してください。Please deal with it within this week.
Scene — the leaking tap
Late afternoon on the metal staircase. The kitchen tap is still dripping. Leo stands at Ono-san's gate with the lease in his bag.
Ono-san holds her keys and a bamboo broom. She is brief. She does not want a long talk.
Learn — who pays
Six lines for a polite repair argument: how long it has lasted, who pays under the lease, and a deadline.
You'll also get a firm denial and a line that offers to split the cost.
この件、もう二週間になっています。
This has already been going on for two weeks.
When to use it: Say this when a repair has already lasted too long.
もう before 二週間 marks that two weeks have already passed.
契約では、修繕は貸主の負担です。
Under the lease, repairs are the landlord's responsibility.
When to use it: Use this when the lease, not a feeling, says who pays.
では names the contract as the basis for this claim.
こちらで壊したわけではありません。
I didn't break this.
When to use it: Say this when someone implies you caused the damage.
わけではありません firmly denies that this is the case.
費用は、どちらが持つんですか。
Who covers the cost?
When to use it: Ask this when the bill is still unclear after you name the rule.
んですか keeps a direct who-pays question polite in a dispute.
Say it: The ん before です is a full mora; do not swallow it.
折半でもかまいません。
I don't mind splitting it.
When to use it: Offer this when a split is acceptable, but you still want the repair.
でも after 折半 means even a split is acceptable to you.
Say it: The small っ in 折半 is a stop before ぱ.
今週中に対応してください。
Please deal with it within this week.
When to use it: Use this to set a deadline once who pays is on the table.
対応してください uses the て-form plus ください to ask her to act.
Story — at the gate
Watch Leo at Ono-san's gate. The tap is still dripping, and this time he stays on who pays.
The highlighted words are the lines you just learned. Turn on Show English if you need it.
- Late sun on the metal stairs. A drip still ticks from Leo's kitchen.
Leoこんにちは。Hello.
Ono-sanこんにちは。Hello.- She rests the broom and waits. No small talk.
- Leoあの、まだ水が止まらないんです。Um, the water still won't stop.
- Ono-sanそうですか。I see.
- Leoこの件、もう二週間になっています。This has already been going on for two weeks.
- Ono-san業者は混んでいます。The contractors are busy.
- Leo契約では、修繕は貸主の負担です。Under the lease, repairs are the landlord's responsibility.
- Ono-san入居者の負担もあります。The tenant has some of the cost too.
- Leoこちらで壊したわけではありません。I didn't break this.
- Ono-sanなるほど。I see.
- Leo費用は、どちらが持つんですか。Who covers the cost?
- Ono-sanええと、少し考えます。Um, I'll think about it a little.
- Leo折半でもかまいません。I don't mind splitting it.
- Ono-sanわかりました。Understood.
- Leo今週中に対応してください。Please deal with it within this week.
- Ono-san今週中に手配します。I'll arrange it within this week.
- She nods once, keys in hand, and turns toward her door.
- Leoよろしくお願いします。I'll leave it in your hands.
Practice — lease or split
Eleven quick exercises wait here. You'll listen, pick, match, fill a gap, and build a line.
They stay tiny, so the round moves fast.
0 of 11 done
What did you hear?
What did you hear?
What do you say?
What do you say?
Ono-san has implied you caused the leak. Deny that you broke it.
Fill the gap
Fill the gap
Under the lease, repairs are the landlord's responsibility.
契約では、修繕は____の負担です。
What does it mean?
What does it mean?
折半でもかまいません。
Build the line
Build the line
Please deal with it within this week.
。
Tap the words in order.
Match the pairs
Japanese
契約では、修繕は貸主の負担です。Drop the English here費用は、どちらが持つんですか。Drop the English here折半でもかまいません。Drop the English hereEnglish
Swap the word
Swap the word
The leak has lasted two weeks, not two days. Fix the length.
この件、もう____になっています。
Pick the reply
Ono-san says:
Pick the reply
入居者の負担もあります。
The tenant also bears some of the cost.
And you reply with:
Find the mistake
Find the mistake
What do you say?
What do you say?
You arrive at Ono-san's gate in the late afternoon. Greet her.
True or false?
True or false?
You say this to Ono-san at her gate in the late afternoon.
Say it — hold your ground
Now you're Leo at Ono-san's gate. The tap is still dripping, and you need a decision today on who pays.
When it's your turn, tap the microphone and speak the line. Tap ▶ first if you want to hear it. Your recording stays on your device.
- Ono-san水漏れですね。It's a water leak, isn't it.
- Leo (you)Tell her this has already been going on for two weeks.
Tell her this has already been going on for two weeks.
この件、もう二週間になっています。
This has already been going on for two weeks.
0 of 6 said
Recap — what you can say now
| Japanese | English | Play |
|---|---|---|
| この件、もう二週間になっています。 | This has already been going on for two weeks. | |
| 契約では、修繕は貸主の負担です。 | Under the lease, repairs are the landlord's responsibility. | |
| こちらで壊したわけではありません。 | I didn't break this. | |
| 費用は、どちらが持つんですか。 | Who covers the cost? | |
| 折半でもかまいません。 | I don't mind splitting it. | |
| 今週中に対応してください。 | Please deal with it within this week. |
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Keep practicing with Yak Cards
Want to keep these repair lines handy? Grab the Yak Cards for this lesson and review them anywhere.
A quick round with the Yak Cards each day keeps the lease lines ready for the gate.
Open Yak Cards