Japanese for English speakers Office · Lesson 2

Lost something?

Talk about misplaced objects with 置きます (okimasu, to put/place). Learn 〜ませんでした (negative past polite) and 書類 (document), 事務室 (office).

Conversation

  1. Bob Bob

    店長、書類は事務室にありませんよ。

    tenchō, shorui wa jimushitsu ni arimasen yo

    Manager, the document is not in the office

    Tip: <tenchō> = store manager <shorui> = document, file <jimushitsu> = secretary room, office

  2. PX296 PX296

    事務室に置きませんでしたからね。

    jimushitsu ni okimasendeshita kara ne

    That is because I didn't put it in the office

    Tip: <okimasu> = to put, to place <verb + masendeshita> = I did not do something / I have not done something. To use this structure take away the "masu" ending and replace it with "masendeshita". <Yasumimasu> = to rest, to have a break. <Yasumimasendeshita> = I have not taken a break, I did not take a break. <verb + kara> = as / since / that is because.

  3. Bob Bob

    あっ、そうですか？

    ah, sōdesuka?

    Oh, is that so?

  4. Bob Bob

    どこに置きましたか？

    doko ni okimashitaka?

    Where is it then?

Common questions

Quick answers about this lesson's grammar and vocabulary.

How do you negate a past polite verb?

Replace ます with ませんでした: 置きます (put) → 置きませんでした (didn't put).

What does 置く (oku) mean?

'To put' or 'place' something somewhere — used for setting down objects. Different from 入れる (put into) or 立てる (stand up).

What is 事務室 (jimushitsu)?

A workplace office or secretary's room — typically a back-office space, distinct from a meeting room.

Test yourself

Pick the English translation for each line from this lesson. Wrong answers are pulled from other Japanese lessons.

4 quick questions on what you just heard.

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