Learn Japanese Pod with Asuka and Alex
Series 02 Podcast 07: Asking for help in Japanese
Podcast Link: ​Podcast 07
In this lesson you will learn the following:✓​ How to ask for help in Japanese✓​ How to accept or refuse a request✓​ ​Learn useful vocabulary for making a wide variety of requests

info@learnjapanesepod.com​ / ​Learn Japanese Pod1

Today’s Key phrase
If you only learn one thing from this podcast, learn today’s key phrase which is:てを貸してくれる？ Can you lend me a hand?

TEO

KASHITEKURERU

This phrase literally translates as “Could you lend me a hand?” and it has the same meaning. This is acasual level phrase used between people of similar social standing. It’s fine to use this at work with yourcoworkers but you might not want to use this with your boss.
Even if you are a beginner in Japanese and don’t understand everything in the following dialogs don’t worry.
Just try to listen out for the keyphrase to get a feel of how it is used in daily conversation. You can also
memorise the phrase and try to use it in real life when the opportunity arises. Even if you can’t describe
exactly what it is you want help with, you can just say 手を貸してくれる and depending on the context thelistener should probably be able to understand what you want.
If you wanted to ask someone of high social status for help you might say something like:

Would you help me please?

手伝っていただけますか
Tetsudatte itadakemasu ka

If you want to ask someone if they need help politely you might say:

なにかお手伝いしましょうか

Do you need help with anything?

Nani ka otetsudai shimashōka

info@learnjapanesepod.com​ / ​Learn Japanese Pod2

Vocabulary
Japanese

Pronunciation

English

全部ZenbuAll

会議室

Kaigishitsu

Meeting room

運びたい

Hakobitai

Want to carry

まじでMaji deReally? Seriously?

引っ越しする

Hikkoshi suru

To move house

髪の毛

Kaminoke

Hair

洗わなきゃ

Arawanakya

Must clean / wash

廊下

Rōka

Corridor

電球

DenkyuuLightbulb

暗いKurai

Dark

怖いKowai

Scared

部屋

Heya

Room

片付けたい

Katazuketai

Tidy upinfo@learnjapanesepod.com​ / ​Learn Japanese Pod
3

Dialog 1
Asuka:

ちょっといい？

Chotto ii?

Can I bother you for a minute?

Alex:うん。どうした？

Un. Dō shita

Sure, what’s up?

Asuka:

このパソコンを全部会議室へ運びたいんだけど手を貸してくれる？

Kono pasokon o zenbu
kaigishitsu e hakobitain dakedo
te o kashite kureru?

I want to take all these PCs tothe meeting room. Could you
lend me a hand?

Alex:うん、いいよ。

Un, ii yo.

Sure.

Dialog 2
Asuka:

アレックス、ちょっといい？

Arekkusu, chotto ii?

Alex, can I bother you for aminute?

Alex:

どうした？

Dō shita

What’s up?

Asuka:

週末引越しするんだけど手を貸してくれる？

Shuumatsu hikkoshi surun
dakedo te o kashite kureru?

I’m moving this weekend.
Could you lend me a hand?

Alex:あの、今週末ちょっと髪の毛洗わなきゃいけない

Ano, konshuumatsu chotto
kaminoke arawanakya ikenai

Well, I have to wash my hair
this weekend...

Asuka:

まじでお前？週末しか洗ってないのかよ

Maji de omae. Shuumatsushika arattenai no ka yo

Are you kidding me? You only
wash on the weekends?!

Alex:

手伝うよ

Tetsudau yo

I’ll help you

Asuka:

ありがとう

ArigatōThanksinfo@learnjapanesepod.com​ / ​Learn Japanese Pod4

Dialog 3
Asuka:

アレックス、ちょっといい？

Arekkusu, chotto ii?

Alex, can I bother you for aminute?

Alex:

うん。どうした？

Un. Dō shita

Sure, what’s up?

Asuka:

廊下の電球とりかえたいん
だけど手を貸してくれる？

Rōka no denkyuu torikaetain
dakedo te o kashite kureru

I want to change the lightbulb
in the corridor. Could you lend
me a hand?

Alex:

あの実は暗いところは
ちょっと怖いんですけどAno jitsu wa kurai tokoro wa
kowain desu kedo

Well, the thing is I’m afraid ofdark places.

Asuka:

まじかよ？！

Maji ka yo

Are you serious?!

Dialog 4
Asuka:

アレックス、ちょっといい？

Arekkusu, chotto ii?

Alex, can I bother you for aminute?

Alex:

うん。どうした？

Un. Dō shita

Sure, what’s up?

Asuka:

宿題でわからないところがあるんだけど手を貸してくれる？

Shukudai de wakaranai tokoro
ga arun dakedo te o kashitekureru

There’s something I don’t
understand in my home work.
Could you lend me a hand?

Alex:

いいよIi yo

SureAsuka:

本当わかるのか？

Hontō wakaru no ka

Do you really understand?

Alex:

あの、とりあえずわかるふりをする

Ano, toriaezu wakaru furi osuru

Well, for now I’ll pretend tounderstand

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Dialog 5
Asuka:

アレックス、ちょっといい？

Arekkusu, chotto ii?

Alex, can I bother you for aminute?

Alex:

うん。どうした？

Un. Dō shita

Sure, what’s up?

Asuka:

部屋を片付けたいんだけど手を貸してくれる？

Heya o katazuketain dakedo teo kashite kureru?

I want to clean up the room,could you lend me a hand?

Alex:

絶対やだ！

Zettai yadaAbsolutely not!

Asuka:

大きソーファがあってうごかせないの！

Ōkii sōfa ga atte ugokasenai
noThere’s a big sofa I can’t moveAlex:

なんでいつもいやな仕事？

Nande itsumo iya na shigoto

Why is it always these suckyjobs?

アレックス手を貸してくれ
るかな...

Arekkusu te o kashite kureru
ka na...

I thought you might be able tohelp...

ぎっくり腰なんですよ！

Gikkuri koshi nan desu yo

I’ve got a strained back.

わかった、わかった、ごめん。違う人に聞いてみる

Wakatta, wakatta, gomen.
Chigau hito ni kiite miru

OK, OK, sorry. I’ll try asking
someone else.

info@learnjapanesepod.com​ / ​Learn Japanese Pod6

Random Phrase - Mottainai - It’s a waste
やみつき Yamitsuki
To be completely addicted to something / To be hooked on something you can’t stop
Examples:Pokemon Go にみんなやみつき
Pokemon Go ni minna yamitsuki
Everyone is hooked on Pokemon Go

ぱちんこにやみつき
Pachiko ni yamitsuki
I’m hooked on Pachinko
ロスアンゼルスのみんなラーメンにやみつき
Rosuanzerusu no minna raamen ni yamitsuki
Everyone in Los Angeles is hooked on ramen noodles

info@learnjapanesepod.com​ / ​Learn Japanese Pod
7

Hi, this is Alex, the creator of Learn
Japanese Pod. Thanks for downloadingthese show notes, I hope you find them
useful. If you need any help with yourJapanese or have any questions orcomments please drop me a line at
info@learnjapanesepod.com
You can also get the latest info on our social
networky thingies here:

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https://learnjapanesepod.com

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http://alexbrooke.com

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Enjoy!

Alex
info@learnjapanesepod.com​ / ​Learn Japanese Pod8