This episode focuses on polite service language combined with casual personal conversation – a repair technician’s humble visit announcement mixed with everyday chat about appliance age and personal life circumstances. You’ll learn formal business visit language, questions about repair status, casual time estimates, and expressions about loneliness or being alone often.
✅ Learn humble service visit language
✅ Master casual time-estimate expressions
✅ Practice talking about personal circumstances naturally
Introduction
In this lesson, we explore a realistic conversation between a repair technician and customer – starting formal (announcing a service visit) and gradually becoming more personal as natural conversation develops during the repair. This demonstrates how Japanese conversations often shift from business formality to casual personal topics, common when service providers work in someone’s home.
エアコンの修理に伺いました
Meaning & Usage
This is a humble, polite phrase used to announce arriving for a repair service visit. It’s formal business language appropriate when service providers visit customers’ homes.
エアコン – air conditioner (katakana loanword)
の修理に (のしゅうりに) – for repair of
伺いました (うかがいました) – came, visited (humble form)
Translation
- I’ve come for the air conditioner repair
- I’m here regarding the AC repair
- I came to fix your air conditioner
Understanding 伺う (Humble “To Visit/Go”)
伺う (うかがう) – humble form of 行く (to go) or 聞く (to ask/hear)
Multiple humble meanings:
- To visit (humble for 行く)
- To ask (humble for 聞く)
- To hear (humble for 聞く)
In this context: Used as humble form of “to visit/come,” showing respect to the customer
Formation:
- 伺う (dictionary form)
- 伺いました (polite past tense)
Understanding に修理 (For Repair)
修理 (しゅうり) – repair, fixing
Pattern:
- [Item]の修理に + verb of visiting/coming
- Shows purpose of the visit
Common uses:
- 修理する – to repair
- 修理をお願いします – Please repair this
- 修理中 (しゅうりちゅう) – under repair
Formality Levels for Service Visits
Very humble (our phrase):
- 伺いました – I have come (humble)
Standard polite:
- 来ました – I came (polite but less humble)
Business standard:
- お伺いいたします – I will visit (even more humble, future)
Examples
本日はエアコンの修理に伺いました。
→ Today I’ve come for the air conditioner repair.
エアコンの修理にお伺いしました、〇〇です。
→ I’ve come for the AC repair, I’m [name].
Related Service Visit Expressions
お世話になります (おせわになります) – Thank you for having me (service context)
失礼します (しつれいします) – Excuse me (entering)
よろしくお願いします – Please treat me favorably
点検に伺いました (てんけんに) – Came for inspection
治りそうですか
Meaning & Usage
This phrase asks whether something (like a malfunction) seems likely to be fixed, using casual speculation form. It shows the customer checking on repair progress or likelihood.
治り (なおり) – healing, fixing (stem of 治る)
そう – seems like, appears
ですか – polite question marker
Translation
- Does it seem like it can be fixed?
- Will it be okay?
- Is it looking fixable?
- Do you think it’ll be repaired?
Understanding 治る (To Heal/Be Fixed)
治る (なおる) – to be cured, to be fixed, to heal, to be repaired
Different from 直る:
- 治る (なおる) – to heal, recover (illness, sometimes also repairs)
- 直る (なおる) – to be fixed, repaired (mechanical/物, more common for objects)
Note: Both can sometimes be used interchangeably in casual speech regarding repairs, though 直る is technically more standard for machines/objects
Understanding そう (Appears/Seems)
そう after verb stem indicates appearance or likelihood:
Formation:
- Verb stem + そう = seems like, appears to
- 治り (stem) + そう = 治りそう (seems fixable)
Examples of pattern:
- できそう – seems possible
- 終わりそう – seems like it’ll finish
- 治りそう – seems fixable
Examples
この症状、治りそうですか?
→ Does this symptom seem like it’ll heal?
エアコン、治りそうですか?心配で。
→ Does the AC seem fixable? I’m worried.
まだ時間かかりそうですか、それとも治りそうですか?
→ Will it still take time, or does it seem fixable?
Related Repair-Status Questions
直りますか? (なおりますか) – Will it be fixed?
修理できますか? – Can it be repaired?
大丈夫そうですか? – Does it seem okay?
もう少しかかりますか? – Will it take a bit longer?
買ってから3年ぐらいですかね
Meaning & Usage
This casual phrase estimates time since purchasing something, using approximate language. The ね at the end softens it into a thoughtful, conversational estimate.
買ってから (かってから) – since buying, after purchasing
3年 (さんねん) – 3 years
ぐらい – about, approximately
です – polite copula
かね – casual questioning/wondering particle combination
Translation
- It’s been about 3 years since I bought it, I think
- Maybe around 3 years since purchase?
- I’d say about 3 years since buying it
Understanding 買ってから (Since Buying)
買う (かう) – to buy
買ってから – since buying, after purchasing
Formation:
- Verb て-form + から = since/after doing
- 買って + から = 買ってから (since buying)
Common pattern:
- [Verb て-form] + から + [time period] = [time period] since [verb]
Understanding ぐらい (About/Approximately)
ぐらい/くらい – approximately, about, around
Usage:
- Numbers + ぐらい = approximately [number]
- 3年ぐらい – about 3 years
- 10分ぐらい – about 10 minutes
Interchangeable forms:
- ぐらい and くらい are used interchangeably
- Slight regional/personal preference variations
Understanding かね (Wondering Particle)
か – question marker
ね – seeking agreement/softening
Combined かね:
- Shows uncertain wondering
- Softer than direct か alone
- Common in casual speculation
Nuance: “I wonder if…” or “I think, but not certain”
Examples
このエアコン、買ってから3年ぐらいですかね。
→ This air conditioner, I think it’s been about 3 years since buying it.
もう5年ぐらいですかね、使い始めてから。
→ It’s probably been about 5 years since I started using it.
買ってから、どれくらいですかね?忘れちゃった。
→ How long has it been since buying it? I forgot.
Related Time-Estimate Expressions
もう〜年になります – It’s already been 〜 years
だいたい〜年前 – Roughly 〜 years ago
確か〜年前だったと思います – I think it was about 〜 years ago
正確には覚えていませんが – I don’t remember exactly, but
帰ってこないんですよ
Meaning & Usage
This phrase expresses that someone doesn’t come home, often used to share a personal circumstance or complaint casually with someone, like a repair technician during small talk.
帰って (かえって) – returning (te-form of 帰る)
こない – doesn’t come (negative of 来る)
ん – explanatory contraction
です – polite copula
よ – particle (emphasis, sharing information)
Translation
- They don’t come home, you know
- He/she doesn’t come back
- They’re never home
Understanding 帰ってこない (Doesn’t Come Home)
帰る (かえる) – to return, go home
帰ってくる (かえってくる) – to come back, return (toward speaker)
帰ってこない – doesn’t come back (negative)
Formation:
- 帰る + て-form + くる = 帰ってくる (comes back)
- 帰ってくる → negative → 帰ってこない (doesn’t come back)
Understanding んですよ (Explanatory Emphasis)
ん – explanatory nuance (softens, personalizes)
です – polite copula
よ – emphasis, sharing new information
Combined effect: Shows the speaker sharing personal information with emphasis, often invitingly or with slight complaint tone
Common pattern: Used when explaining personal circumstances to someone, like during casual conversation with a service worker
Examples
最近、忙しくて帰ってこないんですよ、主人が。
→ Recently, my husband doesn’t come home because he’s busy.
息子が仕事で帰ってこないんですよ。
→ My son doesn’t come home because of work.
もう何日も帰ってこないんですよ、心配で。
→ They haven’t come home in days, I’m worried.
Understanding Context for Personal Sharing
This type of phrase often appears when:
Casual conversation develops:
- During service visits (like repair work)
- Small talk while waiting
- Natural personal topic emergence
Shows trust/comfort:
- Sharing personal circumstances with service provider
- Common in Japanese culture during home visits
Related Family/Home Circumstance Expressions
一人暮らしなんです (ひとりぐらし) – I live alone, you see
家族は忙しくて – My family is busy
最近会えてなくて – Haven’t been able to see them recently
仕事ばかりで – It’s all work
一人の時間が多いって
Meaning & Usage
This phrase reports or reflects on having a lot of alone time, using quotative って to either quote someone’s words or reflect on one’s own situation casually.
一人の時間 (ひとりのじかん) – alone time, time by oneself
が – subject particle
多い (おおい) – much, many, a lot
って – quotative/reporting particle (casual)
Translation
- (They say/I mean) there’s a lot of alone time
- Lots of time alone, you know
- (Someone said) I have a lot of time by myself
Understanding 一人の時間 (Alone Time)
一人 (ひとり) – one person, alone
の – possessive/descriptive particle
時間 (じかん) – time
Common uses:
- 一人の時間が欲しい – Want alone time
- 一人の時間を楽しむ – Enjoy alone time
- 一人の時間が多い – Have a lot of alone time
Understanding って (Casual Quotative)
って – casual version of と言う/という (quoting or reporting)
Multiple functions:
Direct quote:
- 「大丈夫」って言った – Said “it’s okay”
Reported speech:
- 忙しいって – (They said) they’re busy
Self-reflection/musing:
- 一人の時間が多いって – (Thinking/musing) there’s a lot of alone time
Casual topic marker:
- Sometimes functions similarly to というのは (as for…)
Different Interpretations of This Phrase
As quoted speech (someone else said this):
- 「一人の時間が多い」って(言ってた) – (They) said “I have a lot of alone time”
As self-reflective musing:
- 一人の時間が多いって…(考えると) – Thinking about it, there’s a lot of alone time
As explanation continuing previous statement:
- Connects to previous context (like 帰ってこないんですよ)
- “…meaning I have a lot of alone time”
Examples
主人は仕事で忙しくて、一人の時間が多いって感じ。
→ My husband is busy with work, so it feels like I have a lot of alone time.
最近、一人の時間が多いって気づいた。
→ I recently realized I have a lot of alone time.
子供が独立して、一人の時間が多いって聞いた。
→ I heard that since the kids became independent, there’s a lot of alone time.
Related Alone-Time Expressions
寂しい (さびしい) – Lonely
一人暮らし (ひとりぐらし) – Living alone
自由な時間 (じゆうなじかん) – Free time
誰もいない – No one’s here
Putting It All Together: A Repair Visit Conversation
Natural Conversation Flow
These phrases might form a realistic scene where formal service language gradually becomes personal conversation:
Conversation structure:
- エアコンの修理に伺いました – Formal opening (service visit)
- 治りそうですか – Customer’s practical question
- 買ってから3年ぐらいですかね – Casual time estimate (technician asking, customer responding)
- 帰ってこないんですよ – Customer shares personal circumstance
- 一人の時間が多いって – Reflecting on/continuing the personal topic
This shows natural conversation evolution from business formality to personal connection.
Common Mistakes
❌ Using casual language for initial service announcement
Too casual for professional visit: エアコン直しに来た
Appropriate formal: エアコンの修理に伺いました
Initial service language should maintain politeness
❌ Confusing 治る and 直る
治る – to heal (illness, sometimes repairs)
直る – to be fixed (objects, more standard for repairs)
Context determines appropriate choice, though both appear in casual repair contexts
❌ Missing って’s flexible function
Not recognizing: って can quote, report, or simply mark a topic/musing
Understanding context: って’s meaning shifts based on conversational flow
Pay attention to what precedes って for correct interpretation
❌ Overly formal response to personal sharing
Too distant: そうですか、大変ですね (very formal distance)
More naturally empathetic: そうなんですね、寂しいですね
Personal topics often invite warmer, more relatable responses
Practice Dialogue
Scenario: Repair technician visit with developing conversation
技術者: こんにちは、エアコンの修理に伺いました。
お客様: あ、お待ちしてました。こちらです。
技術者: (確認しながら) なるほど。買ってから、どれくらいですか?
お客様: えっと、買ってから3年ぐらいですかね。
技術者: そうですか。治りそうですか、って心配ですよね?
お客様: はい、少し。
技術者: 大丈夫だと思います、簡単な修理で済みそうです。
お客様: よかった。(ため息)主人がいたら、こういうことすぐわかるんですけど。最近、帰ってこないんですよ、仕事で。
技術者: そうなんですね。
お客様: 一人の時間が多いって、最近つくづく思います。
Technician: Hello, I’ve come for the air conditioner repair.
Customer: Oh, I was expecting you. It’s here.
Technician: (checking) I see. How long has it been since you bought it?
Customer: Um, I think it’s been about 3 years since purchase.
Technician: I see. You’re wondering if it can be fixed, right? You must be worried.
Customer: Yes, a little.
Technician: I think it’ll be fine, seems like a simple repair.
Customer: That’s good. (sighs) If my husband were here, he’d know these things right away. Recently, he doesn’t come home because of work.
Technician: I see.
Customer: I’ve really been feeling like I have a lot of alone time lately.
Cultural Notes
Service Interactions and Personal Sharing in Japan
This episode’s phrases reveal interesting dynamics of Japanese service culture:
Formal-to-Personal Progression: The shift from humble business language (伺いました) to personal sharing (帰ってこないんですよ) reflects how Japanese service interactions, especially in-home repairs, often naturally develop personal rapport despite starting formally.
Home Repair as Social Moment: Having repair technicians in one’s home creates unique social dynamics – customers often engage in small talk while work is being done, sometimes sharing more personal information than they might with strangers in other contexts.
Casual Complaint as Connection: Sharing minor complaints or circumstances (like a busy spouse) with service workers can serve as a bonding mechanism, showing trust and creating human connection during otherwise transactional interactions.
Reading Emotional Undertones: Phrases like 一人の時間が多いって carry subtle emotional weight (possibly loneliness or resignation) that skilled listeners recognize and respond to with appropriate empathy, even in brief service interactions.
Professional Empathy: Good service providers in Japan often acknowledge personal sharing with brief empathetic responses (そうなんですね) before returning to the practical matter at hand, balancing professionalism with human connection.
Wrap-up
This episode explored the natural progression from formal service language to personal conversation. エアコンの修理に伺いました provides humble, professional service announcement, 治りそうですか shows practical customer concern, 買ってから3年ぐらいですかね demonstrates casual time estimation, 帰ってこないんですよ shares personal circumstance, and 一人の時間が多いって reflects on resulting solitude.
These phrases showcase how Japanese conversations naturally evolve from business formality to personal connection, particularly in intimate settings like home repairs. Understanding this progression helps you navigate similar service interactions and recognize the subtle ways personal topics emerge naturally within professional contexts.