A useful problem report tells the recipient what happened and what action you need.

The idea

Name the object and problem first. Use から for when it began, と for what happens when you press a button, and が to contrast the symptom with what you expected. Report what you tried in the past, then ask with 確認していただけますでしょうか.

Examples

  • 部屋へやのエアコンが動うごかないため、ご連絡れんらくしました。I am contacting you because the air conditioner in my room is not working.
  • 昨日きのうの夕方ゆうがたから、冷つめたい風かぜが出でません。Since yesterday evening, no cool air has come out.
  • ボタンを押おすと、ランプは点つきますが、動うごきません。When I press the button, the light comes on, but the unit does not run.
  • 電源でんげんを入いれ直なおしましたが、変かわりませんでした。I turned the power off and on again, but the situation did not change.
  • 部屋へやが暑あつくて、眠ねむれず、困こまっています。The room is hot, so I am having trouble sleeping.
  • 確認かくにんしていただけますでしょうか。Could you please check it?

Read-aloud uses a synthetic Japanese voice available on your device. Voice quality and availability vary; it does not assess your pronunciation.

Watch out

Do not present a guess as a proven cause: say what you observed. が connects contrasting facts; it does not itself mean the appliance has been repaired.

Try it yourself

  1. 昨日の夕方＿、冷たい風が出ません。（から／まで）

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    から

    から marks the starting point of the problem.

  2. ボタンを押すと、ランプは点きます＿、動きません。（が／を）

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    が

    が contrasts the lit indicator with the appliance not running.

  3. 電源を入れ直しましたが、変わりません＿。（でした／です）

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    でした

    でした completes the polite past negative 変わりませんでした: the situation did not change.

  4. 確認していただけます＿。（でしょうか／でした）

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    でしょうか

    でしょうか makes the request a polite question.

Use it today

Write a message about a broken appliance. Include when the problem began, a symptom, what you tried and a polite request.