Japanese for Beginners: Reporting a Broken AC or No Hot Water
Learn to say the air conditioning isn't working and that there's no hot water in Japanese, ask when a repair will happen, and tell repairs apart from requests for items.
By SofiaGetting around · Yapr Learn
When something breaks in your room in Japan, you need to report the problem clearly and ask when it will be fixed. This lesson teaches beginner-level Japanese for exactly that situation. You will learn how to say that the air conditioning isn't working and that there is no hot water, using the pattern ga kowarete imasu for a broken appliance and ga arimasen for something that is missing. You will also learn how to ask when a repair will happen, using itsu naosemasu ka, and how to understand simple time answers such as ashita or konshuu. This is different from asking for an extra towel or a new light bulb. Here you are reporting a fault and asking about a repair timeline, so the key words are kowareru (to break) and naosu (to fix).
By the end, you can…
- report that the air conditioning isn't working or that there is no hot water.
- ask when a repair will happen and understand a simple time answer.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
エアコンがこわれています。
The air conditioning is broken.
Eakon ga kowarete imasu.
Use this to report a broken air conditioner. The particle ga marks the thing that is broken.
お湯が出ません。
No hot water comes out. / There is no hot water.
Oyu ga demasen.
Use this for a shower or tap with no hot water. Oyu means hot water for washing.
お湯がありません。
There is no hot water.
Oyu ga arimasen.
A simple way to say something is missing. Use arimasen for things, not for people.
いつ直せますか。
When can it be fixed?
Itsu naosemasu ka.
A polite question about the repair timeline. Itsu means when.
あした直します。
We will fix it tomorrow.
Ashita naoshimasu.
A simple answer about the timeline. Ashita means tomorrow.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
To report a broken appliance, say the thing plus ga plus kowarete imasu. For example, エアコンがこわれています (Eakon ga kowarete imasu) means the air conditioning is broken. To report something missing, use ga arimasen: お湯がありません (Oyu ga arimasen) means there is no hot water. To ask about the repair time, use いつ直せますか (Itsu naosemasu ka). A common answer is あした直します (Ashita naoshimasu), meaning we will fix it tomorrow.
When to use it
Use these phrases when you are talking to a landlord, a front desk, or a repair person. For example, at a hotel front desk you can say エアコンがこわれています (Eakon ga kowarete imasu). If the shower has no hot water, say お湯が出ません (Oyu ga demasen). Then ask いつ直せますか (Itsu naosemasu ka) to learn the timeline. This is not the same as asking for a new item. If you want an extra towel, say タオルをもらえますか (Taoru o moraemasu ka), which is a request, not a repair report.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
すみません。エアコンがこわれています。
Excuse me. The air conditioning is broken.Sumimasen. Eakon ga kowarete imasu.わかりました。いつなおせますか。
I understand. When can it be fixed?Wakarimashita. Itsu naosemasu ka.あした直します。お湯も出ませんか。
We will fix it tomorrow. Is there no hot water either?Ashita naoshimasu. Oyu mo demasen ka.はい、お湯も出ません。おねがいします。
Yes, there is no hot water either. Please take care of it.Hai, oyu mo demasen. Onegaishimasu.A little context goes a long way
In Japan, repairs are often handled by a building manager or a front desk, not by the person who made the problem. It is polite to begin with すみません (Sumimasen) and to state the problem simply. Avoid blaming anyone. If you do not understand the timeline, you can ask もういちどおねがいします (Mou ichido onegaishimasu), meaning please say it again.
One thing to watch for
Saying エアコンがありません (Eakon ga arimasen) when the air conditioner is present but broken.
Try this instead: Use エアコンがこわれています (Eakon ga kowarete imasu) for a broken air conditioner. Use エアコンがありません only when there is no air conditioner at all.
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1How do you say 'The air conditioning is broken' in Japanese?
Show a sample answer
エアコンがこわれています。 (Eakon ga kowarete imasu.)
This uses the pattern thing plus ga plus kowarete imasu. You could also say エアコンがこわれています (Eakon ga kowarete imasu) with the same meaning.
2How do you say 'There is no hot water' in Japanese?
Show a sample answer
お湯がありません。 (Oyu ga arimasen.)
This uses ga arimasen for something missing. お湯が出ません (Oyu ga demasen) is also correct when you mean no hot water comes out.
3How do you ask 'When can it be fixed?' in Japanese?
Show a sample answer
いつ直せますか。 (Itsu naosemasu ka.)
Itsu means when, and naosemasu ka asks about the repair. A simple answer could be あした (ashita), meaning tomorrow.
Report the problem with ga kowarete imasu or ga arimasen, then ask itsu naosemasu ka to get the repair timeline. Keep repair reports separate from requests for new items.
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