Getting a Library Card

Reading Passage

「山田やまださん、ちょっと聞きいてもいいですか？　私わたし、図書館としょかんのカードを作つくりたいんですが、どうすればいいか分わからなくて。」

「あ、田中たなかさん。もちろんいいですよ。図書館としょかんのカードは簡単かんたんに作つくれますよ。」

「本当ほんとうですか？何なにか必要ひつような物ものがありますか？」

「はい、身分証明書みぶんしょうめいしょが必要ひつようです。たとえば、運転免許証うんてんめんきょしょうやパスポートなどですね。住所じゅうしょが分わかるものなら大丈夫だいじょうぶですよ。」

「なるほど。じゃあ、それを持もって図書館としょかんに行いけばいいんですね。」

「そうです。カウンターで「図書館としょかんカードを作つくりたい」と言いって、申込書もうしこみしょに名前なまえや住所じゅうしょを書かきます。それから、身分証明書みぶんしょうめいしょを見みせれば、すぐにできますよ。」

「そんなに簡単かんたんなんですね。本ほんは何冊なんさつぐらい借かりられますか？」

「たいてい十冊じゅっさつぐらい借かりられます。二週間にしゅうかんぐらい借かりて、家いえでゆっくり読よめますよ。面白おもしろい本ほんがたくさんありますから、ぜひ利用りようしてみてくださいね。」

Vocabulary List

• 図書館としょかん (toshokan) — library
• カードかーど (kādo) — card
• 作つくる (tsukuru) — to make, to create
• 簡単かんたん (kantan) — easy, simple
• 必要ひつよう (hitsuyou) — necessary
• 身分証明書みぶんしょうめいしょ (mibun shoumeisho) — identification document
• 運転免許証うんてんめんきょしょう (unten menkyoshou) — driver's license
• パスポートぱすぽーと (pasupōto) — passport
• 住所じゅうしょ (juusho) — address
• カウンターかうんたー (kauntā) — counter
• 申込書もうしこみしょ (moushikomisho) — application form
• 借かりる (kariru) — to borrow
• 何冊なんさつ (nansatsu) — how many (books)
• 利用りようする (riyō suru) — to use

English Translation

“Yamada-san, could I ask you something quickly? I want to get a library card, but I’m not sure how to do it.”

“Oh, Tanaka-san. Of course, you can! Getting a library card is actually quite simple.”

“Really? Do I need anything specific?”

“Yes, you’ll need an identification document. For example, a driver's license or a passport. Anything that confirms your address will be fine.”

“I see. So I just need to take that to the library, then?”

“Exactly. Just go to the counter and say, ‘I’d like to get a library card.’ Fill out the application form with your name and address, show your identification, and it’ll be done right away.”

“It’s that easy? And about how many books can I borrow?”

“You can usually borrow about ten books at a time. You can keep them for about two weeks and enjoy reading them at home. There are so many interesting books, so please do give it a try!”

Comprehension Questions

• 田中たなかさんは何なにを作つくりたいですか？

(What does Tanaka-san want to get?)

• 図書館としょかんカードを作つくるのに、何なにが必要ひつようですか？

(What is needed to get a library card?)

• 身分証明書みぶんしょうめいしょの例れいを二ふたつ教おしえてください。

(Please give two examples of identification documents.)

• 図書館としょかんでは、普通ふつう、本ほんを何冊なんさつまで借かりられますか？

(At the library, how many books can you usually borrow?)

• 本ほんはどのくらい借かりていられますか？

(How long can you borrow books for?)

Grammar Points Used

• ～てもいいですか (～te mo ii desu ka): Asking for permission.

This grammar pattern is used to politely ask if you are allowed to do something. It combines the te-form of a verb with 「もいいですか」. For instance, 「聞きいてもいいですか？」 means "May I ask (a question)?" This phrase is very common for various situations. You can use it when entering a room (入はいってもいいですか？), taking a picture (写真しゃしんを撮とってもいいですか？), or sitting down (座すわってもいいですか？). Using this structure makes your request sound softer and more polite.

• ～んですが、～ (～n desu ga, ～): Providing background information before making a request or asking a question.

The particle 「が」 connects two clauses here. In N4, it often provides context or background before a main statement or question. When used with 「んです」 (or 「のです」), it subtly emphasizes the preceding statement as a reason or circumstance. For example, 「図書館としょかんのカードを作つくりたいんですが、どうすればいいか分わからなくて。」 translates to "I want to make a library card (and this is my situation), but I don't know what to do." It's a natural and gentle way to introduce a topic or a problem.

• ～ばいいですか (～ba ii desu ka): Asking for advice or instruction ("What should I do?").

This construction uses the conditional form of a verb (～ば) followed by 「いいですか」 to ask for the best course of action or for advice. 「どうすればいいか分わからなくて」 means "I don't know what I should do (to make the card)." This is highly practical for asking for instructions or recommendations. Think of phrases like 「どこに行いけばいいですか？」 (Where should I go?) or 「何なにを買かえばいいですか？」 (What should I buy?).

• ～なら (～nara): Conditional, meaning "if (it's the case of) ~".

「なら」 is a conditional particle that presents a specific condition or topic. It often means "if (it is the case of) A, then B." Unlike other conditional forms, 「なら」 specifically highlights the preceding noun or clause as the topic of the condition. In the passage, 「住所じゅうしょが分わかるものなら大丈夫だいじょうぶです」 means "If it's something that shows your address, it's fine." This form helps to set up a condition directly related to the information just mentioned.

• ～て、～ (～te, ～): Connecting actions in sequence.

The te-form of verbs is very flexible. One of its main uses is to connect multiple actions that happen in chronological order. The action before 「て」 happens first, followed by the action after it. For example, 「それを持もって図書館としょかんに行いけばいい」 means "Take that (first), and then go to the library." This simple connection allows you to smoothly narrate a series of events or give instructions.

• ～られます (～rare masu): Potential form, meaning "can do ~".

The potential form expresses ability or possibility. For Ichidan verbs, you form it by replacing 「る」 with 「られる」 (e.g., 借かりる → 借かりられる). For Godan verbs, replace the final 「う」 sound with the 「え」 sound and add 「る」 (e.g., 読よむ → 読よめる). So, 「本ほんを借かりられます」 means "You can borrow books." This is a key structure for discussing capabilities in Japanese.

• ～てみてください (～te mite kudasai): Trying something out.

This phrase combines the te-form of a verb with 「みる」 (to try) and 「ください」 (please). It's used to gently encourage someone to try doing something. 「ぜひ利用りようしてみてください」 means "Please do try using it." This expresses a suggestion or recommendation for someone to attempt an action, often implying they might enjoy it or find it beneficial. For example, after learning a new recipe, a friend might say 「作つくってみてください！」 (Please try making it!). Or, if you're unsure about a new restaurant, someone could suggest 「行いってみてください！」 (Please try going there!).