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N4 graded Japanese story

レストランの予約時間

Changing a Restaurant Reservation After a Train Delay

20 sentences · about 8 minutes

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N4 · 20 sentences

Start reading · 8 min left

1 / 20 sentences5%

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、「

Reinforce the reading

Notice what the story just taught you

An everyday problem told in a clear sequence, with N4 forms for plans, apparent outcomes, possibility, requests, and purpose, including 予定です, 〜そうです, かもしれない, and 〜ように.

Key words in context

予約よやく
reservation; booking
遅れるおくれる
to be late
満席まんせき
fully booked; no seats available
確認かくにん
confirmation
言い直すいいなおす
to rephrase; to say again correctly

What to notice

  1. Sentence 予約時間-01

    予定です marks a plan

    食べる予定です combines the dictionary form 食べる with 予定です to state the family's planned future action.

  2. Sentence 予約時間-04

    〜そうです describes an apparent outcome

    遅くなりそうです means it looks likely that the arrival will become later, based on the current train delay.

  3. Sentence 予約時間-14

    〜なくてもよいように gives a protective purpose

    急がなくてもよいように means 'so that they will not have to hurry' and explains why Aya chooses 7:45.

Check your understanding

1. What was the family's original reservation?
  • 6:30 p.m. for four people
  • 7:15 p.m. for four people
  • 7:45 p.m. for two people

Answer: 6:30 p.m. for four people — 予約時間-02 gives the original time as 6:30 p.m. and the party size as four.

2. Why does Aya choose 7:45 instead of 7:00?
  • The later table costs less
  • Her family will not have to rush
  • The restaurant has no tables at 7:00

Answer: Her family will not have to rush — 予約時間-12 says both 7:00 and 7:45 are open; 予約時間-14 says she chooses 7:45 so the family will not need to hurry.

3. How does Aya reduce the chance of a mistake during the call?
  • She lets the employee choose every detail
  • She repeats the details and writes down the new time
  • She ends the call as soon as a time is offered

Answer: She repeats the details and writes down the new time — 予約時間-15 and 予約時間-16 show the employee and Aya repeating the reservation details before Aya records the new time.

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