A2-16 / CEFR A2 / EPISODE 16

Complaining About Noise

Discussing noise at a hotel

SceneAt a hotel reception. Frank complains about noise.

Frank talks at a reception desk while Tina covers her ears. — Select the illustration to view it at full size in a new tab.

Narrator

Frank is at a hotel reception desk. His noisy neighbors bothered him all night.

フランクはホテルのフロントにいる。隣室がうるさくて、一晩中落ち着けなかった。

Frank01

Excuse me. The people next door were singing all night.

すみません。隣の人たちが一晩中歌っていたんです。

Receptionist02

Oh, I'm so sorry, sir.

ああ、申し訳ございません、お客様。

Frank03

Singing, laughing — right up until sunrise. I do not require much sleep. But I require some.

歌って、笑って——日の出までずっと。私はそれほど長く眠らなくても大丈夫です。でも、少しは眠りたいです。

Receptionist04

Did you call the front desk last night?

昨夜、フロントにお電話を？

Frank05

I tried. The line was busy every time.

かけようとしました。毎回話し中で。

Receptionist06

I see. I'll move you to a quieter room right away.

なるほど。すぐに静かなお部屋へお移しします。

Frank07

Thank you. But please speak to them, too. I couldn't sleep with all that noise.

ありがとうございます。でも、隣の方たちにも注意してください。あの騒音では眠れませんでした。

Receptionist08

Of course. We'll talk to them today. And we'll refund one night.

もちろんです。本日お話しします。それと、1泊分を返金いたします。

Receptionist09

Is there anything else you need?

ほかに何か必要なものはございますか？

Frank10

Just sleep, please. I don't need a second concert tonight.

眠れれば十分です。今夜はもう、コンサートは結構です。

WORDS & CONTEXT

Words & context

“right up until sunrise”

Right up until … emphasizes continuation to the very endpoint. The singing and laughter did not stop before sunrise.

“The line was busy every time.”

For a telephone line, busy means engaged, rather than occupied with work. Frank tried calling reception repeatedly, but the line was busy each time.

“Is there anything else you need?” / “Just sleep, please.”

Anything else means something more. The receptionist asks whether Frank needs anything further, and Frank answers that sleep is all he needs. Here Just sleep, please. is not asking the receptionist to sleep; it is a short way to state what he wants: "Being able to sleep is enough."

“I don't need a second concert tonight.”

Literally "I don't need a second concert tonight." Frank compares last night's singing next door to a first "concert" and politely adds a touch of sarcasm: he does not want a repeat tonight. It is not about a real performance.

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