Lesson #42: 図面に不備があり (Zumen ni fubi ga ari)

Fielding an urgent request on the phone

English Title: Fielding an urgent request on the phone

Role-play Setup

You’re working in design at an architecture firm. A foreman calls from a jobsite with an urgent issue—the blueprints are missing measurements for the entrance to a Japanese-style room, and work has stopped.

Full Script & Explanation

The Urgent Call

Genba no hito / Foreman

もしもし、工事現場の田中ですけど。
Moshimoshi, kooji-genba no Tanaka desu kedo.
Hello, this is Tanaka from the construction site.

「工事現場」means “construction site.” The foreman is identifying himself and his location. [telephone conversation]

Student

はい、お世話になっております。
Hai, osewa ni natte orimasu.
Yes, thank you for your continued business.

Standard business greeting on the phone. [telephone conversation]

Genba no hito / Foreman

あのね、図面なんだけど、和室の入口の寸法が書いてないんだよね。
Ano ne, zumen nan da kedo, washitsu no iriguchi no sunpoo ga kaite nai n da yo ne.
You know, about the blueprints—the measurements for the entrance to the Japanese-style room aren’t written.

「図面」means “blueprints” or “technical drawings.” 「和室」is “Japanese-style room.” 「入口」is “entrance.” 「寸法」means “measurements” or “dimensions.” The foreman is reporting a problem. [giving factual information]

Genba no hito / Foreman

困ったなぁ。今、作業が止まっちゃってるんだけど。
Komatta naa. Ima, sagyoo ga tomatchatte ru n da kedo.
This is a problem. Right now, work has stopped.

「困った」expresses being troubled or in a bind. 「作業が止まる」means “work stops.” The foreman is conveying urgency. [complaining]

KEY PHRASE

Student

図面に不備があり、申し訳ありません。大至急、確認いたします。
Zumen ni fubi ga ari, mooshiwake arimasen. Daishikyuu, kakunin-itashimasu.
I’m sorry for the error in the blueprints. I’ll check right now!

「不備」means “defect,” “flaw,” or “error”—something that should be there but isn’t. 「大至急」means “immediately” or “urgently”—stronger than just「すぐに」. This response takes responsibility and promises immediate action.

By using「申し訳ありません」(most formal apology) and「大至急」, the speaker conveys understanding of the severity and commits to urgent resolution. [offering an apology] [expressing intention]

Genba no hito / Foreman

お願いします。
Onegai-shimasu.
Please do.

Getting the Information

Student

和室の入口の寸法ですが、幅と高さはいくつでしょうか。
Washitsu no iriguchi no sunpoo desu ga, haba to takasa wa ikutsu deshoo ka.
About the measurements for the entrance to the Japanese-style room—what are the width and height?

「幅」means “width” and「高さ」means “height.” The student is gathering the specific information needed. [asking for information]

Genba no hito / Foreman

ええと、幅が242センチで、高さが205センチ。
Eeto, haba ga nihyaku-yonjuu-ni-senchi de, takasa ga nihyaku-go-senchi.
Umm, the width is 242 centimeters, and the height is 205 centimeters.

The foreman provides the measurements. [giving factual information]

Student

分かりました。すぐに図面を修正してお送りします。
Wakarimashita. Sugu ni zumen o shuusee-shite ookuri-shimasu.
Understood. I’ll correct the blueprints and send them right away.

「修正する」means “to correct” or “to revise.” The student confirms they’ll fix and resend the drawings. [expressing intention]

Genba no hito / Foreman

よろしくお願いします。
Yoroshiku onegai-shimasu.
Thank you.

Reporting to Superior

Jooshi / Superior

どうしたの？
Doo shita no?
What’s wrong?

The superior notices something is amiss. [asking for information]

Student

すみません。私のせいで、現場の作業が止まってしまって…。
Sumimasen. Watashi no sei de, genba no sagyoo ga tomatte shimatte…
I’m sorry. Because of me, work at the site has stopped…

「せい」means “fault” or “blame.” 「私のせい」means “it’s my fault.” The student is taking responsibility. [offering an apology]

Jooshi / Superior

え？何があったの？
E? Nani ga atta no?
Huh? What happened?

Student

和室の入口の寸法を、図面に入れ忘れてしまいました。
Washitsu no iriguchi no sunpoo o, zumen ni ire-wasurete shimaimashita.
I forgot to include the measurements for the entrance to the Japanese-style room in the blueprints.

「入れ忘れる」means “to forget to include” or “to forget to put in.” This explains the specific error. [giving factual information]

Jooshi / Superior

そう。じゃあ、すぐに修正して送って。
Soo. Jaa, sugu ni shuusee-shite okutte.
I see. Then, correct it and send it right away.

The superior gives quick instructions to resolve the issue. [requesting]

Student

はい。
Hai.
Yes.

Vocabulary

図面 (zumen) - blueprints, technical drawings, plans
Example: 図面を確認してください。(Please check the blueprints.)

不備 (fubi) - defect, flaw, error, inadequacy
Example: 書類に不備がありました。(There was an error in the documents.)

大至急 (daishikyuu) - immediately, urgently, ASAP
Example: 大至急、対応してください。(Please handle this urgently.)

和室 (washitsu) - Japanese-style room
Example: この家には和室が2つあります。(This house has two Japanese-style rooms.)

寸法 (sunpoo) - measurements, dimensions
Example: 寸法を測ってください。(Please measure the dimensions.)

入口 (iriguchi) - entrance
Example: 入口はあちらです。(The entrance is over there.)

現場 (genba) - site, field, actual place
Example: 工事現場で働いています。(I work at a construction site.)

幅 (haba) - width
Example: この机の幅は120センチです。(The width of this desk is 120 centimeters.)

高さ (takasa) - height
Example: 天井の高さはどのくらいですか。(What’s the height of the ceiling?)

修正 (shuusee) - correction, revision
Example: 間違いを修正しました。(I corrected the mistake.)

せい (sei) - fault, blame, cause
Example: 私のせいで遅れました。(We’re late because of me.)

Cultural Notes

Taking Responsibility in Japanese Business Culture

When an error affects others’ work, especially in construction where delays are costly:

Immediate apology: Use「申し訳ありません」(most formal apology)
Acknowledge impact: Recognize how your error affects others
Take responsibility: Use「私のせいで」(it’s my fault)
Promise urgent action: Use「大至急」to show priority
Follow through quickly: Actually resolve the issue immediately

The Construction Industry Context

In construction:

Time is money—delays are very costly
Workers on-site can’t proceed without proper information
Missing measurements can halt entire operations
Quick response and correction are essential

The Word「入る」(hairu) - Multiple Meanings

In this dialogue, we see「入れ忘れる」(forget to include). The verb「入る」has many meanings:

Physical entry: 部屋に入る (enter a room)
Inclusion: リストに入る (be included in a list)
Fitting: 箱に入る (fit in a box)
Joining: 会社に入る (join a company)

Grammar Points

Using「せい」to Assign Blame or Cause

Pattern: [Noun] + のせいで / [Verb plain] + せいで

「せい」assigns blame or indicates a negative cause.

Examples:

雨のせいで遅れました。
(I was late because of the rain.)
私のせいでみんなに迷惑をかけました。
(I caused trouble for everyone because of me.)
寝坊したせいで会議に遅れた。
(I was late to the meeting because I overslept.)

Contrast with「おかげで」(positive cause):

先生のおかげで合格しました。
(I passed thanks to my teacher.)

The Expression「大至急」for Urgent Situations

「大至急」is one of several expressions for “quickly”:

Urgency levels (low to high):

そのうち (eventually, sooner or later)
いつか (sometime)
近いうちに (in the near future)
すぐに (soon, right away)
直ちに (immediately - formal)
早急に (as soon as possible - formal)
大至急 (ASAP, urgently - very strong)

Examples:

すぐに対応します。(I’ll handle it right away.)
早急にご連絡ください。(Please contact us as soon as possible.)
大至急、確認が必要です。(We need to check this urgently.)

Using「〜忘れる」for Forgetting Actions

Pattern: [Verb stem] + 忘れる

This creates compound verbs meaning “to forget to do ~.”

Examples:

言い忘れる (forget to say)
持って来忘れる (forget to bring)
閉め忘れる (forget to close)
消し忘れる (forget to turn off)
入れ忘れる (forget to include/put in)

Tips from this Dialogue

困った (komatta) - “This is a problem”

This phrase expresses being in trouble or a difficult situation.

Usage:

困ったなぁ。(This is a problem. / I’m in trouble.)
困りました。(I’m in trouble. - polite)
困っています。(I’m having trouble. - ongoing)

Related expressions:

どうしよう (What should I do?)
大変だ (This is terrible/serious)
まずい (This is bad - casual)

止まる (tomaru) vs 止める (tomeru)

Both relate to stopping, but differ in grammar:

止まる - intransitive (something stops by itself)

電車が止まりました。(The train stopped.)
時計が止まっている。(The clock has stopped.)

止める - transitive (someone stops something)

車を止めてください。(Please stop the car.)
作業を止めます。(I’ll stop the work.)

現場 (genba) - “The Field” / “On-site”

「現場」refers to where actual work happens, as opposed to an office.

Types of 現場:

工事現場 (construction site)
事故現場 (accident scene)
犯罪現場 (crime scene)
現場監督 (site supervisor)

Phrase: 現場主義 (genba-shugi) - principle of going to the actual place to understand situations

Keego (Polite Language)

Different Ways to Say “I’ll Check Immediately”

From casual to formal:

すぐ確認する。(Very casual)
すぐに確認します。(Polite)
すぐに確認いたします。(Humble polite)
大至急、確認いたします。(Urgent + humble)
大至急、確認させていただきます。(Most humble)

Apologizing for Errors

Levels of formality:

ごめん。(Casual - to friends)
すみません。(Polite - general use)
申し訳ございません。(Very formal - business)
誠に申し訳ございません。(Extremely formal - serious errors)

Kanji

図 - diagram, drawing, plan
Reading: ず (zu), ト (to)
Example: 図面 (zumen - blueprint), 地図 (chizu - map)

面 - face, surface, aspect
Reading: メン (men)
Example: 図面 (zumen - blueprint), 場面 (bamen - scene)

不 - not, non-
Reading: ふ (fu), ブ (bu)
Example: 不備 (fubi - defect), 不安 (fuan - anxiety)

備 - prepare, provide, equip
Reading: そな (sona), ビ (bi)
Example: 不備 (fubi - defect), 準備 (junbi - preparation)

至 - reach, attain, extreme
Reading: いた (ita), シ (shi)
Example: 至急 (shikyuu - urgent), 大至急 (daishikyuu - very urgent)

急 - hurry, urgent, sudden
Reading: いそ (iso), キュウ (kyuu)
Example: 至急 (shikyuu - urgent), 急ぐ (isogu - to hurry)

Source

Based on NHK WORLD-JAPAN’s “Easy Japanese for Work” Lesson #42
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/tv/easyjapaneseforwork/skit42.html