Japatan
要望
ようぼう
request, demand
住民の要望にこたえて、市は公園のベンチを増やした。
In response to residents' requests, the city added more benches to the park.
N2 Day 5
お客さまの声 Customers' voices
Learn words about making products and customer requests. With 〜に応じて and 〜にこたえて, you can say that something is done to match a situation or people's wishes.
About 25 minutes · 8 words · grammar · reading · quiz
- Words
- Grammar
- Read
- Quiz
- Done
Today's words
期待
きたい
expectation, hope
両親の期待にこたえようと、毎日練習を続けた。
I kept practicing every day, trying to live up to my parents' expectations.
商品
しょうひん
product, goods
この店は毎月新しい商品が出るので、行くのが楽しみだ。
This shop has new products every month, so I look forward to going there.
需要
じゅよう
demand (for goods)
暑い日が続いて、冷たい飲み物の需要が増えている。
Hot days have continued, and demand for cold drinks is rising.
注文
ちゅうもん
order (for goods or food)
注文の数に応じて、料理を作る量を決める。
We decide how much food to make according to the number of orders.
対応する
たいおうする
to deal with, to respond to
店員は客の質問に丁寧に対応した。
The clerk dealt with the customer's question politely.
柔軟
じゅうなん
flexible
予定が変わっても、柔軟に考えよう。
Even if the plans change, let's think flexibly.
満足
まんぞく
satisfaction, satisfied
料理の味に、客はみんな満足していた。
All the customers were satisfied with the taste of the food.
Today's grammar
〜に応じて
According to ~; depending on ~; in response to ~
Formation
- N + に応じて
- N + に応じた + N
Means that when the preceding noun (season, age, ability, budget, distance, etc.) changes or differs, what follows changes to match it. 必要に応じて means "as needed." It can also mean responding to someone's request or call, as in 客の注文に応じて. Before a noun it becomes に応じた.
Examples
この店では、季節に応じてメニューを変えている。
This restaurant changes its menu according to the season.
タクシーの料金は、走った距離に応じて高くなる。
Taxi fares go up depending on the distance traveled.
〜にこたえて
In response to (expectations, requests, cheers)
Formation
- N + にこたえて
- N + にこたえる + N
Shows acting so that someone's expectations, requests, or cheers are fulfilled. In kanji it is written 応えて. The preceding noun is mainly a word for people's feelings or wishes, such as 期待, 要望, 声援, リクエスト, or アンコール. に応じて mainly means adjusting to changes or differences, while にこたえて expresses a wish to live up to other people's feelings.
Examples
ファンの声援に応えて、選手は大きく手を振った。
In response to the fans' cheers, the player waved enthusiastically.
客の要望に応えて、その店は営業時間を延ばした。
In response to customer requests, the shop extended its business hours.
Read
町のパン屋のねこパン The cat bread of a neighborhood bakery
駅の近くに、夫婦二人でやっている小さなパン屋がある。Near the station, there is a small bakery run by a married couple.
この店では、季節に応じてパンの種類を変えている。夏はさっぱりしたレモンのパン、冬は温かいスープに合うパンが人気だ。This shop changes its kinds of bread according to the season. In summer, a refreshing lemon bread is popular; in winter, bread that goes well with warm soup.
また、焼く量も、曜日や注文の数に応じて毎朝決めているそうだ。They also decide every morning how much to bake, according to the day of the week and the number of orders.
店の入り口には、「ご要望をお書きください」という小さなノートが置いてある。At the shop entrance, there is a small notebook that says, "Please write your requests."
店長の佐藤さんは毎晩このノートを読んで、お客さまの声にこたえて新しい商品を考えている。The shop manager, Sato-san, reads this notebook every night and comes up with new products in response to customers' voices.
「一人暮らしなので、半分の大きさの食パンがほしい」という要望にこたえて作ったミニ食パンは、今では一日に五十個売れるそうだ。The mini loaf, made in response to a request saying "I live alone, so I want a loaf half the size," now sells fifty a day.
佐藤さんは、「需要があるかどうかは、作ってみないとわかりません。だから、柔軟に対応したいんです」と話す。Sato-san says, "You can't know whether there's demand until you try making it. That's why I want to respond flexibly."
ある日、ノートに子どもの字で「ねこの形のパンがあったらいいな」と書いてあった。One day, someone had written in the notebook in a child's handwriting, "It would be nice if there were cat-shaped bread."
佐藤さんはその期待にこたえようと、何度も練習して、ねこのパンを完成させた。Wanting to live up to that hope, Sato-san practiced many times and finally completed the cat bread.
ところが、焼くたびに、ねこの顔が少しずつ違ってしまう。However, every time it is baked, the cat's face comes out a little different.
それでもお客さまは「今日はどんな顔かな」と楽しみにしていて、満足そうに選んでいくそうだ。Even so, customers look forward to it, wondering "What kind of face will it have today?", and happily pick one out.
失敗だと思っていた顔の違いが、かえって人気の理由になったのである。The differences in the faces, which had seemed like a failure, actually became the reason for its popularity.
Tap a line to see the translation.
Check your understanding
R1ミニ食パンはどうして作られたのか。
Answer and explanation
Answer: 3 半分の大きさがいいという要望があったから
The text says the mini loaf was made in response to a request for a loaf half the size. It was not the manager's own wish or for practice.
R2ねこのパンについて、本文の内容と合うものはどれか。
Answer and explanation
Answer: 2 顔が少しずつ違うことを、客が楽しんでいる。
The face is a little different every time, but customers enjoy wondering what face it will have today. It is still sold, and it was made because of a child's request.
Quiz
1雨の日は、タクシーの（ ）が増える。
Answer and explanation
Answer: 4 需要
On rainy days, the demand for taxis rises. 需要 is the amount of need for goods or services; the other words do not fit.
2急な予定の変更にも、（ ）に対応できる人が必要だ。
Answer and explanation
Answer: 1 柔軟
We need people who can respond flexibly even to sudden schedule changes. 柔軟に対応する means to adapt to the situation.
3インターネットで本を（ ）したら、次の日に届いた。
Answer and explanation
Answer: 3 注文
I ordered a book online, and it arrived the next day. 注文する means to place an order.
4このジムでは、体力（ ）トレーニングのメニューを変えられる。
Answer and explanation
Answer: 2 に応じて
At this gym, you can change your training menu according to your fitness level. に応じて means "to match" differences or changes. にこたえて is used with requests or expectations.
5ファンの声（ ）、歌手はもう一曲歌った。
Answer and explanation
Answer: 4 にこたえて
In response to the fans' calls, the singer sang one more song. にこたえて means to act in answer to people's voices, requests or hopes.
6「〜に応じて」の使い方が正しいものはどれか。
Answer and explanation
Answer: 1 収入に応じて、毎月貯金する金額を決めている。
Sentence 1 is correct: "I decide how much to save each month according to my income." に応じて needs something that varies, like income; the others do not.
7お客さまの満足が、店にとっていちばん大切だ。
Answer and explanation
Answer: 2 まんぞく
満足 is read まんぞく (satisfaction). 足 is usually そく, but here it becomes ぞく. The sentence means "Customer satisfaction is the most important thing for a shop."
8この店のしょうひんは全部手作りだ。
Answer and explanation
Answer: 3 商品
しょうひん (product) is written 商品. 商 is the しょう of 商店 (store). The sentence means "All of this shop's products are handmade."
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