Describe a missing object with a colour and a location. Practise giving useful details instead of relying on the word “lost” alone.
Describe the item before adding a long story
黒いかばんをなくしました states what is missing. If you know the last location, 電車の中に置きました gives another useful detail. の中 expresses inside, and に marks the placement destination in this sentence.
色は黒です answers a question about colour. 大きいです or 小さいです can add size. Choose details you actually know; do not agree to a suggested description just to keep the conversation moving.
Distinguish losing from finding
なくす describes losing an item, while 見つける describes finding it. The sample finishes with a direction to an information desk, not a promise that the bag has been found. A real lost-property procedure may require further information; this dialogue is only a short language task.
Examples to read before you practise
Japanese | Reading / English |
|---|---|
客：すみません、かばんをなくしました。 | Customer: Excuse me, I lost my bag. |
係員：何色ですか。 | Staff: What colour is it? |
客：黒いかばんです。 | Customer: It is a black bag. |
係員：どこに置きましたか。 | Staff: Where did you put it? |
客：電車の中に置きました。 | Customer: I put it in the train. |
係員：案内所で聞いてください。 | Staff: Please ask at the information desk. |
Try six questions
Try these self-check questions from memory, then compare your answers with the explanations. For automatic checking and saved progress, open the related practice after this article.
What colour is the bag? Type the colour noun.
Where was it placed? Complete 電車の（ ）.
Where should the customer ask? Copy the desk name.
I lost it: なくす → polite past
黒い → plain past affirmative
Ask at the information desk: 案内所（ ）聞いてください。
Answer key and explanations
黒 / くろ — The bag is black.
中 / なか — 中 means inside.
案内所 / あんないじょ — The instruction mentions 案内所.
なくしました — す becomes し before ました.
黒かった / くろかった — The adjective past uses かった.
で — で marks where the asking happens.
Keep learning
Related lessons
Try what you have just read
Recognise the pattern, write an answer from memory, then use it in a short reading. Your existing progress carries over.
Open the three-step lessonSources
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