1 / 4
Kanji / Hiragana / Katakana are all accepted
あ、すみません
Meaning: “Ah, sorry.” / “Oh, excuse me.”
This is the correct response when someone tells you:
**「ここでタバコを吸ってはいけません。」**
(“You must not smoke here.”)
→ You apologize for doing something you shouldn’t.
Example:
「ここでタバコを吸ってはいけません。」
— 「あ、すみません。」
(“You can’t smoke here.” — “Oh, sorry.”)
はい、いけません
Meaning: “Yes, I must not.”
Sounds unnatural — you don’t confirm the rule, you apologize.
Example:
× 「はい、いけません。」
(Not natural here.)
はい、困ります
Meaning: “Yes, it’s a problem.”
This is what **the person enforcing the rule** might say, not the smoker.
Example:
「ここでタバコを吸わないでください。」
— 「はい、困ります。」
(Used by staff, not by the person smoking.)
吸う
Meaning: To smoke; to inhale.
Example:
タバコを吸う。
(Smoke a cigarette.)
〜てはいけません
Meaning: “You must not…” (prohibition).
Example:
ここで食べてはいけません。
(You must not eat here.)
すみません
Meaning: Sorry; excuse me.
Example:
あ、すみません。
(Oh, sorry.)
Other Listening Exercises
JLPT N4 Listening Dictation Part 4 - Test 18
In progressA2 · 0:20