When you're traveling in Japan, or even if you live there, you'll hear the word ロビー (ro-bī) quite often. It's a loanword from English, and it means 'lobby' or 'lounge,' just like in English. You'll typically encounter it in hotels, office buildings, and sometimes even at larger train stations or theaters. It's the designated waiting or reception area.
For example, if you're meeting someone at a hotel, they might tell you to meet them in the ロビー. Or, if you're waiting for a show to start, you might relax in the theater's ロビー. It's a straightforward word to remember because it sounds and functions much like its English counterpart.
When talking about places like hotels, offices, or theaters, you'll often hear the word ロビー (robi-). This refers to the lobby or lounge area. It's a common loanword from English, so it sounds quite similar. You might hear it when someone is suggesting a meeting place, like "Let's meet in the lobby."
For example, you could say ホテルのロビーで会いましょう (hoteru no robi- de aimashou), meaning "Let's meet in the hotel lobby." Or, if you're waiting for someone, you might say ロビーで待っています (robi- de matte imasu), meaning "I'm waiting in the lobby."
§ What does it mean and when do people use it?
The Japanese word ロビー (robī) is a noun that directly translates to "lobby" or "lounge" in English. It's a very common loanword, meaning it comes from English. You'll hear it used in many of the same contexts as you would in English, primarily referring to the entrance area or a public waiting space in a building.
Think about hotels, office buildings, theaters, or even some larger restaurants. The spacious area near the entrance where people wait, meet, or relax is typically called a ロビー. It's the first place you often enter, and it serves as a transitional space before you go to your specific destination within the building.
Let's look at some specific situations where you'd encounter ロビー:
- In hotels: This is probably the most common place. The hotel ロビー is where you check in, wait for friends, or just sit and relax.
- In office buildings: Large office complexes often have a spacious ロビー where visitors check in or wait for appointments.
- At theaters or concert halls: Before a show starts, you might wait in the ロビー where you can buy drinks or snacks.
- In hospitals: Waiting areas, especially near the main entrance, can also be referred to as a ロビー.
It's important to remember that while it can mean "lounge," it primarily refers to the *main* public waiting area, usually at the entrance. If you're looking for a more specific type of lounge, like a private club lounge, there might be other, more precise Japanese terms used, though ロビー can sometimes be used more broadly in this context as well, especially if it's an informal usage. For example, a "lounge" in a fancy department store could sometimes be called a ロビー if it's a general waiting area.
- Japanese Word
- ロビー (robī)
- Meaning
- Lobby, lounge
- CEFR Level
- A2
Here are a few examples to help you see it in action:
ホテルのロビーで待ち合わせましょう。
(Let's meet in the hotel lobby.)
彼はロビーで新聞を読んでいた。
(He was reading a newspaper in the lounge.)
映画館のロビーは人でいっぱいだった。
(The movie theater lobby was full of people.)
As you can see, the usage is very similar to English. Just remember to use the katakana spelling and the Japanese pronunciation, and you'll be able to navigate buildings in Japan with ease!
How Formal Is It?
"社長は来客を待合室で迎えた。 (Shachō wa raikyaku o machiaishitsu de mukaeta.)"
"ホテルのロビーで友達と待ち合わせをした。 (Hoteru no robī de tomodachi to machiawase o shita.)"
"駅のエントランスで待ち合わせようか。 (Eki no entoransu de machiawaseyou ka?)"
"おばあちゃんがおうちのげんかんでまってるよ。 (Obāchan ga ouchi no genkan de matteru yo.)"
需要掌握的语法
N + にいます/あります (ni imasu/arimasu): This particle indicates location. Use います (imasu) for animate objects (people, animals) and あります (arimasu) for inanimate objects (things, places).
ロビーに人がいます。(Robī ni hito ga imasu.) - There are people in the lobby.
N の + N (no + N): This particle connects two nouns, with the first noun modifying the second. It can indicate possession, origin, or a descriptive relationship.
ホテルのロビー (hoteru no robī) - The hotel's lobby.
V (ます form) + に行く (ni iku): This structure expresses the purpose of going somewhere. The verb before に行く is in its ます (masu) stem form.
ロビーに飲み物を取りに行きます。(Robī ni nomimono o tori ni ikimasu.) - I'm going to the lobby to get a drink.
N で (de): This particle indicates the place where an action occurs.
ロビーで待ちましょう。(Robī de machimashou.) - Let's wait in the lobby.
N から (kara): This particle indicates the starting point of a movement or action.
ロビーから部屋へ行きます。(Robī kara heya e ikimasu.) - I'll go to the room from the lobby.
按水平分级的例句
ロビーにいます。
I am in the lobby.
「にいます」 indicates existence at a location.
ロビーはどこですか？
Where is the lobby?
「どこ」 means 'where'.
ロビーで待ちます。
I will wait in the lobby.
「で」 indicates the location of an action.
ホテルのロビーです。
It is the hotel's lobby.
「の」 indicates possession or association.
ロビーは広いです。
The lobby is spacious.
「広い」 is an i-adjective meaning 'spacious' or 'wide'.
ロビーでコーヒーを飲みます。
I drink coffee in the lobby.
「を」 is the direct object particle.
ロビーで会いましょう。
Let's meet in the lobby.
「ましょう」 indicates a suggestion or invitation.
ロビーに座ってください。
Please sit in the lobby.
「ください」 is a polite request.
常见搭配
常用短语
ロビーでお待ちしております。
I will be waiting in the lobby.
ロビーはどこですか？
Where is the lobby?
ロビーで会いましょう。
Let's meet in the lobby.
ロビーに荷物を置く。
Leave luggage in the lobby.
ロビーは人でいっぱいだった。
The lobby was full of people.
ホテルのロビーでチェックインした。
I checked in at the hotel lobby.
会議はロビー階で行われます。
The meeting will be held on the lobby floor.
ロビーで新聞を読んだ。
I read the newspaper in the lobby.
ロビーにカフェがあります。
There is a cafe in the lobby.
ロビーで少し休憩しましょう。
Let's take a short break in the lobby.
容易混淆的词
This word is a direct loanword from English 'lobby' and is used exactly the same way. No common confusion with other Japanese terms.
Similar to ロビー but sometimes implies a more relaxed or informal waiting area, often with comfortable seating, like an airport lounge or a hotel lounge bar. ロビー is more general for the entrance area.
A specific 'waiting room,' often found in hospitals, clinics, or train stations. While a lobby can have a waiting area, 待合室 specifically designates a room for waiting.
容易混淆
It can mean 'quite good' or 'no thank you,' depending on context and intonation.
When used positively, it's an adverb meaning 'quite' or 'fairly.' When used negatively (often with rising intonation), it's a polite refusal.
これ、結構美味しいですね。(Kore, kekkou oishii desu ne.) - This is quite delicious. / コーヒー、いかがですか？結構です。(Kōhii, ikaga desu ka? Kekkou desu.) - Would you like some coffee? No, thank you.
It can mean 'I'm fine,' 'It's okay,' or 'Are you okay?' It’s very versatile.
Its meaning is highly dependent on context and intonation. It can be an affirmation, a question, or a reassurance.
大丈夫ですか？(Daijoubu desu ka?) - Are you okay? / はい、大丈夫です。(Hai, daijoubu desu.) - Yes, I'm fine.
Often translated as 'It can't be helped,' but its nuance is closer to 'There's nothing I can do about it' or 'It is what it is.'
It expresses resignation or acceptance of an unavoidable situation, rather than just a simple impossibility.
電車が遅れて、仕方がない。(Densha ga okurete, shikata ga nai.) - The train is delayed, it can't be helped (I have to accept it).
Literally means 'you are tired,' but it's used as a general greeting or acknowledgement for someone's hard work, even if they aren't actually tired.
It's a versatile phrase for acknowledging effort. Used when leaving work, arriving, or seeing someone working hard. It's not a literal statement about fatigue.
お仕事お疲れ様です。(Oshigoto otsukaresama desu.) - Good work (said to someone working). / (After a long meeting) お疲れ様でした。(Otsukaresama deshita.) - Thank you for your hard work (past tense).
Often translated as 'I see,' but it implies understanding and agreement, sometimes with a slight nuance of discovery or realization.
More than just 'I understand,' it suggests 'Aha, now I get it' or 'That makes sense.'
なるほど、そういうことですね。(Naruhodo, sou iu koto desu ne.) - I see, so that's how it is.
如何使用
The Japanese word 「ロビー」 (robii) is a loanword from English, and it refers to a lobby or lounge area. It's commonly used in hotels, office buildings, theaters, and other public spaces. Think of it as the waiting area or the main entrance hall.
While it can refer to a 'lounge,' it's more specifically about the entrance area rather than a comfortable sitting room for relaxation (for which you might use something like 「休憩室」 kyūkeishitsu, or just 'lounge' as a loanword: 「ラウンジ」 raunji). The context will often make the meaning clear.
A common mistake is thinking 「ロビー」 can always be used interchangeably with 'lounge' in all contexts. While there's overlap, 「ロビー」 is more about the reception/waiting area. For a more general 'lounge' in a home or a dedicated relaxation room, other terms might be more appropriate.
For example, if you're talking about a hotel lobby, 「ホテルのロビー」 (hoteru no robii) is perfect. But if you're talking about a comfortable 'lounge' in your house, you'd likely use 「リビング」 (ribingu) or 「居間」 (ima).
自我测试 36 个问题
This sentence means 'The hotel lobby is spacious.' The word order in Japanese is typically Subject-Object-Verb, but adjectives often precede the noun they modify. 'ホテル (hotel)' + 'の (possessive particle)' + 'ロビー (lobby)' forms the subject. '広い (hiroi, spacious)' is an adjective, and 'です (desu, is)' is a copula.
This sentence means 'Let's meet in the lobby.' 'ロビー (lobby)' indicates the location, followed by the particle 'で (de)' for location of action. '会いましょう (aimashou)' is the volitional form of '会う (au, to meet)', meaning 'let's meet'.
This sentence means 'There are people in the lobby.' 'ロビー (lobby)' is the location, followed by the particle 'に (ni)' indicating existence at a location. '人が (hito ga)' means 'people' (subject), and 'います (imasu)' is the verb for existence of animate objects.
ホテルの___で待ち合わせしましょう。(Let's meet in the hotel ___.)
The context indicates a meeting place in a hotel, and 'ロビー' (lobby) is the most appropriate word.
空港の___はとても広いです。(The airport ___ is very spacious.)
An airport 'ロビー' (lobby/lounge) is typically a spacious area where people wait.
病院の___で名前を呼ばれるのを待っています。(I am waiting for my name to be called in the hospital ___.)
In a hospital, patients usually wait in the 'ロビー' (lobby) to be called.
オフィスビルの___にはカフェがあります。(There's a cafe in the office building's ___.)
It's common for office buildings to have cafes in their 'ロビー' (lobby/lounge area).
このアパートの___はきれいです。(This apartment's ___ is clean.)
Apartment buildings often have a shared 'ロビー' (lobby) that can be clean or dirty.
美術館の___でチケットを買いました。(I bought tickets in the museum ___.)
Tickets are typically purchased in the 'ロビー' (lobby/entrance area) of a museum.
This sentence means 'Let's wait in the hotel lobby.' ホテル (hotel) modifies ロビー (lobby). で indicates the location of the action 待ちましょう (let's wait).
This sentence means 'He is in the lobby.' 彼 (he) is the subject. ロビーに indicates the location where he is. います (is/are, for animate objects).
This sentence means 'There is a lobby on the first floor of the building.' ビル (building) is modified by の. 1階 (first floor) is followed by に to indicate location. ロビー (lobby) is the object, and あります (there is/are, for inanimate objects) indicates its existence.
Imagine you are meeting a friend at a hotel. Write a short message telling them where to meet you in the hotel, using the word ロビー.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
ホテルに着いたら、ロビーで待っていますね。
You are at an airport waiting for your flight. Write a sentence saying that you are waiting in the lounge, using the word ロビー.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
空港のロビーで飛行機を待っています。
You are arranging a business meeting. Write a short email to your colleague suggesting that you meet in the lobby of your office building. Use the word ロビー.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
会議の前に、会社のロビーで会いましょう。
田中さんは今どこにいますか？
Read this passage:
A: すみません、田中さんはどこですか？ B: 田中さんは今、ホテルのロビーで電話をしていますよ。 A: ありがとうございます。すぐ行きます。
田中さんは今どこにいますか？
Bさんの返答で、田中さんがホテルのロビーにいることがわかります。
Bさんの返答で、田中さんがホテルのロビーにいることがわかります。
集合場所はどこですか？
Read this passage:
私たちは旅行会社でツアーを予約しました。集合場所はホテルのロビーです。午前9時に集合してください。
集合場所はどこですか？
文章に「集合場所はホテルのロビーです」とあります。
文章に「集合場所はホテルのロビーです」とあります。
どこで友達を待ちますか？
Read this passage:
駅に着きました。友達はまだ到着していません。駅のロビーで待ちましょう。
どこで友達を待ちますか？
文章に「駅のロビーで待ちましょう」と書いてあります。
文章に「駅のロビーで待ちましょう」と書いてあります。
Let's meet in the hotel ____.
New sofas were placed in the company's ____.
The concert hall's ____ was overflowing with people.
Read this aloud:
ロビーで少しお待ちいただけますか？
Focus: ロビー (robii)
你说的：
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
お客様はロビーでお待ちです。
Focus: お客様 (okyaku-sama)
你说的：
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
広々としたロビーは開放感がありますね。
Focus: 広々とした (hiro-biro to shita)
你说的：
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
The hotel lobby was spacious and comfortable.
Before the meeting, I waited a bit in the lobby.
He was sitting on the lobby sofa reading a newspaper.
/ 36 correct
Perfect score!
例句
ホテルのロビーで待ち合わせましょう。
相关内容
更多general词汇
いくつか
B1An unspecified small number of things; some, a few.
ちょっと
A2A little; a moment; a bit. Small amount or short time.
すこし
A2A little; a few.
さっき
A2A little while ago; a short time past.
能力
A1Nouryoku refers to the mental or physical power, skill, or capacity required to perform a specific task or function. It can describe both innate talent and skills acquired through learning and practice.
異常
A1A word used to describe something that deviates from the normal state, standard, or expected pattern. It often implies a problem, malfunction, or an extraordinary occurrence that requires attention or investigation.
～について
A2About, concerning; indicates topic.
〜について
B1About, concerning; on the subject of.
～ぐらい
A2about, approximately
ぐらい
A2About; approximately; to the extent of.
