Natural spoken Japanese · 10 minutes · 0008
取り込む
Rain is coming and the laundry is still outside. Move it across the boundary into the home—without confusing that step with drying, folding, or putting it away.
雨が降る前に
Read once for the order of events, then aloud as both speakers. On the second pass, track where the laundry is after each action.
Aねえ、雨降りそう。ベランダの洗濯物、取り込んどいてくれる？
B今見たら、厚手のやつはまだ乾ききってないよ。
Aじゃ、乾いたものだけ取り込んで、残りは部屋干しにしようか。
B了解。シャツはハンガーごと中に移すね。タオルは？
A乾いてたら、外して畳んどいて。しまうのは後で私がやる。
Bシーツも取り込む？
Aうん。雨に降られる前に、全部中に入れたい。
Bじゃあ、先に取り込んで、乾いてないものは浴室に干し直すね。
Notice: 取り込んどいて is conversational 取り込んでおいて: bring it in now so the desired state is ready later. 乾ききってない means it has not dried completely. Bringing laundry inside does not imply that it is dry.
Recall: Which items can be folded immediately, and what happens to the damp ones? Answer in Japanese before continuing.
One load, several separate events
Picture a boundary around the home. In this scene, 取り込む is 取る + 込む: take something that was put outside and move it into the bounded inside space. Shogakukan defines 取り込み as taking an object left outside and putting it inside, with laundry as its everyday example.
The verb names the location change, not the whole chore. Japanese keeps the laundry cycle precise: expose it to air, let its moisture disappear, bring it inside, fold it, then return it to storage.
| Expression | Camera | Natural package |
|---|---|---|
| 干す | Someone exposes it to air or sun so it can dry. | 洗濯物をベランダに干す。 |
| 乾く | The moisture disappears; a change of state. | タオルが乾く。 |
| 取り込む | The laundry crosses from outside to inside. | 雨の前に洗濯物を取り込む。 |
| 畳む | Someone folds cloth into an orderly shape. | 乾いたタオルを畳む。 |
| しまう | Someone returns it to its proper storage place. | 畳んだ服をタンスにしまう。 |
The particle follows the event image: 洗濯物を干す is someone’s action, while 洗濯物が乾く is the resulting change. This recycles the camera distinction from 自動詞・他動詞.
Retrieve 1 · Complete the laundry cycle
Use 干す・乾く・取り込む・畳む・しまう, changing the form as needed.
- 朝、洗濯物をベランダに＿＿＿。
- 午後にはタオルがすっかり＿＿＿。
- 雨が降る前に、洗濯物を＿＿＿。
- タオルを＿＿＿て、種類ごとに分ける。
- 最後にタンスに＿＿＿。
1. 干す 2. 乾いた 3. 取り込む 4. 畳ん 5. しまう
Each verb advances a different state or location. None alone means “finish dealing with the laundry.”
Retrieve 2 · Generic to natural
You see dark clouds and ask someone at home for help. Make this household request more specific and conversational:
雨が降りそうなので、外にある洗濯物を家の中に入れてください。
雨降りそうだから、洗濯物、取り込んどいてくれる？
In a shared household context, 洗濯物を取り込む packages the exact routine. The omitted を and contracted でおいて → どいて fit casual speech.
Retrieve 3 · Rescue the damp laundry
The rain has started, but the towels are not fully dry. Say what you will do in one natural sentence. Use three verbs from the neighborhood.
タオルはまだ乾ききってないから、いったん取り込んで、浴室に干し直そう。
The laundry can cross inside before it is dry. Then 干し直す starts the drying setup again in a new place.
Name the household routine
△ 洗濯物を家の中に入れておいて。
→
洗濯物、取り込んどいて。
The first is grammatical, but describes generic movement. 取り込む is what speakers normally call this stage of the laundry routine.
△ 洗濯物を取り込んだから、もうタンスに入ってる。
→
洗濯物は取り込んだけど、まだ畳んでない。
Bringing laundry in says nothing about folding or storage. If you mean the chore is fully complete, state the later event: 畳んでしまった.
Call home before the rain starts
Take 20 seconds for cue words, then speak for 60–90 seconds. Use 取り込む plus at least two of 干す・乾く・畳む・しまう.
- You are away from home and notice dark clouds.
- Ask a housemate to check the laundry.
- Separate what is dry from what is still damp.
- Explain where to move or rehang each group.
- Say which later tasks can wait until you return.
ごめん、外にいるんだけど、急に空が暗くなってきたから、ベランダの洗濯物を見てくれる？ 雨が降る前に、いったん全部取り込んどいてほしい。乾いてるものはソファの上に置いておいて。まだ湿ってるタオルは、浴室に干し直してくれると助かる。畳んだり、タンスにしまったりするのは、私が帰ってからやるよ。
Compare the event sequence, not exact wording. Did you separate location, dryness, folding, and storage?
Ask me a follow-up question or send your spoken version for feedback. Seeing the model is not evidence of mastery; repeat later with bedding or laundry left at a laundromat.