SESKStuff Everyone Should Know
SESK: Stuff Everyone Should Know · sesk.info/ja-tv-wont-turn-on

In a hotel room, how do you say 'The TV won't turn on' in Japanese?

Terebi ga tsukanain desu ga... (テレビがつかないんですが…)

Start playing free

  1. Eakon ga kikanain desu ga... (エアコンがきかないんですが…)
  2. Terebi ga mitai desu. (テレビが見たいです。)
  3. Terebi ga tsukanain desu ga... (テレビがつかないんですが…) ✔

Why: The nai-form plus n desu ga explains a problem politely. The wrong choices say 'The air conditioner isn't working' and 'I want to watch TV'.

Huh, didn't know that: The staff replies 'Shooshoo omachi kudasai', meaning please wait a minute.

The dad joke
The TV in the ryokan would not turn on. I took it as a sign it needed a rest, and so did I.
Like this card?
Play the game

References

Answer: Terebi ga tsukanain desu ga... (テレビがつかないんですが…). The nai-form plus n desu ga explains a problem politely. The wrong choices say 'The air conditioner isn't working' and 'I want to watch TV'.

  1. NHK WORLD-JAPAN Easy Japanese, Lesson 37 www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/lesson/en/lessons/37.html
    Sumimasen. Terebi ga tsukanain desu ga... Excuse me. The TV won't turn on...
    Checked 2026-10-10.

Think this answer is wrong? Tap "Challenge this answer" on the card in the game and tell us why.

Test yourself in the game

LanguagesHow do you say 'I don't know the Wi-Fi password' to hotel staff?LanguagesHow do you politely ask 'Excuse me. Where is the toilet?' in Japanese?LanguagesWhat do you say in Japanese when you first meet someone, like 'Nice to meet you'?

That's stuff everyone should know.