Breakdown of kikai ni izyou ga arimasu.
Questions & Answers about kikai ni izyou ga arimasu.
How is this sentence pronounced?
Why is に used after 機械?
Here, に marks the place or target where something exists.
So the structure is basically:
- 機械に = in/on/with the machine
- 異常がある = there is an abnormality / there is a problem
A very literal way to think of it is:
At the machine, an abnormality exists.
In natural English, we usually say:
- There is something wrong with the machine.
- The machine has a problem.
So に is not being translated word-for-word as to here. It is showing where the abnormal condition is found.
Why is が used after 異常?
が marks the thing that exists: 異常.
Since the verb is あります (from ある, “to exist”), the thing that exists is marked by が.
So:
- 異常がある = an abnormality exists / there is a problem
This is a very common pattern in Japanese:
- 問題があります。 = There is a problem.
- 時間があります。 = There is time.
- 興味があります。 = I have interest / I’m interested.
Even though English often uses have, Japanese often uses an X が ある pattern instead.
Why does the sentence use あります instead of です?
Because the sentence is expressing existence, not simply equating one thing with another.
- ある / あります = to exist, to be, to have
- です = a polite copula, roughly is / am / are
Here, the idea is not just the machine is abnormal.
It is more like there exists an abnormality in the machine.
So:
- 機械に異常があります。 = There is an abnormality in the machine.
If you used です, you would be making a different kind of statement.
Could I say 機械は異常です instead?
Grammatically, it is possible, but it usually does not sound as natural for this meaning.
機械は異常です sounds more like:
- The machine is abnormal.
- The machine is unusual/abnormal.
That can sound blunt, vague, or slightly odd depending on context. It describes the machine itself as abnormal, rather than saying that it has developed a fault or irregularity.
By contrast:
機械に異常があります is the standard way to say that there is some trouble, fault, or irregularity with the machine.
So if you want to report a malfunction or problem, 機械に異常があります is better.
What does 異常 mean here exactly?
異常 literally means something like:
- abnormality
- irregularity
- something unusual
- fault
- problem
In technical or formal contexts, it often means that something is not operating normally.
So in this sentence, 異常 does not necessarily mean a catastrophic breakdown. It can refer to:
- an error
- a warning condition
- unusual behavior
- a malfunction
- a detected problem
That is why this sentence can sound a bit formal or technical, and it is common in workplaces, manuals, maintenance reports, and system messages.
Why is あります in the non-past form if the problem is happening now?
In Japanese, the non-past form often covers both:
- the present
- the future
So あります can mean:
- there is
- there will be
In this sentence, context makes it clear that it means there is.
This is normal Japanese grammar. The non-past form is often the default way to talk about a current state.
Is this sentence polite?
Yes. あります is the polite form of ある.
Compare:
- 機械に異常があります。 = polite
- 機械に異常がある。 = plain
The polite version is appropriate in many situations, such as:
- speaking to a customer
- reporting to a supervisor
- formal announcements
- workplace communication
The plain form might be used in:
- casual conversation
- notes
- internal comments
- narration
Is 機械に異常があります more formal than 機械が故障しています?
Yes, usually.
These two sentences are similar, but not identical:
機械に異常があります。
= There is an abnormality/problem with the machine.
This sounds more formal, technical, or diagnostic.機械が故障しています。
= The machine is broken / has broken down.
This is more direct and specifically suggests a malfunction or breakdown.
So 異常があります can be broader. It may mean:
- something is wrong
- something unusual has been detected
- the machine is not in a normal state
But 故障しています more strongly suggests that the machine is actually broken.
What is the basic grammar pattern of this sentence?
The pattern is:
A に B が あります
which often means:
There is B in/at/on A
or
A has B
In this sentence:
- A = 機械
- B = 異常
So:
機械に異常があります。
= There is an abnormality in the machine.
= The machine has a problem.
This pattern is very useful, and you can reuse it with many nouns:
- 体に問題があります。 = There is a problem with my body/health.
- システムにエラーがあります。 = There is an error in the system.
- 書類に不備があります。 = There is a defect/issue in the documents.
Why isn’t は used in this sentence?
It could be used, but it would change the nuance.
The original sentence:
- 機械に異常があります。
is a neutral statement:
There is a problem with the machine.
If you say:
- 機械には異常があります。
the は adds contrast or emphasis. It can sound like:
- As for the machine, there is a problem.
- There is a problem, at least with the machine.
This might be used if you are comparing several things:
- 配線には問題がありませんが、機械には異常があります。
= There is no problem with the wiring, but there is an issue with the machine.
So は is possible, but the basic neutral version without it is very natural.
Does に here mean location, like “in the machine”?
Yes, broadly speaking. It marks the place or area where the abnormality exists.
But in English, translating it literally as in the machine every time can sound unnatural. Depending on context, better English translations are:
- in the machine
- with the machine
- on the machine
- affecting the machine
So the particle is doing something like location/target marking, but the best English wording depends on context.
Are the spaces part of normal Japanese writing?
No. Normal Japanese is usually written without spaces:
機械に異常があります。
The spaced version:
機械 に 異常 が あります。
is usually only for learners, to make the parts easier to see.
So in real Japanese text, signs, emails, or reports, you would normally see:
機械に異常があります。
Can this sentence mean “The machine has an error” even though Japanese doesn’t use a word for “has”?
Yes. That is very common in Japanese.
Japanese often uses X に Y がある or X は Y がある where English would use have.
So although the Japanese literally works more like there is an abnormality in the machine, the natural English translation can be:
- The machine has a problem.
- The machine has an abnormality.
- The machine has an error.
This is one of the most important things to get used to when learning Japanese:
Japanese and English often package the same idea in different grammar.
Would あります ever be replaced with いる here?
No, not in this sentence.
- ある / あります is used for inanimate things and abstract things.
- いる / います is used for animate beings, especially people and animals.
Since 異常 is an abstract thing, you use あります.
So:
- 異常があります = correct
- 異常がいます = incorrect
Is this sentence commonly used in real life?
Yes, especially in formal, technical, and workplace contexts.
You might hear or see it in situations like:
- factory operations
- machine maintenance
- equipment monitoring
- safety announcements
- error messages
- inspection reports
It sounds a little more formal and technical than casual everyday speech, which makes sense because 異常 itself is a somewhat formal word.
Sign up free — start using our AI language tutor
Start learning JapaneseMaster Japanese — from kikai ni izyou ga arimasu to fluency
All course content and exercises are completely free — no paywalls, no trial periods, no signup needed.
- ✓Infinitely deep — unlimited vocabulary and grammar
- ✓Fast-paced — build complex sentences from the start
- ✓Unforgettable — efficient spaced repetition system
- ✓ AI tutor to answer your grammar questions