About This Lesson
Use Working toward a deadline to practice Japanese conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.
Dialogue
A
締め切りはもうすぐですか？
sheh-meh-KEE-ree wa MOH-oh-soo-goo dess kah Is the deadline coming up soon?
B
締め切りが近いです。
sheh-meh-KEE-ree gah kee-EYE dess The deadline is close.
B
では、主な部分から始めましょう。
deh-WAH, OH-moh-nah BOO-boon kah-rah hah-jeh-meh-mah-SHOH So let's start with the main part.
A
それを今、引き受けますか？
soh-reh oh ee-MAH, hee-kee-oo-keh-MAHS kah Do you want to take that on now?
B
あなたがファイルを確認している間、私は始められます。
ah-NAH-tah gah FAI-roo oh kah-koo-NEEN shee-teh-ee-roo AH-ee-dah, wah-TAH-shee wa hah-jeh-meh-rah-reh-MAHS I can start while you check the file.
A
最初に何を見ればいいですか？
sai-SHOH nee NAH-nee oh mee-REH-bah EE dess kah What should I look for first?
B
メモと依頼が合っているか確認してください。
MEH-moh toh ee-RAI gah aht-teh-ee-roo kah kah-koo-NEEN shee-teh koo-DAH-sai Make sure the notes match the request.
A
それから、短い報告を書きます。
soh-reh-kah-rah, mee-jee-KAI hoh-KOH-koo oh kah-kee-MAHS Then I'll write a short update.
B
それができたら、私たちはそれを共有できます。
soh-reh gah deh-KEE-tah-rah, wah-TAH-shee-tah-chee wa soh-reh oh KYOH-yoo deh-KEE-mahs When it's ready, we can share it.Word by Word
締め切り
「締め切り」 means “deadline,” the date by which work is due. In this workplace conversation, it is the topic whose timing is being checked, and it can be reused in a deadline-related statement such as 「締め切りが近いです」.
は
In 「締め切りはもうすぐですか？」, 「は」 marks 締め切り as the topic being asked about. It is useful when asking about or commenting on a known topic, here the deadline.
もうすぐ
「もうすぐ」 means “soon” and shows that the deadline is expected in the near future. It is useful when asking whether an event or time is approaching.
です
In 「締め切りはもうすぐですか？」, 「です」 gives the description a polite form. It is used here to make the statement or question suitable for a polite conversation.
か
At the end of 「締め切りはもうすぐですか？」, 「か」 marks the sentence as a question. It is useful at the end of a polite question when asking for information.
が
In 「締め切りが近いです」, 「が」 marks 締め切り as what is close. It is useful when identifying the subject of a description or condition.
近い
「近い」 means “close” or “near”; here it describes the deadline as close in time. It can be reused to describe a nearby time or place when the context makes the reference clear.
では
「では」 means “well” or “then” and moves the conversation to the next step in 「では、主な部分から始めましょう」. Here, 「で」 provides the linking element and 「は」 frames that transition, so the two work together as one conversational expression.
主な
「主な」 means “main” or “principal” and describes the important section in 「主な部分」. It is reused before a noun when identifying the central item or part.
部分
「部分」 means “part” or “section”; here it is the main section of the work. It is useful for referring to one section within a larger task or file.
から
In 「主な部分から始めましょう」, 「から」 means “from” or “starting with” and marks the point where the action begins. It is useful after a starting point when describing the order of work.
始めましょう
「始めましょう」 means “let’s start” and proposes beginning the work together. It is useful when making a polite suggestion about a shared action.
それ
In 「それを今、引き受けますか？」, 「それ」 means “that” or “it” and points to the task just mentioned. It is useful when referring to a known item or action without repeating its name.
を
In 「それを今、引き受けますか？」, 「を」 marks それ as the object of the action. It is useful before a verb when showing what the action is done to or taken on.
今
「今」 means “now” and asks whether the task will be accepted at the present time. It is useful for specifying when an action happens.
引き受けます
「引き受けます」 means “take on” or “accept responsibility for” a task in 「それを今、引き受けますか？」. It is useful with a task or responsibility marked by 「を」 when discussing who will handle it.
あなた
「あなた」 means “you” and explicitly identifies the person checking the file in 「あなたがファイルを確認している間」. It is useful when directly identifying the person responsible for an action.
ファイル
「ファイル」 means “file” and is the item being checked in 「ファイルを確認している」. It is useful for referring to a document or digital file in a work context.
確認
「確認」 in 「確認している」 means “checking” or “confirmation” and names the act of verifying the file. It is useful when referring to a checking task before another step can proceed.
している
「している」 in 「確認している」 shows that the checking is in progress. Here, 「し」 carries the action, 「て」 links it, and 「いる」 presents the action as an ongoing state; this pattern is useful for an action continuing during another event.
間
In 「あなたがファイルを確認している間」, 「間」 means “while” or “during” and marks the period in which another action takes place. It is useful after a clause when describing two actions happening during the same time period.
私
「私」 means “I” or “me” and identifies the speaker who can start in 「私は始められます」. It is useful when explicitly stating who is responsible for an action.
始められます
「始められます」 means “can start” and expresses the speaker’s ability or possibility of starting. It is useful when stating that an action is possible under the current circumstances.
最初
「最初」 means “first” or “the beginning” and identifies the initial point in 「最初に何を見ればいいですか？」. It is useful when asking about or describing the first step in a sequence.
に
In 「最初に何を見ればいいですか？」, 「に」 marks 最初 as the point in the order at which the action should happen. It is useful after a time or sequence expression to specify when an action occurs.
何
「何」 means “what” and asks which item should be checked in 「何を見ればいいですか？」. It is useful before an object marker when the speaker does not know which thing is involved.
見れば
In 「何を見ればいいですか？」, 「見れば」 links looking at something with the question of what is appropriate to do. It is useful in a question about which action or item should be chosen first.
いい
In 「何を見ればいいですか？」, 「いい」 means “good” or “appropriate” and asks what would be the right action. It is useful when checking what choice or step is suitable in a situation.
メモ
「メモ」 means “notes” and is one of the two things being checked against each other in 「メモと依頼が合っているか」. It is useful for referring to written reminders or information recorded for a task.
と
In 「メモと依頼が合っているか」, 「と」 connects メモ and 依頼 as the two things being compared. It is useful for linking nouns that are considered together or checked against each other.
依頼
「依頼」 means “request” and refers to the requested work that the notes should match in 「メモと依頼」. It is useful in a workplace when identifying a task or instruction received from someone.
合っている
「合っている」 in 「メモと依頼が合っているか」 says that the notes and the request match or are in agreement. Here, 「合って」 carries the matching relation and 「いる」 presents that relation as an existing state; it is useful when checking whether two things correspond.
してください
「してください」 politely asks the listener to carry out the requested check in 「確認してください」. Here, 「し」 carries the action, 「て」 connects it to 「ください」, and 「ください」 makes it a polite request; it is useful for workplace instructions.
それから
「それから」 means “then” or “after that” and introduces the next step in 「それから、短い報告を書きます」. 「それ」 points back to the preceding step and 「から」 gives the after-that relationship, so the expression is useful for sequencing actions.
短い
「短い」 means “short” and describes the report in 「短い報告」. It is useful before a noun when describing limited length or duration.
報告
「報告」 means “report” or “update” and is the item to be written in 「短い報告を書きます」. In this conversation, it is a work update that can later be shared with the other person.
書きます
「書きます」 means “write” and describes the speaker’s next action in 「報告を書きます」. It is useful after an object when stating that the speaker will write that item.
できたら
「できたら」 means “when it is ready” or “once it is completed” and sets the condition for sharing in 「それができたら」. It is useful after a completed task when introducing the next action.
私たち
「私たち」 means “we” or “us” and identifies both workplace speakers as the people who can share the completed item. It is useful when explicitly including the speaker and other people in the subject of an action.
共有
「共有」 means “sharing” and names the action that can happen after the item is ready in 「共有できます」. It is useful when discussing making information or a work result available to another person.
できます
「できます」 means “can do” or, in 「共有できます」, “can share.” It expresses that the action is possible and is useful after an action word when stating ability or availability.
Grammar Points
〜ば
最初にファイルを見れば、メモが合っているか確認できます。
sai-SHOH nee FAI-roo oh mee-REH-bah, MEH-moh gah aht-teh-ee-roo kah kah-koo-NEEN deh-KEE-mahsIf you look at the file first, you can check whether the notes match.
The ば-form expresses a condition: “if/when …”. 見る becomes 見れば.
〜できます
今、報告を共有できます。
ee-MAH, hoh-KOH-koo oh KYOH-yoo deh-KEE-mahsYou can share the report now.
できます expresses ability or possibility. It follows a noun with を, as in 報告を共有できます.
Japanese Vocabulary
ファイル
noun
FAI-roo
file
メモ
noun
MEH-moh
notes; memo
もうすぐ
adv
MOH-oh-soo-goo
soon
引き受ける
verb
hee-kee-oo-KEH-roo
to take on; to undertake
引き受けますか
確認する
verb
kah-koo-NEEN soo-roo
to check; to confirm
確認している
近い
adj
kee-EYE
close; near
見る
verb
mee-roo
to look at; to see
見れば
今
adv
ee-MAH
now
最初に
adv
sai-SHOH nee
first
主な
adj
OH-moh-nah
main
締め切り
noun
sheh-meh-KEE-ree
deadline
部分
noun
BOO-boon
part
Quiz
Spelling
Tap the letters to spell the word.
soon
Show Answer
もうすぐto take on; to undertake
Show Answer
引き受けますかto check; to confirm
Show Answer
確認しているdeadline