Asking for help with a task | Learn Japanese in English

Japanese lesson set in a contemporary Tokyo everyday setting: In a workplace, one adult asks for help with an unclear task and gets guidance on where to start..

EN → JA / Level: A1

About This Lesson

Use Asking for help with a task to practice Japanese conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

A

この作業を手伝ってほしいです。

koh-NOH sah-GYOH oh teh-dah-TTEH ho-SHEE dess. I need help with this task.
B

どの部分が難しいですか。

DOH-noh boo-BUN gah moo-zoo-kah-SHEE dess-KAH? Which part feels difficult?
A

最初の部分がよく分かりません。

sigh-SHOH noh boo-BUN gah yoh-KOO wah-kah-ree-mah-SEN. The first part is unclear.
B

私が順番に説明します。

wah-TAH-shee gah joon-BAN nee seh-tsoo-MAY shee-MAH-soo. I can walk you through it.
A

このファイルから始めればいいですか。

koh-NOH FYE-roo kah-rah hah-JEE-meh-reh-BAH ee dess-KAH? Should I start with this file?
B

そこから始めて、それから今あるものを見せてください。

SOH-koh kah-rah hah-JEE-meh-teh, soh-reh-kah-rah ee-MAH ah-ROO moh-noh oh meh-SEH-teh koo-dah-SIGH. Start there, then show me what you have.
A

今、それをやってみます。

ee-MAH, soh-reh oh yaht-TEH mee-MAH-soo. I'll try that now.
B

その後で、あなたの作業を確認できます。

soh-NOH ah-TOH deh, ah-nah-TAH noh sah-GYOH oh kah-koo-NEEN deh-kee-MAH-soo. I can check your work after that.

Word by Word

この この means “this” in この作業 and points to a task that is close or already identified in the conversation. It comes directly before the noun it describes, as in この作業. You would use it when referring to a specific nearby item or task.
作業 作業 means the task or work being discussed in この作業. It identifies the work that A wants help with. It can be used before を when the task is the object of an action.
を を marks この作業 as the object of 手伝ってほしいです. It shows what the requested help concerns in この作業を手伝ってほしいです. A common reuse pattern is a noun followed by を before an action.
手伝って 手伝って means “help” as the action A wants B to do in 手伝ってほしいです. Its form connects the action to ほしい, creating a request for another person to help. You would use this when asking someone to assist with work or another task.
ほしい ほしい expresses that A wants someone to do the action in 手伝ってほしいです, meaning “I want you to help.” The pattern verb-te form + ほしい is used when expressing this desire about another person’s action. You would use it when politely asking someone to carry out a needed action.
です です makes 手伝ってほしいです polite. Here it gives the request a courteous sentence ending rather than changing the action itself. You would use it to present a statement or request politely.
どの どの means “which” in どの部分 and asks the listener to choose one part from several possible parts. It comes directly before the noun being selected. You would use the pattern どの + noun when asking which item or section someone means.
部分 部分 means “part” in どの部分が難しいですか. It refers to one section of the task that may be difficult. You would use it when identifying a particular section of a larger task or object.
が が marks どの部分 as the part being described as difficult in どの部分が難しいですか. It identifies the subject of the description. A common reuse pattern places が after the thing whose condition or quality is being asked about.
難しい 難しい means “difficult” in どの部分が難しいですか. It describes the part that feels hard for A. You would use it when asking about or describing the difficulty of a task, question, or section.
か か marks どの部分が難しいですか as a question. It appears at the end of the polite question after です. You would use it to turn a polite statement into a question.
最初 最初 means “first” or “beginning” in 最初の部分. It identifies the beginning section of the task. The pattern 最初の + noun is useful when referring to the first part of something.
の の links 最初 to 部分 in 最初の部分, showing that the part is the first part. It also links あなた to 作業 in あなたの作業, showing whose work it is. You would use の between a describing or possessing noun and the noun that follows.
よく よく means “well” or “clearly” in よく分かりません. Together with the negative expression, it says that A does not understand the first part clearly. You would use よく with an understanding or ability expression when describing how well something is done.
分かりません 分かりません means “do not understand” or “do not know clearly” in 最初の部分がよく分かりません. It is the polite negative form of 分かる used to explain that something is unclear. You would use it when politely saying that an explanation, instruction, or part of a task is not clear.
私 私 means “I” in 私が順番に説明します and identifies B as the person who will explain. It is the speaker referring to themself. You would use it when explicitly stating who is performing an action.
順番 順番 means “order” or “sequence” in 順番に説明します. It indicates that B will explain the task step by step. You would use it with に when describing an action carried out in a particular order.
に に makes 順番 express the manner “in order” in 順番に説明します. It connects the idea of sequence to the way the explanation will be given. You would use this pattern when saying that something is done according to an order or sequence.
説明 説明 supplies the explaining action in 説明します, referring to B’s guidance through the task. With します, it becomes a polite statement about explaining. You would use it when giving information or guidance about a process, task, or topic.
します します makes 説明します a polite statement that B will explain. In this dialogue, it presents B’s offer to guide A through the task. You would use this polite action form when stating what you do or will do.
ファイル ファイル means “file” in このファイルから始めればいいですか. It identifies the work file that A is considering as the starting point. You would use it when referring to a digital or work-related file.
から から means “from” or “starting with” in このファイルから始めればいいですか. It marks the file as the point where A might begin. The reusable pattern is a starting item followed by から and 始める.
始めれば 始めれば means “if I start” or “should I start” in 始めればいいですか. Together with いいですか, it asks whether beginning at that point is appropriate. You would use the pattern 〜から始めればいいですか when asking where or how to begin.
いい いい means “okay” or “appropriate” within 始めればいいですか. The whole expression asks whether starting with the file is the right action, so いい does not by itself mean that starting has happened. You would use this construction when checking whether a proposed action is acceptable.
そこ そこ means “there” in そこから始めて and refers to the starting point just discussed. It lets B refer back to that point without repeating ファイル. You would use it when directing someone to a place, item, or point already identified.
始めて 始めて means “start” in そこから始めて and links the starting instruction to the next instruction. It tells A to begin there before carrying out the following action. You would use this form when giving two actions in sequence.
それから それから means “then” or “after that” in それから今あるものを見せてください. それ refers to the preceding step, and から adds the sense of what follows after it. You would use it to connect one instruction or event to the next.
今 今 means “now” in 今あるもの and 今、それをやってみます. In the first phrase it refers to what is currently available, and in the second it refers to the immediate action A will try. You would use it when emphasizing the present time or a current situation.
ある ある means “exist” or “be available” in 今あるもの. It describes the things that are currently there and can be shown to B. You would use it when referring to something that is present or available.
もの もの means “thing” or “things” in 今あるもの, referring to the work or materials currently available. It allows the speaker to refer generally to what A has without naming each item. You would use it when talking about available things or materials.
見せて 見せて means “show” in 見せてください. Its form connects the action of showing to ください to make a polite request. You would use the pattern 〜を見せてください when asking someone to show you something.
ください ください means “please” in 見せてください and makes the request polite. Together, 見せてください asks A to show B what is currently available. You would use it after a verb in this request pattern when asking someone to do something.
それ それ means “that” in それをやってみます and refers to the action B has just instructed A to carry out. It is followed by を because that action is the object of やってみます. You would use it when referring back to a specific thing or instruction already mentioned.
やって やって means “do” in やってみます and names the action A is going to try. Its form connects the action to みます, which adds the meaning of trying. You would use the pattern 〜をやってみます when saying that you will try doing something.
みます みます means “try doing” in やってみます. Following やって, it shows that A will make an attempt to carry out the suggested action. You would use the pattern verb-te form + みます when saying that you will try an action.
その その means “that” in その後で and points back to the action A is about to try. It directly modifies 後, creating the time reference “after that.” You would use その + noun when referring to something already mentioned.
後 後 means “after” or “later” in その後で. It places B’s checking after A has tried the instructed action. You would use it in a time expression when describing what happens following an earlier event.
で で places the action in the time period expressed by その後 in その後で. The whole phrase means “after that,” indicating when B can check the work. You would use this expression to connect a later action to a previous event.
あなた あなた means “you” in あなたの作業 and identifies A as the person whose work B can check. Here it is followed by の to show possession or association. You would use the pattern あなたの + noun when explicitly referring to something belonging to or connected with the listener.
確認 確認 means “check” or “confirm” in 確認できます. It names the action B can perform on A’s work after the task is tried. You would use it when checking work, information, or a result for accuracy.
できます できます means “can” in 確認できます and says that B is able to check the work. Together with 確認, it politely presents B’s available help after A’s attempt. You would use the pattern action + できます when stating that an action is possible or that you are able to do it.

Grammar Points

～ばいいですか

どの部分から始めればいいですか

DOH-noh boo-BUN kah-rah hah-JEE-meh-reh-BAH ee dess-KAH

Which part should I start with?

Use ～ばいいですか to ask what action is appropriate or what you should do.

～てみます

それから、やってみます

soh-reh-kah-rah, yaht-TEH mee-MAH-soo

Then, I will try doing it.

Use ～てみます to say that you will try doing something.

Japanese Vocabulary

この det
koh-NOH this
どの det
DOH-noh which
よく adv
YOH-koo well; clearly
最初 noun
sigh-SHOH first; beginning
作業 noun
sah-GYOH task; work
私 pron
wah-TAH-shee I; me
手伝ってほしいです phrase
teh-dah-TTEH ho-SHEE dess I need you to help me
順番に adv
joon-BAN nee in order; step by step
説明します verb
seh-tsoo-MAY shee-MAH-soo explain
難しい adj
moo-zoo-kah-SHEE difficult
部分 noun
boo-BUN part
分かりません verb
wah-kah-ree-mah-SEN do not understand

Quiz

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

I need you to help me

Show Answer手伝ってほしいです

do not understand

Show Answer分かりません

explain

Show Answer説明します

in order; step by step

Show Answer順番に