Returning to Work After a Break | Learn Japanese in English

Japanese lesson set in a contemporary Tokyo everyday setting: After a break at work, two adults return to the desk and start the next task with a file..

EN → JA / Level: A1

About This Lesson

Use Returning to Work After a Break to practice Japanese conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

A

また仕事をする準備はできましたか。

mah-TAH shee-GOH-toh oh soo-ROO JOON-bee wah deh-KEE-mah-shee-tah kah Do you feel ready to work again?
B

今は気分がよくなりました。

ee-MAH wah kee-BOON gah yoh-koo nah-ree-mah-shee-tah I feel better now.
A

デスクに戻りましょうか。

DEH-soo-koo nee moh-doh-ree-mah-SHOH kah Should we go back to the desk?
B

休憩が終わりました。では、行きましょう。

kyoo-KAY gah oh-wah-ree-mah-shee-tah. deh-WAH, ee-kee-mah-SHOH The break is over, so let's get moving.
A

次の作業のファイルが必要です。

TSOO-ghee noh sah-GYOH noh FAI-roo gah hee-TSOO-YOH dess I need the file for the next task.
B

デスクの上にあります。

DEH-soo-koo noh oo-EH nee ah-ree-mahss It's on the desk.
A

今はもっと集中できます。

ee-MAH wah MOHT-toh shoo-CHOO deh-KEE-mahss I can focus better now.
B

では、そのファイルから始めましょう。

deh-WAH, soh-noh FAI-roo kah-rah hah-jee-meh-mah-SHOH Then let's start with the file.

Word by Word

また また means “again” in また仕事をする, showing that the person will work again after the break. A common reuse pattern is また followed by an action, such as また仕事をする.
仕事 仕事 means “work” in また仕事をする. Together with を, it identifies the activity being done. A common pattern is 仕事をする when talking about doing or working at a job.
を を marks 仕事 as the object of する in 仕事をする. It connects an activity or thing with the action performed on it. A reusable pattern is noun + を + verb.
する する means “do” in 仕事をする, giving the expression the meaning “do work” or “work.” A common reuse pattern is an activity noun followed by をする.
準備 準備 means “readiness” or “preparation” in 準備はできましたか. Here it refers to being prepared to work again. A useful pattern is 準備はできましたか when checking whether someone is ready.
は は makes 準備 the topic in 準備はできましたか. The question focuses on whether the preparation is ready or complete. A reusable pattern is a topic followed by は and a statement or question about it.
できました できました in 準備はできましたか asks whether the preparation is ready or complete. Together with か, it forms a polite question about readiness. The same pattern can be used with another topic when checking whether it is ready.
か か marks 準備はできましたか as a question. It turns the preceding polite statement into a request for confirmation. It is commonly placed at the end of a polite question.
今 今 means “now” in 今は気分がよくなりました and 今はもっと集中できます. It points to the speaker’s present condition after the break. A common reuse pattern is 今は followed by a statement about the current situation.
気分 気分 means “feeling” or “mood” in 気分がよくなりました. It describes how the speaker feels after the break. It commonly appears with a phrase describing a change in someone’s feeling or condition.
が が marks 気分 as the thing whose condition has improved in 気分がよくなりました. It identifies the subject of the change described by the rest of the phrase. A reusable pattern is a condition or feeling followed by が and a state description.
よく よく contributes the meaning “better” in 気分がよくなりました, describing an improvement in the feeling. It is part of the expression for a feeling becoming better here. It can be reused before なりました when describing an improved condition.
なりました なりました in 気分がよくなりました shows that the feeling changed and became better. It reports the result of the change after the break. A reusable pattern is a condition followed by がよくなりました when reporting that it has improved.
デスク デスク means “desk” in デスクに戻りましょう and デスクの上にあります. It refers to the work desk where the speakers will continue their task. It can be used with の上 to describe something located on the desk.
に に marks the destination in デスクに戻りましょう, meaning “return to the desk.” In デスクの上にあります, it marks the location where the file is. Its meaning depends on the surrounding expression: a destination with 戻る and a location with あります.
戻りましょう 戻りましょう means “let’s return” in デスクに戻りましょう. It invites the other person to go back to the desk after the break. A common reuse pattern is a destination followed by に and 戻りましょう.
休憩 休憩 means “break” in 休憩が終わりました. Here it refers to the period of rest that has just finished. It is commonly used with 終わりました when announcing that a break is over.
終わりました 終わりました in 休憩が終わりました says that the break has ended or is over. It reports that the activity or period is finished. A reusable pattern is a period or activity followed by が終わりました.
では では works as “then” or “well then” in では、行きましょう and では、そのファイルから始めましょう. It marks a transition from the current situation to the next action. A common reuse pattern is では followed by a suggestion or decision.
行きましょう 行きましょう means “let’s go” in では、行きましょう. It is used to suggest moving on after the break has ended. It is useful when inviting someone to go somewhere or begin moving together.
次 次 means “next” in 次の作業. It identifies the task that comes after the current one. A common reuse pattern is 次の followed by a noun to describe what comes next.
の の links 次 and 作業 in 次の作業, making 次の作業 mean “the next task.” It connects one noun or noun-like expression to a following noun as a modifier. A reusable pattern is AのB, meaning that A describes or relates to B.
作業 作業 means “task” or “work” in 次の作業のファイル. It identifies the work associated with the file that is needed next. It can be placed before の to describe something connected with that task.
ファイル ファイル means “file” in 次の作業のファイル, デスクの上にあります, and そのファイルから始めましょう. It refers to the document used for the next task. A common reuse pattern is そのファイル when referring back to a specific file.
が必要 が必要 in ファイルが必要です expresses that the file is needed. The file is marked with が as the thing required, and 必要です gives a polite statement of need. A reusable pattern is a thing followed by が必要です.

Grammar Points

〜ましょう

では、次の作業を始めましょう。

deh-WAH, TSOO-ghee noh sah-GYOH oh hah-JEE-meh-mah-SHOH

Well then, let's start the next task.

The polite ましょう form suggests or proposes doing something together: “let's …”.

〜できます

もっと集中できます。

MOHT-toh shoo-CHOO deh-KEE-mahss

I can concentrate better.

できます expresses ability or possibility. It follows a verb stem to mean “can do …”.

Japanese Vocabulary

できる verb
deh-KEE-roo can; be able to できました
デスク noun
DEH-soo-koo desk
では conj
deh-WAH then; well then
また adv
mah-TAH again
よくなる verb
yoh-koo nah-ROO feel better; improve よくなりました
気分 noun
kee-BOON feeling; mood
休憩 noun
kyoo-KAY break; rest
今 adv
ee-MAH now
仕事 noun
shee-GOH-toh work; job
終わる verb
oh-WAH-roo end; be over 終わりました
準備 noun
JOON-bee preparation; readiness
戻る verb
moh-DOH-roo return; go back 戻りましょう

Quiz

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

return; go back

Show Answer戻りましょう

feel better; improve

Show Answerよくなりました

can; be able to

Show Answerできました

end; be over

Show Answer終わりました