About This Lesson
Use Deciding the next task to practice Japanese conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.
Dialogue
A
今、何をしましょうか？
ee-MAH, NAH-nee oh shee-mah-SHOH kah? What should we do now?
B
短いリストから始めましょう。
mee-jee-KAH-ee ree-soo-toh kah-rah hah-jee-meh-mah-SHOH. Let's start with the short list.
A
ファイルを確認する前に、それを終わらせましょうか？
FAH-ee-roo oh kah-koo-NEEN soo-roo MAH-eh nee, soh-reh oh oh-wah-rah-seh-mah-SHOH kah? Should we finish it before reviewing the file?
B
仕事を分ければ、すぐに終えられます。
shee-GOH-toh oh wah-KEH-reh-bah, soo-GOO nee oh-EH-rah-reh-MAHS. We can get through it quickly if we split the work.
A
では、私が最初の部分を担当します。
deh-WAH, wah-TAH-shee gah sigh-SHOH noh boo-BYOON oh tahn-TOH shee-MAHS. Then I'll take the first part.
B
残りは私が担当します。
noh-KOH-ree wah wah-TAH-shee gah tahn-TOH shee-MAHS. I'll handle the rest.
A
その後、分からないところを確認できます。
soh-noh ah-TOH, wah-kah-rah-NAH-ee toh-koh-roh oh kah-koo-NEEN deh-KEH-MAHS. After that, we can review anything unclear.
B
リストが終わったら、私がファイルを開きます。
ree-soo-toh gah oh-WAHT-tah-rah, wah-TAH-shee gah FAH-ee-roo oh ah-EE-kee-MAHS. I'll open the file when the list is done.Word by Word
今
今 means “now” in 今、何をしましょうか？, referring to the present moment. It commonly appears with a time or action expression when asking what to do at this point. Use it when deciding the next action with another person.
何
何 means “what” in 何をしましょうか？, asking which action or thing is being discussed. Here it is placed before を because it is the object of the action. Use it when you need someone to identify an action or item.
を
を marks 何 as the object in 何をしましょうか？. It commonly comes after the thing being acted on and before the verb. Use this pattern when asking or saying what someone will do.
しましょう
しましょう proposes doing something together in 何をしましょうか？. It is the polite proposal form related to する, and here the question marker か makes it a question. A reusable pattern is Xをしましょう when suggesting a shared action.
か
か marks the end of 何をしましょうか？ as a question. Together with しましょう, it asks for agreement about what to do. Use it at the end of a polite question or proposal.
短い
短い means “short” in 短いリスト, describing the list as not long. It is placed directly before the noun it describes. Use it when describing the length of an item such as a list or document.
リスト
リスト means “list” in 短いリストから始めましょう and refers to the short list the two people will work on. It is a noun that can be followed by から when it is the starting point of an action. Use it when discussing organized items to complete or review.
から
から means “from” or “starting with” in 短いリストから始めましょう, identifying the point where they will begin. It commonly appears before 始める to show what comes first. Use Xから始めましょう when suggesting where to start.
始めましょう
始めましょう means “let’s start” in 短いリストから始めましょう. It is the polite proposal form related to 始める and suggests a shared beginning. Use it with a starting point such as Xから始めましょう when organizing work.
ファイル
ファイル means “file” in ファイルを確認する前に and ファイルを開きます. It is the document that will be checked and opened in this dialogue. Use it when referring to a digital or work-related file.
確認する
確認する means “to check” or “to review” in ファイルを確認する前に. It is the form used before 前に to describe an action that must happen later than the current task. A reusable pattern is Xを確認する when checking a document, detail, or item.
前
前 means “before” in 確認する前に, placing the review of the file before another action. After an action expression, X前に can indicate what happens beforehand. Use it when setting an order between two actions.
に
に marks the point in time or order in 確認する前に. In this expression, it connects 前 to the following action and gives the meaning “before doing something.” Use it in time expressions that identify when an action occurs.
それ
それ means “it” or “that” in それを終わらせましょうか？, referring here to the short list or task already being discussed. It is followed by を because it is the thing to be finished. Use それ when the listener can identify the previously mentioned item.
終わらせましょう
終わらせましょう means “let’s finish it” in それを終わらせましょうか？. It is the polite proposal form related to 終わらせる and takes the item being finished before を. Use Xを終わらせましょう when proposing to complete a specific task.
仕事
仕事 means “work” in 仕事を分ければ, referring to the work that the two people can divide. It is followed by を because it is the thing being divided. Use it when talking about duties or tasks in a work setting.
分ければ
分ければ means “if we split” in 仕事を分ければ, giving the condition for finishing quickly. It is the conditional form related to 分ける. A reusable pattern is Xを分ければ Y when explaining what will happen if work or items are divided.
すぐ
すぐ means “quickly” in すぐに終えられます, describing how soon the work can be completed. It commonly appears before an action to indicate that it happens without much delay. Use it when promising or describing a quick result.
終えられます
終えられます means “can finish” in すぐに終えられます, expressing the ability to complete the work. It is the polite potential form related to 終える and follows the thing being completed. Use Xを終えられます when saying that a task can be completed.
では
では means “then” or “in that case” in では、私が最初の部分を担当します. It marks a transition from the discussion to a decision about who will do what. Use it when responding to an agreement and moving to the next step.
私
私 means “I” or “me” in 私が最初の部分を担当します, identifying the speaker who will take responsibility. Here it is followed by が because the speaker is being identified as the person doing the task. Use it when stating your own role or action.
が
が marks 私 as the person responsible in 私が最初の部分を担当します. It identifies who will handle the specified part of the work. Use Xが担当します when saying who will take responsibility for a task.
最初
最初 means “first” or “the beginning” in 最初の部分, identifying the part that comes at the beginning. It is linked to 部分 by の. Use it to specify the first item or section in an ordered task.
の
の links 最初 to 部分 in 最初の部分, making 最初 describe which part is meant. The reusable pattern is XのY, where X modifies or specifies Y. Use it when connecting a description or category to a noun.
部分
部分 means “part” in 最初の部分, referring to one section of the divided work. It is the object marked by を before 担当します. Use it when dividing a task, document, or larger item into sections.
担当します
担当します means “will handle” or “will be responsible for” in 最初の部分を担当します and 残りは私が担当します. It is a polite form related to 担当する and commonly follows the task marked by を. Use Xを担当します when accepting responsibility for a specific assignment.
残り
残り means “the remainder” or “the rest” in 残りは私が担当します, referring to the work left after the first part is taken. Here it is set as the topic with は. Use it when assigning or discussing what remains to be done.
は
は marks 残り as the topic in 残りは私が担当します. It presents the remaining work as the subject of the next statement. Use Xは when setting an item or topic as what you are about to describe.
その
その means “that” or “the” in その後, pointing to an event or step already mentioned. It comes directly before 後 to form a time expression. Use it when referring to what happens after the previously discussed step.
後
後 means “after” or “afterward” in その後, referring to the time following the earlier work. It can be used in expressions such as その後 to move the conversation to a later step. Use it when describing what happens next in a sequence.
分からない
分からない means “not understood” or “unclear” in 分からないところ, describing points the speaker does not understand. It is the negative form related to 分かる and appears before ところ to modify it. Use it when identifying something whose meaning or details are unclear.
ところ
ところ means “point” or “part” in 分からないところ, referring to a particular unclear part of the material. It follows 分からない to identify which parts need checking. Use a description before ところ when referring to a specific point or section.
確認できます
確認できます means “can check” or “can review” in 分からないところを確認できます, expressing that the unclear points can be reviewed. It is the polite potential form related to 確認する and follows the object marked by を. Use Xを確認できます when saying that an item or point can be checked.
終わったら
終わったら means “when it is finished” in リストが終わったら、私がファイルを開きます. It gives the condition or time after which the file will be opened. Use a completed-action expression with たら when describing what happens once an earlier task is done.
開きます
開きます means “will open” in 私がファイルを開きます, stating the speaker’s planned action with the file. It is a polite form related to 開く and follows the file marked by を. Use Xを開きます when saying that you will open a file, document, or similar item.
Grammar Points
〜ましょうか
それを終わらせましょうか。
soh-reh oh oh-wah-rah-seh-mah-SHOH.Shall we finish it?
The polite volitional form ましょうか is used to make a suggestion or offer to do something together.
〜ば、〜られます
分ければ、すぐに終えられます。
wah-KEH-reh-bah, soo-GOO nee oh-EH-rah-reh-MAHS.If we split it, we can finish it soon.
The ば-form expresses a condition, while られます can express ability: “can finish.”
Japanese Vocabulary
それ
pron
soh-reh
it; that
ファイルを確認する前に、それを終わらせましょうか?
ファイル
noun
FAH-ee-roo
file
ファイルを確認する前に、それを終わらせましょうか?
リスト
noun
ree-soo-toh
list
短いリストから始めましょう。
何
pron
NAH-nee
what
今、何をしましょうか?
確認する
verb
kah-koo-NEEN soo-roo
to review; to check
ファイルを確認する前に、それを終わらせましょうか?
今
adv
ee-MAH
now
今、何をしましょうか?
仕事
noun
shee-GOH-toh
work
仕事を分ければ、すぐに終えられます。
始める
verb
hah-jee-MEH-roo
to start
始めましょう
短いリストから始めましょう。
終わらせる
verb
oh-wah-rah-SEH-roo
to finish; to complete
終わらせましょうか
ファイルを確認する前に、それを終わらせましょうか?
前に
phrase
MAH-eh nee
before
ファイルを確認する前に、それを終わらせましょうか?
短い
adj
mee-jee-KAH-ee
short
短いリストから始めましょう。
分ける
verb
wah-KEH-roo
to split; to divide
分ければ
仕事を分ければ、すぐに終えられます。
Quiz
Spelling
Tap the letters to spell the word.
to review; to check
Show Answer
確認するto start
Show Answer
始めましょうfile
Show Answer
ファイルto finish; to complete