About This Lesson
Use Taking a coffee break at work to practice Japanese conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.
Dialogue
A
集中できなくなってきました。
shoo-CHOO deh-kee-NAH-koo nah-tteh kee-mah-SHEE-tah I am losing focus.
B
少し離れて、コーヒーを飲みに行きましょう。
soo-KOH-shee hah-NAH-reh-teh, KOH-HEE o NOH-mee nee ee-kee-mah-SHOH Let's step away and get coffee.
A
短い休憩がよさそうです。
tahn-KAH-ee kyoo-KEH gah yoh-sah-SOH dess A short break sounds helpful.
B
また座る前に、ストレッチができます。
mah-TAH soo-WAH-roo MAH-eh nee, suh-toh-REH-chee gah deh-kee-MAHSS We can stretch before we sit down again.
A
コーヒーの後で、レポートに戻りましょうか。
KOH-HEE noh ah-TOH deh, reh-POH-toh nee moh-DOH-ree-mah-SHOH kah Should we return to the report after coffee?
B
その後、次の部分を終えられます。
SOH-noh ah-TOH, tsuh-GEE noh boo-BOON o oh-eh-rah-reh-MAHSS We can finish the next part then.
A
出る前に、ファイルを保存します。
DEH-roo MAH-eh nee, FAH-ee-roo o hoh-ZOHN shee-MAHSS I will save the file before we leave.
B
何も失わないように、それを今保存してください。
NAH-nee moh oo-shee-nah-wah-nah-ee yoh-nee, SOH-reh o ee-MAH hoh-ZOHN shee-teh koo-dah-SAI Save it now, so we do not lose anything.Word by Word
集中
In "集中できなくなってきました", "集中" means focus or concentration. It is commonly used before a verb to describe the activity a person is focusing on, as in "集中できなくなってきました".
できなく
In "集中できなくなってきました", "できなく" says that focusing is no longer possible. It connects to "なって" to describe a change into that state, and a similar reuse pattern is an ability expression followed by "なって".
なって
In "集中できなくなってきました", "なって" expresses becoming or coming to be in the state described before it. It connects that state to "きました", and the pattern "なってきました" describes a change that has developed up to now.
きました
At the end of "集中できなくなってきました", "きました" shows that the change has progressed up to the present. The pattern "なってきました" is useful when describing a condition that has gradually developed.
少し
In "少し離れて", "少し" means a little or slightly, limiting the amount of moving away. It commonly appears before an action to indicate a small degree, as in "少し離れて".
離れて
In "少し離れて、コーヒーを飲みに行きましょう", "離れて" means step away or move away. Its connecting form links this action with the following suggestion, and it can be used before another action when describing a sequence.
コーヒー
In "コーヒーを飲みに行きましょう", "コーヒー" means coffee, the drink the speakers plan to get. It is used as the object before "を" in the pattern "コーヒーを飲む".
を
In "コーヒーを飲みに行きましょう", "を" marks "コーヒー" as the object of drinking. It commonly follows the thing directly acted on and comes before the verb.
飲み
In "コーヒーを飲みに行きましょう", "飲み" is the verb form used before "に行きましょう". Together, "飲みに行きましょう" expresses a suggestion to go for the purpose of drinking, and this pattern can be reused with another activity.
に
In "飲みに行きましょう", "に" marks the purpose of going: going in order to drink. It is used after this activity form and before the movement expression in the pattern "飲みに行きましょう".
行きましょう
In "コーヒーを飲みに行きましょう", "行きましょう" makes a polite suggestion to go. It commonly follows a destination or a purpose phrase when inviting someone to go together.
短い
In "短い休憩がよさそうです", "短い" means short and describes the length of the break. It is placed before a noun, as in "短い休憩".
休憩
In "短い休憩がよさそうです", "休憩" means a break from work or another activity. It can be modified by a description such as "短い" and can be the thing being evaluated with "がよさそうです".
が
In "短い休憩がよさそうです", "が" marks "短い休憩" as the thing that seems suitable. It commonly follows the subject or thing being described before an evaluation such as "よさそうです".
よさそう
In "短い休憩がよさそうです", "よさそう" means seems good or helpful based on the speaker's impression. The pattern "名詞がよさそうです" can be used to say that a particular option appears suitable.
です
At the end of "短い休憩がよさそうです", "です" gives the evaluation a polite sentence ending. It is commonly used after a polite description or evaluation.
また
In "また座る前に", "また" means again, referring to sitting down again after the break. It commonly appears before an action that will be repeated.
座る
In "また座る前に", "座る" means sit down. It appears before "前に" in the pattern "座る前に", which places this action before another action.
前
In "座る前に", "前" means before in time, not in front of a physical object. The pattern "座る前に" places the action before the event that follows.
ストレッチ
In "ストレッチができます", "ストレッチ" refers to stretching as a physical activity. It is the activity described as possible and appears before "ができます".
できます
In "ストレッチができます", "できます" means can do or can perform the activity. It commonly follows an activity or noun with "が" when stating that the activity is possible.
の
In "座る前に", "の" links "座る" with "前", allowing the action to describe what comes before. The reusable pattern is a verb phrase followed by "の前に".
後
In "コーヒーの後で", "後" means after or the time following something. It is used after "コーヒーの" to identify the time after coffee.
で
In "コーヒーの後で、レポートに戻りましょうか", "で" marks the time when the return will happen. It commonly follows a time expression such as "コーヒーの後" before the action.
レポート
In "レポートに戻りましょうか", "レポート" means the report the speakers are working on. It is followed by "に" because it is the work they plan to return to.
戻りましょう
In "レポートに戻りましょうか", "戻りましょう" makes a polite suggestion to return. It commonly follows a place, task, or activity marked with "に" when suggesting a return.
か
At the end of "レポートに戻りましょうか", "か" marks the sentence as a question. Here it turns the suggestion into a polite question asking whether they should return to the report.
その
In "その後", "その" refers to something already mentioned, here the coffee break or the events just discussed. It must come before a noun, and in "その後" it points to the time after that event.
次
In "次の部分を終えられます", "次" means next in an order or sequence. It modifies "部分" through "の" to identify the section that comes next.
部分
In "次の部分を終えられます", "部分" means a part or section, here a section of the report. It can be specified by a modifier such as "次の" and marked with "を" as the object of an action.
終えられます
In "次の部分を終えられます", "終えられます" means can finish. It follows the object "次の部分を" and is useful when stating that completing a task is possible.
出る
In "出る前に", "出る" means leave or go out. It appears before "前に" to say that saving will happen before leaving.
ファイル
In "ファイルを保存します", "ファイル" means a computer file. It is marked with "を" as the thing that will be saved.
保存します
In "ファイルを保存します", "保存します" means save in a polite statement. It commonly follows a file or other data marked with "を", as in "ファイルを保存します".
何
In "何も失わないように", "何" contributes the meaning of anything or what when combined with "も" and the negative expression "失わない". The pattern "何も" with a negative expression refers to nothing or not anything.
も
In "何も失わないように", "も" combines with "何" and the negative expression "失わない" to mean anything or nothing in this context. The reusable pattern is an interrogative word plus "も" followed by a negative expression.
失わない
In "何も失わないように", "失わない" means not lose. It expresses the negative result being prevented, and it can follow an object marked with "を".
よう
In "何も失わないように", "よう" helps express the purpose of preventing the result described before it. The pattern "失わないように" means so that nothing is lost or in order not to lose anything.
それ
In "それを今保存してください", "それ" means it or that, referring here to the file already under discussion. It is followed by "を" when it is the object of the requested action.
今
In "それを今保存してください", "今" means now and sets the time for the requested saving. It commonly appears before the verb or request that should happen immediately.
保存して
In "保存してください", "保存して" is the connecting verb form used before "ください". Together, "保存してください" makes a polite request to save the file.
ください
In "保存してください", "ください" makes the preceding action a polite request, meaning please save it. It commonly follows a connecting verb form when asking someone to do something.
Grammar Points
〜なくなってきました
集中できなくなってきました
shoo-CHOO deh-kee-NAH-koo nah-tteh kee-mah-SHEE-tahI am losing focus.
「〜なくなる」は状態の変化を表し、「〜てきました」でその変化が最近始まったことを示します。
Vる前に
座る前に
soo-WAH-roo MAH-eh neebefore sitting down
動詞の辞書形に「前に」を付けて、ある動作より前の時間を表します。
Japanese Vocabulary
コーヒー
noun
KOH-HEE
coffee
ストレッチ
noun
suh-toh-REH-chee
stretching
また
adv
mah-TAH
again
よさそうです
phrase
yoh-sah-SOH dess
sounds helpful; seems good
レポート
noun
reh-POH-toh
report
飲みに行きましょう
phrase
NOH-mee nee ee-kee-mah-SHOH
let's go get a drink
休憩
noun
kyoo-KEH
break
座る前に
phrase
soo-WAH-roo MAH-eh nee
before sitting down
集中できなくなってきました
phrase
shoo-CHOO deh-kee-NAH-koo nah-tteh kee-mah-SHEE-tah
I am losing focus
少し離れて
phrase
soo-KOH-shee hah-NAH-reh-teh
step away for a while
短い
adj
tahn-KAH-ee
short
戻りましょうか
phrase
moh-DOH-ree-mah-SHOH kah
shall we return
Quiz
Spelling
Tap the letters to spell the word.
sounds helpful; seems good
Show Answer
よさそうですcoffee
Show Answer
コーヒーstretching
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ストレッチlet's go get a drink