About This Lesson
Use Deciding Which Task to Do First to practice Japanese conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.
Dialogue
A
今朝は仕事が多すぎます。
keh-SAH wah shee-GOH-toh gah oh-soo-GEE-mah-soo I have too many tasks this morning.
B
まず、優先順位の順に並べてください。
mah-ZOO, yoo-SEN-joon-EE noh joon nee nah-RAH-beh-teh koo-dah-SAI List them by priority first.
A
このメールは緊急です。
koh-noh MAY-roo wah keen-KYOO dess This email is urgent.
A
そのレポートは重要です。
soh-noh reh-POHR-toh wah joo-YOH dess The report is important.
B
レポートの締め切りはいつですか。
reh-POHR-toh noh shee-MEH-kee-ree wah EE-tsu dess-kah When is the report deadline?
A
明日の午後が締め切りです。
ah-SHEE-tah noh goh-GOH gah shee-MEH-kee-ree dess It is due tomorrow afternoon.
B
では、まず緊急のメールに返信してください。
deh-WAH, mah-ZOO keen-KYOO noh MAY-roo nee hen-SHEEN shee-TEH koo-dah-SAI Then answer the urgent email first.
A
その後、レポートに取り組みます。
soh-noh-AH-toh, reh-POHR-toh nee toh-REE-koo-MEE-mah-soo After that I will work on the report.
B
そうすれば、あなたのストレスは減るはずです。
soh-oo-soo-reh-bah, ah-NAH-tah noh soo-toh-REH-soo wah heh-ROO hah-ZOO dess That should help you feel less stressed.Word by Word
今朝
“今朝” means this morning, the time period being discussed in the first line. It is used with a time topic such as “今朝は仕事が多すぎます”. In a new example, you could use it when describing what happened earlier today.
は
In “今朝は仕事が多すぎます”, “は” marks “今朝” as the topic and sets this morning as the time context. A common reuse pattern is [time]は[description]. You can use it when focusing a listener’s attention on a particular time.
仕事
In “今朝は仕事が多すぎます”, “仕事” refers to the work or tasks that need to be handled. It is the thing described as being excessive in this workplace situation. The dialogue also shows the reusable pattern “仕事が多すぎます” for saying that there is too much work.
が
In “仕事が多すぎます”, “が” marks “仕事” as the thing whose amount is being described. This pattern connects the subject with a description such as “多すぎます”. You can use it when identifying what is too much or otherwise has a certain condition.
多すぎます
“多すぎます” means that something is more numerous or plentiful than is appropriate, here meaning that there are too many tasks. The form describes the amount of “仕事” in “今朝は仕事が多すぎます”. You can use it in a polite statement when a quantity exceeds what is manageable.
まず
“まず” means first and tells the listener what should happen before the other steps. In “まず、優先順位の順に並べてください”, it introduces the first action in organizing the tasks. You can use it when giving the first instruction in a sequence.
優先順位
“優先順位” means priority, or the ranking that shows which task should come before another. In the dialogue, it is used in “優先順位の順” to organize tasks according to that ranking. You can use it at work when deciding which task to handle first.
の
In “優先順位の順”, “の” links “優先順位” with “順”, making the order one based on priority. A useful reuse pattern is [basis]の順, meaning an order based on that basis. You can use it when arranging items according to a stated criterion.
順
In “優先順位の順”, “順” means order or sequence. Together with “優先順位の”, it identifies the sequence in which the tasks should be listed. You can use it when asking or explaining how items are arranged.
に
In “優先順位の順に並べてください”, “に” marks the order or manner in which the tasks should be arranged. It connects “優先順位の順” to “並べてください”. You can reuse the pattern [order]に並べる when arranging things in a particular sequence.
並べて
“並べて” means arrange or list the tasks in an order. In “優先順位の順に並べてください”, it is the action requested before the polite request ending. You can use this form when telling someone to put items into a particular sequence.
ください
In “並べてください”, “ください” makes the request polite: please arrange or list them. It follows the request form “並べて” and addresses the other person directly. You can use [request form]ください for a polite instruction or request.
この
“この” means this and points to the email being identified in the current situation. In “このメールは緊急です”, it comes directly before the noun “メール”. You can use “この” before a noun when referring to something near the speaker or clearly selected in the conversation.
メール
“メール” means email, the item described as urgent in “このメールは緊急です”. It is the topic being evaluated in that sentence. You can use it in workplace conversations about sending, reading, or replying to an email.
緊急
“緊急” means urgent or requiring immediate attention. In “このメールは緊急です”, it describes the email as needing priority. You can use it in work situations when an issue or message must be handled quickly.
です
In “このメールは緊急です”, “です” gives the statement a polite form and presents “緊急” as the description of the email. It is also used in “そのレポートは重要です”. You can use it after a noun or noun-like description in a polite statement.
その
“その” means that or the previously mentioned one, here pointing to the report already being discussed. In “そのレポートは重要です”, it comes before “レポート” to identify it. You can use it when referring to an item associated with the listener or already established in the conversation.
レポート
“レポート” means report, the work document described as important and given a deadline. It appears in “そのレポートは重要です” and “レポートの締め切り”. You can use it in workplace conversations about preparing, reviewing, or submitting a report.
重要
“重要” means important or significant. In “そのレポートは重要です”, it states that the report matters in the current work situation. You can use it when explaining why a task or document deserves attention.
締め切り
“締め切り” means deadline, the time limit for completing or submitting something. In “レポートの締め切りはいつですか”, it refers specifically to the report’s deadline. You can use it when asking about or discussing when a task must be finished.
いつ
“いつ” means when and asks for the time of an event or deadline. In “レポートの締め切りはいつですか”, it asks when the report deadline is. You can use it when requesting a time or date that has not yet been stated.
か
At the end of “いつですか”, “か” marks the sentence as a polite question. It turns the statement about the deadline into a request for information. You can use the pattern [question word]ですか when asking a polite question.
明日
“明日” means tomorrow, the day after today. In “明日の午後が締め切りです”, it identifies the day connected to the deadline. You can use it when referring to an event or task scheduled for the next day.
午後
“午後” means afternoon, the part of the day after noon. In “明日の午後が締め切りです”, it narrows the deadline to tomorrow afternoon. You can use it after a day expression to specify when during that day something happens.
では
“では” means then or in that case and connects the stated deadline with the next recommendation. In “では、まず緊急のメールに返信してください”, it signals a decision based on the information just given. You can use it when moving from a condition or fact to a proposed action.
返信して
In “緊急のメールに返信してください”, “返信して” means reply to the urgent email. It is the request form that comes before “ください”. You can use it when asking someone to respond to an email or other message.
後
In “その後、レポートに取り組みます”, “後” means after that or afterward. “その後” refers to the time following the earlier action of replying to the email. You can use it to connect one planned action to the next action in a sequence.
取り組みます
“取り組みます” means work on or tackle something seriously, here referring to working on the report. In “レポートに取り組みます”, the particle “に” marks the report as the focus of the effort. You can use it in a polite statement about beginning or continuing work on a task.
そうすれば
The whole expression “そうすれば” means if you do that or then, referring to the plan just described and its expected result. Inside it, “そう” points back to that plan, while “すれば” presents doing it as the condition. You can use it when connecting a proposed action with an expected outcome.
あなた
“あなた” means you and identifies the person whose stress is expected to decrease in “あなたのストレスは減るはずです”. It is linked to “ストレス” by “の”. You can use it when directly referring to the listener, although the dialogue provides the clearest context for this specific reference.
ストレス
“ストレス” means stress, the pressure or strain that is expected to decrease. In “あなたのストレスは減るはずです”, it is the topic whose amount should become smaller. You can use it when discussing how a situation affects someone’s mental or physical pressure.
減る
“減る” means decrease or become reduced, here describing stress becoming less. In “あなたのストレスは減るはずです”, the stress is the thing expected to decrease. You can use it for amounts, burdens, or problems that become smaller without stating a direct agent.
はず
In “減るはずです”, “はず” expresses an expectation that the stress should decrease based on the plan. It presents the result as expected rather than as an absolute certainty. You can use the pattern [expected result]はずです when giving a reasoned prediction.
Grammar Points
〜すぎます
仕事が多すぎます。
shee-GOH-toh gah oh-soo-GEE-mah-sooThere is too much work.
「〜すぎます」は、程度が過剰であることを表します。動詞や形容詞の語幹に付きます。
〜てください
メールを並べてください。
MAY-roo oh nah-RAH-beh-teh koo-dah-SAIPlease arrange the emails.
「〜てください」は、相手に丁寧に依頼するときに使います。
Japanese Vocabulary
まず
adv
mah-ZOO
first
まず、優先順位の順に並べてください。
メール
noun
MAY-roo
email
このメールは緊急です。
レポート
noun
reh-POHR-toh
report
そのレポートは重要です。
緊急
noun
keen-KYOO
urgent; emergency
このメールは緊急です。
今朝
noun
keh-SAH
this morning
今朝は仕事が多すぎます。
仕事
noun
shee-GOH-toh
work; task
今朝は仕事が多すぎます。
重要
adj
joo-YOH
important
そのレポートは重要です。
順
noun
joon
order; sequence
優先順位の順に並べてください。
多すぎる
verb
oh-soo-GEE-roo
to be too many; to be excessive
多すぎます
今朝は仕事が多すぎます。
締め切り
noun
shee-MEH-kee-ree
deadline
レポートの締め切りはいつですか。
並べる
verb
nah-RAH-beh-roo
to arrange; to list
並べてください
優先順位の順に並べてください。
優先順位
noun
yoo-SEN-joon-EE
priority
まず、優先順位の順に並べてください。
Quiz
Spelling
Tap the letters to spell the word.
to be too many; to be excessive
Show Answer
多すぎますpriority
Show Answer
優先順位to arrange; to list
Show Answer
並べてくださいreport