Managing Back Pain After Long Meetings | Learn Japanese in English

Sentence explanations

1. 長い会議の後は、背中の痛みがひどくなります。

   My back pain gets worse after long meetings.

   長い

   long

   会議

   meeting

   後は

   after

   背中

   back

   痛み

   pain

   ひどくなります

   gets worse

   More detail

   長い means “long” here and modifies the noun that follows it: 長い会議 = “long meetings.” It is the attributive form of the adjective 長い; Japanese adjectives of this type can directly precede a noun. Example: 長い休み — “a long vacation.” 会議 means “meeting.” With 長い, it forms 長い会議, “long meetings.” The noun itself does not show a plural ending, so the English plural is supplied by the intended general meaning here. 後は expresses “after” with 後 followed by the topic/contrast particle は: Xの後は = “after X” or “as for the time after X.” In this sentence, 会議の後 means “after the meeting,” and the fixed translation supports the general reading “after long meetings.” Example: 仕事の後は休みます。 — “I rest after work.” 背中 means “back,” specifically the back part of the body. In 背中の痛み, it is linked to the following noun with の: 背中の痛み = “back pain” or literally “pain in the back.” の here connects a related noun to the noun it describes; it does not itself mean “of” in every possible use. 痛み means “pain.” It is a noun formed from the verb 痛む (“to hurt” or “to ache”), but in this sentence it names the pain rather than stating that the back hurts as an event. 背中の痛み is therefore the subject of what follows. Example: 痛みがあります。 — “There is pain” or “I have pain.” ひどくなります means “gets worse” in this sentence. The useful pattern is adjective stem + くなる, meaning “become [adjective]:” ひどい (“severe”) becomes ひどくなる (“become severe,” hence “get worse” for pain). なります is the polite non-past form of なる (“become”); with this context it describes what happens regularly after the specified time. Example: 痛みがひどくなります。 — “The pain gets worse.” Together, 長い会議の後は sets the time condition, “after long meetings.” 背中の痛みが marks “back pain” as the thing undergoing the change, and ひどくなります says that it becomes more severe. The whole utterance therefore means: “My back pain gets worse after long meetings.”

2. そのいすでは、よい姿勢を保てないかもしれません。

   Your chair may not help you maintain good posture.

   その

   that (modifier)

   いす

   chair

   では

   with/in

   よい

   good

   姿勢

   posture

   を

   object marker

   保てない

   cannot maintain

   かもしれません

   may; might

   More detail

   その is a demonstrative modifier meaning “that” in そのいす. It comes before the noun it describes. The fixed translation identifies the chair as the listener’s chair, so here the whole noun phrase means “your chair” in context. For comparison, このいす means “this chair”; the choice depends on the speaker’s demonstrative perspective, not on the noun’s gender or number. いす is the noun “chair.” The phrase そのいす is therefore “that chair,” and it is the setting or means connected with what follows. では combines で with は. で marks the place or means in which something is possible, and は presents that setting as the topic, with a possible contrastive nuance. Thus そのいすでは means “with/in that chair” here. Example: この方法ではできません。 — “It cannot be done with this method.” よい is an adjective meaning “good” or “appropriate.” Before a noun, as in よい姿勢, it directly describes that noun: “good posture.” A common alternative form is いい, which is also widely used in ordinary speech; よい is the form seen here and is useful in more careful wording. 姿勢 is the noun “posture.” It can refer to the way someone holds or positions their body. In よい姿勢, it means a physically good or appropriate posture, not an attitude or policy. を marks 姿勢 as the direct object of the following verb. The pattern 姿勢を保つ means “maintain posture.” 保てない means “cannot maintain.” Its base verb is 保つ, “to maintain” or “keep.” The relevant ability form is 保てる, “can maintain,” and its negative is 保てない, “cannot maintain.” The negative meaning belongs to 保てない, not to 姿勢. かもしれません expresses possibility: “may” or “might.” It follows the plain-form clause 保てない and makes the statement polite. The combination 保てないかもしれません means “may not be able to maintain,” leaving the outcome uncertain rather than asserting that maintaining posture is impossible. Putting the parts together, そのいすでは sets the chair as the relevant setting, よい姿勢を identifies good posture as the object, 保てない says that maintaining it may not be possible, and かもしれません marks this as a possibility. The whole utterance means: “Your chair may not help you maintain good posture.”

3. 短い休憩をもっと取ったほうがいいですか。

   Should I take more short breaks?

   短い

   short

   休憩

   break

   もっと

   more

   取った

   took

   ほうがいいですか

   would it be better?

   More detail

   短い means “short” here and modifies the noun that follows. It is an い-adjective in its plain form; this same form is used directly before a noun, as in 短い休憩 (“short break(s)”). 休憩 means “break” or “rest period.” Japanese nouns generally do not mark singular versus plural here, so the translation’s “breaks” is compatible with the Japanese form without adding a plural ending. もっと means “more” or “to a greater extent.” With 休憩, it indicates taking more breaks than currently, or increasing the amount of break-taking; the exact comparison point is understood from the situation. 取った is the plain past affirmative, or ta-form, of the verb 取る, “to take.” In this expression, its past form is part of the recommendation pattern V-たほうがいい, rather than simply reporting a past action. The subject is omitted in Japanese; the fixed translation identifies that the intended subject is “I.” ほうがいいですか makes the preceding option into a polite question about whether it is advisable or better. ですか marks the question politely. The pattern V-たほうがいいですか can be reused to ask whether one should do something, for example: 早く寝たほうがいいですか。 — “Should I go to bed early?” Together, 短い休憩 means “short break(s),” もっと取った expresses taking more of them, and ほうがいいですか asks whether that would be the better course. The whole utterance therefore means: “Should I take more short breaks?”

4. 短い休憩は役に立つかもしれません。

   Short breaks can help.

   短い

   short

   休憩

   break

   役に立つ

   be useful; help

   かもしれません

   may; might

   More detail

   短い means “short” here and directly modifies 休憩. It is an い-adjective: its present affirmative form is 短い, its negative form is 短くない, and its adverbial form is 短く. Example: 短く話してください。 means “Please speak briefly.” 休憩 means “break” or “rest period.” It is a noun, so 短い休憩 means “short break(s)” here. Japanese does not mark singular versus plural in this noun phrase; the fixed translation presents it as “Short breaks.” The particle は marks this noun phrase as the topic. 役に立つ is a reusable expression meaning “to be useful” or “to help.” The expression’s dictionary form is 役に立つ; its polite nonpast form is 役に立ちます, and 役に立たない means “not be useful.” Example: この道具は役に立ちます。 means “This tool is useful.” かもしれません expresses possibility: “may” or “might.” It is the polite form of かもしれない, and it follows the plain form 役に立つ here. It presents the helpfulness as possible rather than certain; the fixed translation “can help” conveys a compatible meaning in this context. Together, 短い休憩は sets “short breaks” as the topic, 役に立つ says that they are useful or helpful, and かもしれません adds uncertainty. The whole utterance means “Short breaks may help,” matching the fixed translation “Short breaks can help.”

5. 立って、ゆっくりストレッチをしてください。

   Stand up and stretch gently.

   立って

   stand up

   ゆっくり

   gently

   ストレッチ

   stretch

   をしてください

   please do [it]

   More detail

   立って is the te-form of 立つ, “to stand.” Here it means “stand up” and links the standing action to the following request. A te-form can connect actions in sequence: 座って、休みます。 = “I sit down and rest.” The form 立って itself does not mark politeness; the polite request is expressed later. ゆっくり is an adverb meaning “slowly” or, in this instruction, “gently.” It describes how the stretching should be done. For example, ゆっくり歩いてください。 means “Please walk slowly.” ストレッチ is a loanword used here as a noun meaning “stretching” or “a stretch.” The particle を marks it as the object of the action. Japanese can use a noun with する to express “do [that activity]”; for example, 運動をする means “to exercise.” をしてください contains the object marker を and the request expression してください, formed from the te-form して of する “to do” plus ください. In this sentence, it asks the listener to do the stretching identified by ストレッチ. The reusable pattern 〜てください is a polite request, as in 見てください。 = “Please look.” Together, 立って connects the first action to the request, ゆっくり specifies the manner, and ストレッチをしてください means “please do stretching.” The whole utterance is therefore: “Stand up and stretch gently.”

6. 画面の高さも調整する必要があります。

   I also need to adjust my screen height.

   画面

   screen

   高さ

   height

   も

   also

   調整する

   adjust

   必要があります

   is necessary

   More detail

   画面 means “screen.” It is a noun and can be combined with another noun using の, as in 画面の高さ: “the height of the screen.” 高さ means “height.” It is the noun formed from the adjective 高い (“high” or “tall”): 高い → 高さ. The ending -さ turns certain descriptive adjectives into nouns referring to a degree or property. For example, この机の高さ means “the height of this desk.” も means “also” here. It marks 画面の高さ as an additional item included in the statement. The preceding context mentions stretching, while this sentence adds screen-height adjustment. 調整する means “to adjust.” This is the dictionary-form verb, and it can be placed before 必要があります in the reusable pattern V-る必要があります, meaning “it is necessary to V” or “need to V.” For example, 椅子の高さを調整する必要があります。 means “It is necessary to adjust the chair’s height.” 必要があります expresses that something is necessary. In 調整する必要があります, 必要 is a noun meaning “necessity,” and あります is the polite nonpast form of ある, used here to say that the necessity exists. The complete pattern V-る必要があります presents the action as required; the person who must do it can be left unstated. Here, the fixed translation identifies that person as “I.” Together, 画面の高さ means “the screen’s height,” も adds it as another item, and 調整する必要があります means “need to adjust.” The whole utterance therefore means: “I also need to adjust my screen height.” Japanese does not explicitly state “I” or “my” in the target sentence; those details are identified by the fixed translation.

7. そうすると、もっと楽に座れるかもしれません。

   That can help you sit more comfortably.

   そうすると

   then; in that case

   もっと

   more

   楽に

   comfortably; easily

   座れる

   can sit

   かもしれません

   might; may

   More detail

   そうすると links the sentence to an action or condition just mentioned: “if you do that” or “then, in that case.” Here it presents the possible result of making the relevant adjustment; it does not itself identify a new participant. もっと means “more” and increases the degree of the following description. It can be reused before an adjective or adverb: もっと早く means “earlier/faster,” and もっと静かに means “more quietly.” 楽に describes the manner of sitting here: comfortably, with less strain. The base form is the na-adjective 楽だ (also 楽な before a noun); its adverbial form is 楽に. For example, 楽な椅子 means “a comfortable chair,” while 楽に座る means “sit comfortably.” 座れる is the potential form of the verb 座る, “to sit.” It expresses ability or possibility: 座る → 座れる, “can sit.” The potential form is not the same as an instruction such as 座ってください, “please sit.” In this sentence, 座れる combines with もっと楽に to mean being able to sit more comfortably. かもしれません adds a tentative possibility, “might” or “may,” in a polite style. It follows the plain form 座れる and makes the result less certain than a direct statement such as 座れます (“can sit”). The pattern plain form + かもしれません is reusable: 明日、雨が降るかもしれません means “It might rain tomorrow.” Together, そうすると sets up the result, もっと楽に座れる says that sitting may become more comfortable, and かもしれません marks that result as possible rather than certain. The whole utterance therefore means: “That can help you sit more comfortably.”

8. 今週、これらの変更を試してみます。

   I will try these changes this week.

   今週

   this week

   これら

   these

   変更

   changes

   試してみます

   will try

   More detail

   今週 means “this week.” It is a time expression and can be placed near the beginning of a sentence to set the time frame. 週 means “week”; for example, 来週 means “next week.” これら means “these” here and refers to the changes identified by the translation. The element ら marks a plural or grouped set with this demonstrative. これ is the basic “this” form, while これら presents several items as a group. In これらの変更, の links the demonstrative phrase to the noun: “these changes.” 変更 is a noun meaning “change” or “modification” here. It can also appear in the useful verb pattern 変更する, “to change” or “to modify.” In the fixed sentence, however, 変更 is the object of the action, marked by を in 変更を. 試してみます expresses trying something. The lexical verb is 試す, “to try” or “to test.” Its て-form, 試して, combines with みる in 試してみる, literally “try and see,” a common pattern meaning “try doing something.” The ending ます makes this polite; its nonpast form can refer to a future action, so 試してみます means “will try” in this context. For example, この方法を試してみます。 means “I will try this method.” Together, 今週 sets the time, これらの変更 identifies the object, and 試してみます states the speaker’s polite intention to try them. The whole utterance means: “I will try these changes this week.”

9. 痛みが続く場合は、医療の専門家に相談してください。

   See a healthcare professional if the pain continues.

   痛み

   pain

   続く

   continue; persist

   場合は

   if; when that is the case

   医療

   medical care; healthcare

   専門家

   professional; expert

   相談してください

   please consult

   More detail

   痛み means “pain” here. It is a noun; the が after it marks pain as the subject of the following description. A reusable pattern is Xが続く (“X continues/persists”), for example: 雨が続く — “The rain continues.” 続く is the plain, nonpast form of the verb “to continue; to persist.” In 痛みが続く, it describes an ongoing condition rather than a completed event. The nonpast form can also express a future or conditional situation when it appears in a clause such as 場合. 場合は frames the preceding situation as a condition: “if/when that is the case.” 場合 is a noun meaning “case” or “situation,” and は marks that case as the topic. The pattern X場合は is useful for giving guidance under condition X. Here, X is 痛みが続く (“the pain continues”). 医療 means “medical care” or “healthcare.” In 医療の専門家, の links it to the next noun, giving the sense “a professional in healthcare.” 医療 is a noun, not the word meaning “professional” by itself. 専門家 means “professional” or “expert.” It is a noun formed from 専門 (“specialty; expertise”) and 家 in the sense of a person associated with a field. In this sentence it refers to a healthcare professional, because 医療の specifies the field. Example: 法律の専門家 — “a legal expert.” 相談してください is a polite request meaning “please consult [someone].” Its base expression is 相談する, “to consult” or “to seek advice”; 相談して is its て-form, and ください adds a polite request. The person being consulted is expressed with に, as in 専門家に相談してください — “Please consult a professional.” Together, 痛みが続く場合は means “if the pain continues,” and 医療の専門家に相談してください means “please consult a healthcare professional.” The complete utterance is therefore: “See a healthcare professional if the pain continues.”