About This Lesson
Use Managing Back Pain After Long Meetings to practice Japanese conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.
Dialogue
A
長い会議の後は、背中の痛みがひどくなります。
nah-GUY KYE-gee noh AH-toh wah, seh-NAH-kah noh ee-TAH-mee gah hee-doh-koo nah-ree-MAHS. My back pain gets worse after long meetings.
B
そのいすでは、よい姿勢を保てないかもしれません。
soh-noh EE-soo deh-wah, yoh-ee shee-SAY oh tah-moh-TEH-nah-ee kah-moh-shee-reh-mah-SEN. Your chair may not help you maintain good posture.
A
短い休憩をもっと取ったほうがいいですか。
mee-jee-KAH-ee kyoo-KAY oh moht-toh TOHT-tah hoh-gah EE-dehs-kah? Should I take more short breaks?
B
短い休憩は役に立つかもしれません。
mee-jee-KAH-ee kyoo-KAY wah yah-koo nee taht-soo kah-moh-shee-reh-mah-SEN. Short breaks can help.
B
立って、ゆっくりストレッチをしてください。
TAHT-teh, yook-koo-ree soo-toh-REHT-chee oh shee-TEH koo-dah-SIGH. Stand up and stretch gently.
A
画面の高さも調整する必要があります。
gah-MEHN noh tah-kah-SAH moh choh-SAY soo-roo hee-tsoo-YOH gah ah-ree-MAHS. I also need to adjust my screen height.
B
そうすると、もっと楽に座れるかもしれません。
soh-oo soo-roo-toh, moht-toh RAH-koo nee soo-wah-reh-ROO kah-moh-shee-reh-mah-SEN. That can help you sit more comfortably.
A
今週、これらの変更を試してみます。
kohn-SHOO, koh-reh-rah noh hehn-KOH oh tah-meh-SHEE-teh mee-MAHS. I will try these changes this week.
B
痛みが続く場合は、医療の専門家に相談してください。
ee-TAH-mee gah tsoo-zoo-koo bah-ee wah, ee-RYOH noh sehn-MOHN-kah nee soh-DAHN shee-TEH koo-dah-SIGH. See a healthcare professional if the pain continues.Word by Word
長い
長い means “long” in 長い会議, describing the length of the meetings. It is placed before a noun in the pattern “長い + noun,” such as a long meeting or a long break. You can use it when describing something that continues for a considerable length of time.
会議
会議 means “meeting” in 長い会議. It refers to a planned discussion or work session with other people. A common reuse pattern is “会議の後,” meaning after the meeting.
の
の connects 会議 with 後 in 会議の後, showing that the following time is related to the meeting. The pattern “noun の 後” means “after the noun.” Use it when locating an event in time after something else.
後
後 means “after” or “the time following something” in 長い会議の後は. Here, it identifies the time after the long meetings. A common reuse pattern is “noun の後,” for example when discussing what happens after an event.
は
は marks 長い会議の後 as the topic or time frame in 長い会議の後は. It frames what follows as the situation being discussed. Use it after a time expression when making a statement about that period.
背中
背中 means “the back of the body” in 背中の痛み. It identifies the body area connected to the pain. A common reuse pattern is “背中の痛み,” meaning back pain, when describing a physical symptom.
痛み
痛み means “pain” in 背中の痛み. It is the painful condition that becomes more severe in the dialogue. You can use it with a body area in the pattern “body area の痛み” to describe pain there.
が
が marks 痛み as the subject in 痛みがひどくなります. The pain is the thing that becomes worse. Use が to identify what undergoes a change or has a condition in a sentence.
ひどく
ひどく means “badly” or “severely” in ひどくなります, describing the degree of the worsening. It modifies なります to show that the condition becomes more severe. Use it before a verb when describing an action or change as severe or extreme.
なります
なります means “becomes” or “gets” in ひどくなります. Together, ひどくなります means “gets worse,” while なります expresses a change into a condition. It is useful when describing how a condition changes over time.
その
その means “that” or “that particular” in そのいす, pointing to a chair understood from the situation. It comes directly before the noun it describes. Use the pattern “その + noun” when referring to a specific nearby or previously identified thing.
いす
いす means “chair” in そのいす. It identifies the seat being discussed as a possible cause of poor posture. You can use it with a demonstrative such as その when referring to a particular chair.
で
で presents そのいす as the chair or means associated with the posture situation in そのいすでは. The following は frames that chair as the topic of the comment. Use で when identifying the place or means connected with an action or situation.
よい
よい means “good” in よい姿勢, describing posture that is beneficial or appropriate. It is placed before the noun it describes. Use the pattern “よい + noun” when evaluating something positively.
姿勢
姿勢 means “posture” in よい姿勢. It refers to the way the body is held while sitting. A common reuse pattern is “姿勢を保つ,” meaning to maintain posture.
を
を marks 姿勢 as the object in 姿勢を保てない. The posture is what the person cannot maintain. Use を to mark the thing directly affected by an action.
保てない
保てない means “cannot maintain” in よい姿勢を保てない. It says that the person is unable to keep good posture. Use it with something that should be kept in a particular condition, such as posture or balance.
かもしれません
かもしれません means “may” or “might” in 保てないかもしれません, showing that the speaker is not certain. In the expression, かも and しれ form the possibility meaning, while ませ and ん complete the polite expression. Use it when offering a possible explanation or prediction without stating it as certain.
短い
短い means “short” in 短い休憩, describing a break that does not last long. It comes before the noun it modifies. You can use the pattern “短い + noun” when describing something of limited length or duration.
休憩
休憩 means “break” or “rest period” in 短い休憩. It refers to a pause from the meeting or work. A common reuse pattern is “休憩を取る,” meaning to take a break.
もっと
もっと means “more” in もっと取ったほうがいいですか. It asks about increasing the amount or frequency of breaks. Use it before a verb or description when asking for or describing an additional amount.
取った
取った refers to taking a break in 休憩をもっと取ったほうがいいですか. In this advice expression, it presents taking more breaks as the action being considered. A common reuse pattern is “休憩を取る,” meaning to take a break.
ほうがいい
ほうがいい means “should” or “it is better to” in 取ったほうがいいですか. The whole expression presents one option as preferable: ほう indicates the option or way, が marks that option, and いい means good. Use the pattern “verb + ほうがいい” when giving or asking about advice.
ですか
ですか makes the sentence a polite question in 取ったほうがいいですか. Here, it turns the advice expression into a question asking whether the action is recommended. Use it at the end of a polite question.
役に立つ
役に立つ means “to be useful” or “to help” in 短い休憩は役に立つかもしれません. The whole expression says that short breaks may be helpful; 役 gives the idea of usefulness, に connects that usefulness to the result, and 立つ completes the fixed expression. A common reuse pattern is “something が役に立つ” when saying that something is useful.
立って
立って means “stand up” in 立って、ゆっくりストレッチをしてください. Its connecting form links standing up with the following stretching instruction. Use this pattern when giving a sequence of actions, such as “do X and then do Y.”
ゆっくり
ゆっくり means “gently” or “slowly” in ゆっくりストレッチをしてください. It describes how the stretching should be done. Use it before an action when asking someone to move or act without rushing.
ストレッチ
ストレッチ means “stretching” in ストレッチをしてください. It names the physical activity recommended after standing up. It can be used as the activity marked by を with する when discussing stretching.
して
して means “do” in ストレッチをしてください and connects the action to ください. Here, it helps form a polite request to do the stretching. Use a te-form such as して before ください when politely asking someone to perform an action.
ください
ください means “please do” after the action form して in ストレッチをしてください. It makes the instruction a polite request. Use it after a te-form when asking someone to carry out an action.
画面
画面 means “screen” in 画面の高さ. It refers to the display whose height needs adjustment. A common reuse pattern is “画面の高さ,” meaning the height of the screen.
高さ
高さ means “height” in 画面の高さ. It identifies the vertical position or measurement that should be adjusted. Use it after a noun with の when describing that thing’s height.
も
も means “also” or “too” in 画面の高さも. It adds the screen height to the other changes being discussed. Use it after a noun when including that noun as an additional item.
調整する
調整する means “adjust” in 画面の高さも調整する必要があります. It refers to changing the screen height to a more suitable position. Use it with the thing being changed, such as “screen height,” when discussing practical adjustments.
必要
必要 means “need” or “necessity” in 調整する必要があります. It identifies adjusting the screen height as something necessary. The pattern “verb + 必要があります” expresses that there is a need to do something.
あります
あります means “there is” or “exists” in 必要があります. Together with 必要, it states that a need exists and therefore means “need to.” Use it in polite statements about the existence of a thing, condition, or need.
そう
そう means “that way” or “so” in そうすると, referring back to the suggested adjustment. It points to doing the action just mentioned. Use it when referring to a preceding situation or action without repeating it.
すると
すると means “when or if doing so” in そうすると. It connects the preceding action with the result of sitting more comfortably. Use it after a situation or action when describing what happens as a result.
楽に
楽に means “comfortably” in 楽に座れる. It describes sitting without discomfort or strain. Use it before a verb when explaining that an action can be done comfortably or easily.
座れる
座れる means “can sit” in 楽に座れる. It expresses the ability to sit comfortably after the adjustment. A common reuse pattern places a location marked by に before 座れる when saying where someone can sit.
今週
今週 means “this week” in 今週、これらの変更を試してみます. It sets the time when the speaker plans to try the changes. Use it at the beginning or end of a sentence to identify the current week as the time frame.
これら
これら means “these,” referring to the several changes just discussed in これらの変更. It points to multiple items that are close in the conversation. Use the pattern “これらの + noun” when referring to several specific things.
変更
変更 means “changes” in これらの変更. It refers to the adjustments to breaks, stretching, and screen height. A common reuse pattern is “変更を試す,” meaning to try changes.
試して
試して means “try” or “test” in 試してみます. Its connecting form combines with みます to express trying an action. Use it when testing a change or seeing whether a proposed measure works.
みます
みます completes 試してみます, meaning “will try doing it.” In this construction, it adds the idea of trying an action to see what happens. Use the pattern “te-form + みます” when deciding to try something.
続く
続く means “continue” in 痛みが続く場合は. It describes the pain remaining over time rather than stopping. Use it with a condition or event as the subject when saying that it continues.
場合
場合 means “case” or “when” in 続く場合は. It introduces the condition “if the pain continues.” A common reuse pattern is “verb + 場合は,” meaning “if or when the verb situation occurs.”
医療
医療 means “medical care” in 医療の専門家. It identifies the professional as belonging to the field of medical care. Use it before の専門家 when referring to a specialist in medical care.
専門家
専門家 means “professional” or “specialist” in 医療の専門家. It refers to a person with specialized knowledge whom the speaker recommends consulting. A common reuse pattern is “field の専門家,” meaning a specialist in that field.
に
に marks 医療の専門家 as the person to consult in 医療の専門家に相談して. It identifies the destination of the advice-seeking action. Use the pattern “person に相談する” when asking or speaking with someone for advice.
相談して
相談して means “consult” or “ask for advice” in 相談してください. Its connecting form combines with ください to make a polite request to consult a professional. Use it when recommending that someone discuss a problem with an appropriate person.
Grammar Points
動詞の辞書形＋必要があります
画面の高さを調整する必要があります。
gah-MEHN noh tah-kah-SAH oh choh-SAY soo-ROO hee-tsoo-YOH gah ah-ree-MAHS.I need to adjust the screen height.
必要があります follows the dictionary form to express that an action is necessary.
動詞のて形＋みます
これらの変更を試してみます。
koh-reh-RAH noh hehn-KOH oh tah-meh-SHEE-teh mee-MAHS.I will try these changes.
てみます expresses trying an action to see what happens.
Japanese Vocabulary
いす
noun
EE-soo
chair
ひどくなる
verb
hee-doh-koo nah-ROO
to get worse
ひどくなります
よい
adj
yoh-EE
good
会議
noun
KYE-gee
meeting
休憩
noun
kyoo-KAY
break; rest
後
noun
AH-toh
after; later
姿勢
noun
shee-SAY
posture
短い
adj
mee-jee-KAH-ee
short
長い
adj
nah-GUY
long
痛み
noun
ee-TAH-mee
pain
背中
noun
seh-NAH-kah
back
保つ
verb
tah-MOHT-soo
to maintain; to keep
保てない
Quiz
Spelling
Tap the letters to spell the word.
to get worse
Show Answer
ひどくなりますto maintain; to keep
Show Answer
保てないbreak; rest
Show Answer
休憩short