Small Daily Health Changes | Learn Japanese in English

Japanese lesson set in a contemporary Tokyo everyday setting: At home, two adults discuss small daily health changes, including drinking more water and taking a short walk..

EN → JA / Level: A2

About This Lesson

Use Small Daily Health Changes to practice Japanese conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

A

もっと健康的な毎日の習慣がほしいです。

MOHT-toh ken-KOH-teh-kee nah MAI-nee-chee noh SHOO-kan gah hoh-SHEE dehs. I want a healthier daily routine.
B

続けられる小さな変化から始めましょう。

tsoo-DZOO-keh-rah-reh-roo CHEE-sah-nah HEN-kah kah-rah hah-jee-meh-ma-SHOO. Start with small changes you can stick with.
A

仕事中にもっと水を飲めます。

shee-GOH-toh-choo nee MOHT-toh mee-ZOO oh NOH-meh-mahs. I can drink more water while I'm at work.
B

それで、午後も元気でいられるかもしれません。

soh-reh-deh, goh-GOH moh GEN-kee deh ee-rah-reh-roo kah-moh-shee-reh-mah-SEN. That may help your energy in the afternoon.
A

夕食の後に、運動もしたほうがいいですか。

YOO-shoh-koo noh AH-toh nee, oon-DOH moh SHEE-tah hoh-GAH EE dehs kah. Should I also exercise after dinner?
B

短い散歩からなら、無理なく始められそうです。

mee-JEE-kah-ee SAHN-poh kah-rah nah-rah, moo-REE nah-koo hah-jee-meh-rah-reh-soh dehs. A short walk would be a manageable start.
A

行くのを忘れないように、玄関のそばに靴を置けます。

ee-koo noh oh wah-sreh-NAI YOO-nee, GEN-kan noh SOH-bah nee KOO-tsoo oh oh-KEH-mahs. I can put my shoes by the door so I remember to go.
B

それなら現実的で、続けやすそうです。

soh-reh nah-rah gen-JEE-tsoo-teh-kee deh, tsoo-DZOO-keh-yah-soh dehs. That sounds realistic and easy to keep up.

Word by Word

もっと In this dialogue, 「もっと」 means “more,” adding to the desired level of healthiness. It commonly comes before an adjective or adverb, as in 「もっと健康的な」. You can use it when asking for or describing an increased amount or degree.
健康的 In the dialogue form 「健康的な」, 「健康的」 describes something as healthy. The 「な」 connects this description to the noun 「毎日の習慣」. Use 「健康的な」 before a noun when describing a healthy choice, habit, or lifestyle.
な Here, 「な」 links the description 「健康的」 to the noun 「毎日の習慣」, giving the meaning “healthy daily routine.” It is used after this kind of description when the description comes directly before a noun. For example, in a new example, 「便利な方法」 means “a convenient method.”
毎日 In 「毎日の習慣」, 「毎日」 means “every day” or “daily.” The following 「の」 links it to 「習慣」, so the phrase refers to a habit connected with every day. Use 「毎日」 for regular daily actions or routines.
の In 「毎日の習慣」, 「の」 links 「毎日」 and 「習慣」, making the meaning “daily habit” or “a habit of every day.” This linking pattern places the describing noun before 「の」 and the main noun after it. It is commonly used to connect two nouns.
習慣 Here, 「習慣」 means a habit or routine that is repeated regularly. In 「毎日の習慣」, it refers to the healthy routine the speaker wants to have. Use it for repeated personal actions, lifestyle practices, or routines.
が In 「習慣がほしいです」, 「が」 marks 「習慣」 as the thing the speaker wants. The pattern 「Xがほしいです」 expresses a desire for X. Use it with the desired thing before 「が」.
ほしい Here, 「ほしい」 means “want” or “desire,” specifically wanting 「毎日の習慣」. The desired thing is marked by 「が」 in 「習慣がほしいです」. Use 「Xがほしいです」 when saying that you want a thing or situation.
です At the end of 「ほしいです」, 「です」 makes the statement polite. It presents the speaker’s desire in a polite way. It is commonly placed at the end of a polite sentence.
続けられる In 「続けられる小さな変化」, 「続けられる」 describes changes that the learner can continue or keep up. It comes before 「小さな変化」 and explains what kind of changes they are. Use it before a noun when describing an activity or plan that can be maintained.
小さな Here, 「小さな」 means “small” and describes 「変化」. The exact form 「小さな」 comes directly before the noun it modifies. Use it for small changes, steps, or amounts when describing them before a noun.
変化 In 「小さな変化」, 「変化」 means a change, here referring to a small change in a daily health routine. It follows the description 「小さな」. Use it when talking about a change in behavior, condition, or situation.
から In 「小さな変化から始めましょう」, 「から」 means “from” or “starting with.” It marks the point from which the action begins. Use the pattern 「Xから始める」 when starting with X.
始めましょう Here, 「始めましょう」 means “let’s start” and gently proposes beginning with small changes. It is used to invite the other person to do the action together or accept the suggestion. Use it after the action or object that will be started, as in 「Xから始めましょう」.
仕事中 In 「仕事中に」, 「仕事中」 means “during work” or “while at work.” It identifies the period when the speaker can drink water. Use it before 「に」 to describe an action happening during work.
に Here, 「に」 marks 「仕事中」 as the time when the drinking happens. The phrase 「仕事中に」 means “during work” or “while at work.” Use 「に」 after a time expression when identifying when an action occurs.
水 In 「水を飲めます」, 「水」 means water, the thing being drunk. It is followed by 「を」 because it is the object of drinking. Use it with drink-related actions when referring to water.
を Here, 「を」 marks 「水」 as the object of 「飲めます」. The pattern 「水を飲む」 means “drink water,” and 「水を飲めます」 says that the speaker can drink water. Use it after the thing directly affected by an action.
飲めます In 「水を飲めます」, 「飲めます」 means “can drink.” It expresses that the speaker is able to drink more water while at work. Use the pattern 「Xを飲めます」 when saying that you can drink X.
それ At the beginning of 「それで」, 「それ」 refers to the water-drinking action or idea just mentioned. Together, 「それで」 connects that idea with the possible result in the afternoon. Use 「それ」 to refer back to something already discussed.
で In the expression 「それで」, 「で」 helps connect the previously mentioned idea with its result or effect. The whole expression means roughly “with that” or “as a result,” leading into 「午後も元気でいられるかもしれません」. Use 「それで」 when moving from an earlier action or fact to its consequence.
午後 Here, 「午後」 means “afternoon,” the time when the speaker may be able to stay energetic. It is followed by 「も」 in 「午後も」. Use it for actions or conditions occurring in the afternoon.
も In 「午後も元気でいられる」, 「も」 means “also” or “too,” showing that the afternoon is included as another time for being energetic. It follows 「午後」 to make 「午後も」. Use it after a noun when adding that noun to something already mentioned or understood.
元気 In 「元気でいられる」, 「元気」 means being well or energetic. It describes the condition that the speaker may be able to remain in during the afternoon. Use 「元気でいる」 or 「元気でいられる」 when talking about staying well or energetic.
いられる Here, 「いられる」 means “can remain” or “can be,” referring to staying energetic in 「元気でいられる」. The state comes before it with 「で」. Use the pattern 「状態でいられる」 when saying that someone can remain in a certain condition.
かもしれません In 「元気でいられるかもしれません」, the whole expression 「かもしれません」 means “may” or “might,” showing that the result is possible but not certain. 「かも」 contributes the possibility, while 「しれません」 completes the polite expression. Use it after a plain-form statement when making a careful possibility rather than a definite claim.
夕食 In 「夕食の後」, 「夕食」 means dinner. It identifies the meal after which the speaker is considering exercising. Use it with 「の後」 to say what happens after dinner.
後 Here, 「後」 means “after” in 「夕食の後に」. The preceding 「夕食の」 identifies what comes before the time described by 「後」. Use the pattern 「Xの後に」 for an action that happens after X.
運動 In 「運動もしたほうがいいですか」, 「運動」 means exercise or physical activity. It is the activity the speaker asks whether they should do after dinner. Use it with 「する」 or 「したほうがいい」 when discussing exercise as an action.
した In the recommendation 「運動もしたほうがいいですか」, 「した」 identifies doing exercise as the option being considered. The expression 「Xしたほうがいいですか」 asks whether it would be better to do X. Use this pattern when asking for advice about an action.
ほう In 「したほうがいいですか」, 「ほう」 is part of the recommendation pattern meaning that doing the action would be the better option. The whole pattern asks whether one should do something, rather than referring simply to a physical direction. Use 「Xしたほうがいい」 to recommend doing X.
か At the end of 「したほうがいいですか」, 「か」 marks the sentence as a question. It turns the recommendation pattern into a request for advice. Use it at the end of a polite question.
短い Here, 「短い」 means “short” and describes 「散歩」. The phrase 「短い散歩」 refers to a walk that does not take much time or distance. Use it directly before a noun when describing something as short.
散歩 In 「短い散歩」, 「散歩」 means a walk, especially a walk taken for health or relaxation. It is presented as a manageable starting point for exercise. Use it with 「する」 or with a duration or description before it.
なら In 「短い散歩からなら」, 「なら」 sets the condition or topic “if it is starting with a short walk.” It frames the following result, 「無理なく始められそうです」. Use 「Xなら」 when describing what would be true in the case of X.
無理なく Here, 「無理なく」 means “without strain” or “without overdoing it.” It explains how the speaker seems able to start with a short walk. Use it before an action to describe doing that action comfortably and within one’s limits.
始められそう In 「無理なく始められそうです」, 「始められそう」 means “seems possible to start.” It expresses the speaker’s impression that beginning this routine will be manageable. Use it when an action appears realistically possible, as in 「できそう」 or 「始められそう」 patterns.
行く Here, 「行く」 means “go,” referring to going out for the walk. In 「行くのを忘れない」, the action of going is treated as something that can be remembered or forgotten. Use it with a destination or purpose when talking about going somewhere.
忘れない In 「行くのを忘れないように」, 「忘れない」 means “not forget.” It describes the action the speaker wants to prevent. Use it with 「ように」 to express a purpose such as “so as not to forget.”
よう In 「忘れないように」, 「よう」 is part of the expression meaning “so that” or “in order to,” with the purpose of preventing forgetting. The whole phrase gives the purpose for putting the shoes by the door. Use 「動詞ないように」 when taking action so that something does not happen.
玄関 In 「玄関のそば」, 「玄関」 means the entrance area of a home. It is the place beside which the speaker can put the shoes. Use it when referring to a home’s entrance or entryway.
そば Here, 「そば」 means “near” or “beside” in 「玄関のそば」. The phrase identifies a location close to the entrance. Use 「Xのそば」 to say that something is near or beside X.
靴 In 「靴を置けます」, 「靴」 means shoes or footwear. They are the object that can be placed near the entrance as a reminder to go for a walk. Use it with 「を」 when describing an action done to the shoes.
置けます Here, 「置けます」 means “can put” or “can place,” referring to placing the shoes near the entrance. The pattern 「Xを場所に置けます」 expresses that X can be placed in a location. Use it when discussing where an object can be put.
現実的 In 「現実的で」, 「現実的」 means realistic or practical. It describes the plan to place the shoes by the door as something that can actually be maintained. The form 「現実的で」 connects this description to 「続けやすそうです」.
続けやすそう In 「続けやすそうです」, 「続けやすそう」 means “seems easy to continue” or “looks easy to keep up.” It evaluates the proposed routine as manageable over time. Use 「動詞 stem + やすそう」 when an action appears easy to do.

Grammar Points

V-ないように

忘れないように、靴を玄関のそばに置けます。

wah-sreh-NAI YOO-nee, KOO-tsoo oh GEN-kan noh SOH-bah nee oh-KEH-mahs.

You can put your shoes beside the entrance so you do not forget.

V-ないように expresses the purpose of preventing something from happening: “so as not to V.”

V-やすい

無理なく続けやすそうです。

moo-REE nah-koo tsoo-DZOO-keh-yah-soh dehs

It seems easy to continue without difficulty.

V-やすい means “easy to V.” It attaches to the verb stem; 続けやすい means “easy to continue.”

Japanese Vocabulary

健康的な adj
ken-KOH-teh-kee nah healthy
元気 adj
GEN-kee energetic; well
午後 noun
goh-GOH afternoon
仕事中 noun
shee-GOH-toh-choo during work; while at work
始めましょう verb
hah-jee-meh-ma-SHOO let's start
習慣 noun
SHOO-kan routine; habit
小さな adj
CHEE-sah-nah small
水 noun
mee-ZOO water
続けられる verb
tsoo-DZOO-keh-rah-reh-roo can continue; can stick with
変化 noun
HEN-kah change
毎日の adj
MAI-nee-chee noh daily
夕食 noun
YOO-shoh-koo dinner

Quiz

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

healthy

Show Answer健康的な

can continue; can stick with

Show Answer続けられる

let's start

Show Answer始めましょう

during work; while at work

Show Answer仕事中