Improving a Home Office Setup | Learn Japanese in English

Japanese lesson set in a contemporary Tokyo everyday setting: At home, two adults adjust a work setup to reduce shoulder pain, improve screen height, and manage glare..

EN → JA / Level: B1

About This Lesson

Use Improving a Home Office Setup to practice Japanese conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

A

私はこの小さなテーブルで一日中仕事をした後、肩が痛いです。

wah-TAH-shee wah KOH-noh chee-SAH-nah TAY-boo-roo day ee-chee-nee-CHEE-joo shee-GOH-toh oh SHEE-tah AH-toh, KAH-tah gah ee-TAH-ee dess. My shoulders hurt after working at this small table all day.
B

あなたの作業環境は、特にモニターがとても低いので、体に負担がかかっています。

ah-NAH-tah noh sah-GYOH kahn-KYOH wah, toh-KOO-nee moh-NEE-tah gah toh-TEH-moh hee-KOO-ee NOH-day, kah-RAH-dah nee foo-TAHN gah kah-KAHT-tay ee-MAHSS. Your setup is hard on your body, especially with the monitor so low.
A

ちゃんとしたスタンドを買うまで、本を使ってモニターを高くできます。

chahn-toh-SHEE-tah soo-TAHN-doh oh KAH-oo MAH-day, hohn oh tsoo-KAHT-tay moh-NEE-tah oh tah-KAH-koo day-kee-MAHSS. I could raise it with books until I buy a proper stand.
B

それで、あなたの姿勢がよくなると思います。

soh-RAY day ah-NAH-tah noh shee-SAY gah YOH-koo nah-ROO toh oh-moh-ee-MAHSS. That would help your posture.
B

あなたは、窓からのまぶしい光で画面が見えにくくなっていないかも確認したほうがいいです。

ah-NAH-tah wah, MAH-doh KAH-rah noh mah-boo-SHEE-ee hee-KAH-ree day gah-MEN gah mee-eh-nee-KOO-koo NAHT-tay ee-NAI kah moh kah-koo-NEEN SHEE-tah hoh gah EE dess. You should also check whether glare from the window is affecting the screen.
A

午後の日差しで、画面が読みにくくなります。

GOH-goh noh hee-ZAH-shee day, gah-MEN gah yoh-mee-nee-KOO-koo nah-ree-MAHSS. The afternoon sunlight makes the screen difficult to read.
B

机を少し動かしてみるか、通話中はカーテンを使ってみてください。

tsoo-KWEH oh soo-KOH-shee oo-goh-KAH-shee-tay MEE-roo kah, TSOO-wah-CHOO wah KAA-ten oh tsoo-KAHT-tay MEE-tay koo-dah-SAI. Try moving the desk slightly, or use the curtain during calls.
A

私がもっと快適に感じられれば、私ももっとよく働けるはずです。

wah-TAH-shee gah MOHT-toh KAI-tay-kee nee kahn-jee-rah-REH-bah, wah-TAH-shee moh MOHT-toh YOH-koo hah-tah-rah-KEH-roo hah-zoo dess. If I feel more comfortable, I should be able to work better too.
B

何時間も同じ姿勢を続けるときは、小さな調整が大切です。

NAHN-jee-KAHN moh oh-NAH-jee shee-SAY oh tsoo-zoo-KEH-roo TOH-kee wah, chee-SAH-nah CHOH-say gah TAI-seh-tsoo dess. Small adjustments matter when you repeat the same position for hours.
A

何かを買う前に、まずこの配置を試してみることができます。

nah-nee-KAH oh KAH-oo MAH-eh nee, MAH-zoo KOH-noh HAI-chee oh tah-MEH-shee-tay MEE-roo koh-toh gah day-kee-MAHSS. I can try this layout first before buying anything.
B

それは理にかなっています。いちばん安い方法で十分かもしれないからです。

soh-RAY wah ree nee kah-NAHT-tay ee-MAHSS. ee-chee-bahn yah-SOO-ee hoh-HOH day JOO-boon KAH-moh shee-REH-nai KAH-rah dess. That makes sense, because the cheapest solution may be enough.

Word by Word

私 私 means “I” in 私は and 私が, referring to the speaker. It is commonly used before は or が when stating who is speaking or acting.
は は marks 私 as the topic in 私は, meaning “as for me” or “I.” It is used after the person or thing being discussed, such as 私は仕事をします in a new example.
この この means “this” in この小さなテーブル, identifying a table near or connected to the speaker. It comes directly before the noun it describes, as in この机 in a new example.
小さな 小さな means “small” in 小さなテーブル. It describes the noun that follows and is useful when identifying the size or character of an object.
テーブル テーブル means “table” in この小さなテーブル. It is a loanword used for a table used for work, meals, or other activities.
で で marks the place or means of an action in テーブルで仕事をした, meaning “worked at the table.” It can follow a place or tool used for an action, such as 家で働く in a new example.
一日中 一日中 means “all day” in 一日中仕事をした. It indicates that the action continued throughout the day and commonly comes before the verb describing that action.
仕事 仕事 means “work” in 仕事をした. With を, it is the object of the action, and the reusable pattern 仕事をする means “to work.”
を を marks 仕事 as the object in 仕事をした. It commonly follows the thing directly acted on, as in 本を読む in a new example.
した した means “did” in 仕事をした, so the dialogue says that the speaker worked. It is the past form of する, and 仕事をした is a common way to describe completed work.
後 後 means “after” in 仕事をした後, referring to the time following the work. The pattern verb-past form plus 後 describes what happens after an action, as in 食べた後 in a new example.
肩 肩 means “shoulder” in 肩が痛いです. It identifies the body part that hurts and can be used with body-related descriptions such as 肩を動かす in a new example.
が が marks 肩 as the subject of the condition in 肩が痛いです. It commonly identifies the person or thing experiencing a state, such as 目が疲れています in a new example.
痛い 痛い means “hurt” or “be painful” in 肩が痛いです. It describes a painful physical condition and is used after the body part that hurts.
です です gives the sentence a polite ending in 肩が痛いです. It makes the statement suitable for a polite conversation with another adult.
あなた あなた means “you” in あなたの作業環境, referring to the person being addressed. It can be followed by の to connect the person with something belonging to or associated with them.
の の links あなた and 作業環境 in あなたの作業環境, meaning “your work setup.” It commonly connects a person or noun with the noun that follows, as in 私の机 in a new example.
作業環境 作業環境 means “work environment” or “work setup” in あなたの作業環境. It refers here to the desk, monitor, and surrounding arrangement, and is useful when discussing conditions for working.
特に 特に means “especially” in 特にモニターがとても低いので, highlighting the monitor’s low position as an important problem. It commonly comes before the part of a statement that deserves special attention.
モニター モニター means “monitor” in モニターがとても低い. It refers to the computer screen used in the home office and can be followed by position descriptions.
とても とても means “very” in とても低い, strongly describing how low the monitor is. It commonly comes directly before an adjective, as in とても大きい in a new example.
低い 低い means “low” in モニターがとても低い. It describes the monitor’s position here and is used after the thing whose height or level is being described.
ので ので means “because” or “since” in モニターがとても低いので, giving the reason the setup puts strain on the body. It follows the reason clause and introduces the resulting situation or advice.
体 体 means “body” in 体に負担がかかっています. It is the body affected by the strain, and it can be used with other physical conditions or sensations.
に に marks 体 as the thing affected in 体に負担がかかっています. In this expression it identifies where the burden is placed, and the reusable pattern に負担がかかる describes strain on something.
負担 負担 means “burden” or “strain” in 体に負担がかかっています. Together with にかかる, it describes physical or practical pressure placed on someone or something.
かかっています かかっています means that a burden “is being placed on” or “is affecting” something in 体に負担がかかっています. It is the polite form used for the current state, and 負担がかかる is a reusable pattern for describing strain.
ちゃんと ちゃんと means “properly” or “appropriately” in ちゃんとしたスタンド, describing a stand that is suitable for the intended use. It can come before a noun with した, or describe doing something properly.
スタンド スタンド means “stand” in ちゃんとしたスタンド, referring to a stand for raising the monitor. It is a loanword for a support or holder and follows the description ちゃんとした here.
買う 買う means “buy” in スタンドを買う. It is the plain form used in the time expression until the speaker buys a proper stand, and it commonly takes the item bought with を.
まで まで means “until” in 買うまで, marking the point up to which the temporary arrangement will continue. It follows an event or time limit, as in 帰るまで in a new example.
本 本 means “book” in 本を使って, referring to books used as supports for the monitor. It is marked by を because the books are being used in the action.
使って 使って means “using” in 本を使ってモニターを高くできます. It is the te-form of 使う and connects the use of books with the resulting action; the pattern 道具を使って explains how something is done.
高く 高く means “higher” in モニターを高くできます, describing raising the monitor’s position. It is the adverbial form used before できます to express making something higher.
できます できます means “can” or “be able to” in 高くできます, expressing that the speaker can raise the monitor. It commonly follows a possible action or describes what can be done with an object.
それ それ means “that” in それで, referring to the suggested method of raising the monitor with books. With で here, it means “with that” or “by doing that,” linking the method to its effect.
姿勢 姿勢 means “posture” in 姿勢がよくなる. It refers to the way the body is held while working, and it is commonly discussed with よい or 悪い descriptions.
よく よく means “better” in 姿勢がよくなる, describing an improvement in posture. It is the adverbial form of よい in this expression and comes before なる when saying that a condition improves.
なる なる means “become” in 姿勢がよくなる, expressing a change to better posture. The pattern adjective plus なる describes a change of state, as in 静かになる in a new example.
と と marks 姿勢がよくなる as the content of the thought in 姿勢がよくなると思います. It commonly follows a quoted statement before verbs such as 思う.
思います 思います means “think” in 姿勢がよくなると思います, presenting the advice as the speaker’s opinion. It is a polite form often used after a statement marked by と.
窓 窓 means “window” in 窓からのまぶしい光. It identifies the source of the glare and can be connected to another noun with からの.
から から means “from” in 窓からのまぶしい光, marking the window as the source of the light. The pattern place or source plus からの plus noun describes where something comes from.
まぶしい まぶしい means “bright” or “glaring” in まぶしい光, describing light that makes the screen harder to see. It is used before 光 to specify the quality of the light.
光 光 means “light” in まぶしい光. Here it refers to the bright light coming through the window, and it can be described by an adjective placed before it.
画面 画面 means “screen” in 画面が見えにくくなっていないか. It refers to the computer display being affected by the light and can be the subject of visibility descriptions.
見えにくく 見えにくく means “hard to see” in 画面が見えにくくなっていないか. It is the connecting form of 見えにくい, used before なって to describe a change into a difficult-to-see condition.
なっていない なっていない means “has not become” or “is not becoming” in 見えにくくなっていないか. It checks whether the screen has entered that difficult-to-see state, and the pattern adjective plus なっていないか checks whether an unwanted condition is occurring.
か か marks the embedded question in 見えにくくなっていないか, meaning “whether it has become hard to see.” It can turn a clause into something being checked or wondered about.
も も means “also” in 画面が見えにくくなっていないかも確認したほうがいい, adding this check to the other suggested adjustment. It commonly follows the item or clause being added.
確認した 確認した means “checked” or “confirmed” in 確認したほうがいい, referring to checking the screen condition. It is the past form of 確認する used inside the advice pattern 確認したほうがいい.
ほうがいい In 確認したほうがいい, the whole construction means “it is better to check” or “you should check.” ほう presents the preferable option, が marks that option, and いい says it is good; the reusable pattern verb-past form plus ほうがいい gives advice.
午後 午後 means “afternoon” in 午後の日差し, identifying when the sunlight occurs. It commonly comes before a noun to specify a time-related type of event or condition.
日差し 日差し means “sunlight” in 午後の日差し. It refers to the sunlight reaching the room and is useful when discussing glare, heat, or brightness.
読みにくく 読みにくく means “difficult to read” in 画面が読みにくくなります. It is the connecting form of 読みにくい, used before なります to describe a change in readability.
なります なります means “becomes” in 読みにくくなります, describing the screen becoming difficult to read because of the sunlight. The pattern adjective plus なります expresses a change of condition.
机 机 means “desk” in 机を少し動かしてみる. It is the furniture the speaker is advised to move to reduce the glare.
少し 少し means “slightly” or “a little” in 机を少し動かしてみる, limiting the amount of movement. It commonly comes before the verb or description being reduced.
動かして 動かして means “move” in 机を少し動かしてみる. It is the te-form of 動かす and connects the movement with みる, creating the pattern objectを動かしてみる for trying to move something.
みる みる means “try doing” in 動かしてみる. Used after the te-form 動かして, it adds the meaning of trying the action rather than merely carrying it out.
通話中 通話中 means “during a call” in 通話中はカーテンを使ってみてください. It identifies the period when the curtain should be used and can follow は when setting that period as the topic.
カーテン カーテン means “curtain” in カーテンを使ってみてください. It is the object used to manage the sunlight during calls.
みて みて means “try doing” in 使ってみてください. It is the te-form of みる after 使って, and together they form a polite request to try using the curtain.
ください ください makes 使ってみてください a polite request meaning “please try using it.” It follows a te-form when politely asking someone to do an action.
もっと もっと means “more” in もっと快適 and もっとよく働ける, showing an increase from the current level. It commonly comes before the adjective or adverb that is being increased.
快適 快適 means “comfortable” in もっと快適に感じられれば, describing how the speaker may feel after the adjustments. With に, it connects to 感じられる and describes the way the feeling is experienced.
感じられれば 感じられれば means “if I can feel” in もっと快適に感じられれば. It is a conditional form of 感じられる, expressing the condition under which the speaker expects to work better; the pattern adjective plus に感じられる describes being able to feel something as a certain way.
働ける 働ける means “can work” in もっとよく働ける. It is the potential form of 働く and expresses ability, followed here by よく to mean working better.
はず はず means “should” or “is expected to” in 働けるはずです, expressing the speaker’s expectation based on feeling more comfortable. The pattern verb plain form plus はずです is used when the speaker has a reason for expecting something.
何時間 何時間 means “for how many hours” in 何時間も同じ姿勢を続ける, where it emphasizes a long period of several hours. With も, it can stress that the duration is considerable.
同じ 同じ means “same” in 同じ姿勢, referring to one unchanged posture. It comes directly before the noun it describes, as in 同じ場所 in a new example.
続ける 続ける means “continue” or “keep doing” in 同じ姿勢を続ける, describing maintaining the same posture. It takes the activity or condition being continued, here 同じ姿勢.
とき とき means “when” or “at the time” in 続けるとき, introducing the situation in which small adjustments matter. It follows a clause or noun and connects that situation to the main statement.
調整 調整 means “adjustment” in 小さな調整. It refers to small changes to the work setup, such as moving the desk or raising the monitor.
大切 大切 means “important” in 小さな調整が大切です. It describes the value of making small adjustments when the same posture is repeated for hours.
何か 何か means “anything” in 何かを買う前に, referring generally to any item the speaker might buy. It is followed by を because it is the object of 買う.
前 前 means “before” in 何かを買う前に, placing the trial of the layout before a purchase. The pattern verb plain form plus 前に describes doing one action before another.
まず まず means “first” in まずこの配置を試してみる, showing that trying the current layout is the initial step. It is commonly placed before the first action in a sequence.
配置 配置 means “layout” or “arrangement” in この配置. It refers to the current placement of the desk and monitor, and is useful when discussing how objects are arranged.
試して 試して means “try” in この配置を試してみる. It is the te-form of 試す and connects the layout trial with みる; the pattern objectを試してみる means “try trying or testing an object or method.”
こと こと turns 試してみる into a noun-like action in 試してみることができます, referring to the act of trying the layout. The pattern verb plus ことができる expresses being able to do that action.
理にかなっています 理にかなっています means “makes sense” or “is reasonable” as a whole in それは理にかなっています. 理 refers to reason or sound principles, に marks conformity to them, かなって expresses accord, and います gives the polite current-state form; it is useful when agreeing that a plan is reasonable.
いちばん いちばん means “the most” in いちばん安い方法, selecting the method with the lowest price among the options. It commonly comes before an adjective when identifying the highest or lowest degree.
安い 安い means “cheap” or “inexpensive” in いちばん安い方法. Together with いちばん, it identifies the least expensive method, and it comes before 方法 because it describes that method.
方法 方法 means “method” or “solution” in いちばん安い方法. It refers to the way of improving the setup, and it can be described by an adjective placed before it.
十分 十分 means “enough” or “sufficient” in 方法で十分かもしれない, saying that the method may be adequate. It commonly follows the thing considered sufficient, often with で when referring to a means or method.
かもしれない かもしれない means “may” or “might” in 十分かもしれない, expressing uncertainty about whether the inexpensive method will be enough. In this fixed construction, かも marks possibility, しれ contributes uncertainty, and ない completes the expression; it is used after the plain form of a statement.

Grammar Points

～たほうがいい

光を確認したほうがいい

hee-KAH-ree oh kah-koo-NEEN SHEE-tah hoh gah EE

You should check the light.

Advice is expressed with the past form ～た followed by ほうがいい.

～てみる

カーテンを動かしてみる

KAA-ten oh oo-goh-KAH-shee-tay MEE-roo

I’ll try moving the curtain.

Attach ～てみる to a verb to express trying something.

Japanese Vocabulary

スタンド noun
soo-TAHN-doh stand
ちゃんとした adj
chahn-toh-SHEE-tah proper; decent
まぶしい adj
mah-boo-SHEE-ee glare-producing; dazzling
モニター noun
moh-NEE-tah monitor
一日中 adv
ee-chee-nee-CHEE-joo all day
肩 noun
KAH-tah shoulder
光 noun
hee-KAH-ree light
作業環境 noun
sah-GYOH kahn-KYOH work setup; work environment
姿勢 noun
shee-SAY posture
痛い adj
ee-TAH-ee to hurt; painful
低い adj
hee-KOO-ee low
負担がかかる phrase
foo-TAHN gah kah-KAH-roo to put a strain on; to be hard on

Quiz

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

monitor

Show Answerモニター

stand

Show Answerスタンド

work setup; work environment

Show Answer作業環境

to put a strain on; to be hard on

Show Answer負担がかかる