Asking for Clearer Feedback on a Proposal | Learn Japanese in English

Sentence explanations

1. フィードバックには、提案をもっと説得力のあるものにすべきだとありますが、少し曖昧に感じます。

   The feedback says the proposal should be stronger, but that feels vague.

   フィードバック

   feedback

   提案

   proposal

   もっと

   more

   説得力のある

   convincing

   もの

   thing

   すべきだ

   should

   とあります

   says; is written

   少し

   a little

   曖昧

   vague

   感じます

   feel; sense

   More detail

   フィードバック means feedback. It is a loanword noun and can be used as the topic with フィードバックには, meaning “as for the feedback” or “in the feedback.” The particle には combines topic marking with に; here it identifies the source in which the written content appears. 提案 means proposal. With を, it is the thing affected by the recommended change. A useful pattern is Nを…ものにする: “make N into something that is …”. もっと means more, or to a greater degree. It increases the degree of the following description; it does not itself name what is being compared. In this sentence, the proposal is to have greater persuasive force than it currently has. 説得力のある means having persuasive force or being convincing. 説得力 is “persuasive power,” and ある is the attributive form of “exist/have”; the pattern Nのある can describe something as “having N.” Here it modifies もの. A useful related contrast is 説得力のない, “lacking persuasive force.” もの literally means thing, but here it refers to a version or state of the proposal: “one that is convincing.” It is not a separate new object. In 説得力のあるものに, もの is followed by に because the proposal is being characterized as that kind of thing. すべきだ expresses that something ought to be done. It is based on する plus べきだ, and the observed form すべきだ is the plain-style form of the recommendation. In 提案を…ものにすべきだ, the unstated responsible party should make or bring the proposal into that more convincing state; the sentence does not identify who that party is. べきではない gives the useful negative contrast, “should not.” とあります presents the preceding content as what is written or stated. と marks the quoted content, and あります is the polite nonpast form of ある. In a feedback context, this construction naturally means “it says” or “it is written that,” rather than claiming that the feedback itself is a speaking person. 少し means a little or somewhat. It softens the degree of the following assessment: the vagueness is presented as limited, not as an absolute characterization. 曖昧 means vague or ambiguous. It is a na-adjective: 曖昧だ is predicative, 曖昧な説明 modifies a noun, and 曖昧に is the form used before a verb in this expression. A useful opposite is 明確, “clear” or “definite.” 感じます is the polite nonpast form of 感じる, “to feel” or “to sense.” Here 曖昧に感じます means “feel that it is vague” or “find it vague.” The polite ending ます makes the assessment polite; it does not change the basic perception meaning. For example, 少し難しく感じます means “I find it a little difficult.” Together, 提案をもっと説得力のあるものにすべきだ says that the proposal ought to be made into one with greater persuasive force. とあります identifies that recommendation as the content of the feedback. After the contrast marker が, 少し曖昧に感じます adds the speaker’s assessment that the content feels somewhat vague. Thus the whole utterance means: “The feedback says the proposal should be stronger, but that feels vague.”

2. 証拠、語調、構成のうち、どの部分を直す必要があるのか聞いてみてください。

   Ask which part needs revision: the evidence, tone, or structure.

   証拠

   evidence

   語調

   tone

   構成

   structure

   のうち

   among

   どの

   which

   部分

   part

   直す

   revise

   必要がある

   need to

   聞いてみてください

   please try asking

   More detail

   証拠 means “evidence.” It is a noun for information or material used to support a conclusion. Example: 証拠を集める means “to collect evidence.” 語調 means “tone,” especially the manner or impression conveyed by wording or voice. It is different from 声 (“voice”): 語調 concerns how an expression sounds in attitude or style. 構成 means “structure” or “composition”—how the parts of something are organized. Example: 文章の構成を直す means “to revise the structure of the writing.” のうち marks a selection from a stated set. Here, 証拠、語調、構成のうち means “among the evidence, tone, and structure.” A reusable pattern is A、B、Cのうち、どれ (“which of A, B, and C”). どの is a question determiner meaning “which,” and it normally comes directly before a noun: どの部分 means “which part.” Unlike a standalone question word such as どれ (“which one”), どの needs a following noun. 部分 means “part” or “portion.” In どの部分, it identifies the selected unit whose identity is being asked about. Example: どの部分を変更しますか。 means “Which part will you change?” 直す is the dictionary form of a verb meaning “to fix,” “correct,” or “revise.” In this sentence, it means revising the relevant part rather than necessarily repairing a physical object. Its object is marked by を, as in 文章を直す (“revise the writing”). 必要がある expresses that something is necessary or needs to be done. The preceding verb uses its dictionary form: 直す必要がある means “it is necessary to revise” or “needs revision.” The pattern V-る必要がある is a reusable way to say that an action is required. 聞いてみてください is a polite request meaning “please try asking.” It consists of 聞く (“ask” or “listen”), the て form 聞いて, みる (“try doing”), and ください (“please”). In this context, 聞く has the “ask” meaning. The pattern V-てみてください politely asks someone to try an action; for example, 使ってみてください means “please try using it.” Together, 証拠、語調、構成のうち sets out three possible areas, and どの部分を直す必要があるのか asks which part needs revision. The embedded question marker のか turns that question into the content of 聞いてみてください: “please try asking which part needs revision.” The complete utterance therefore means: “Ask which part needs revision: the evidence, tone, or structure.”

3. 私は、導入部分では問題を十分にわかりやすく説明できていないのかもしれないと思います。

   I think the introduction may not explain the problem clearly enough.

   私は

   I; as for me

   導入部分

   introduction section

   問題

   problem

   十分に

   sufficiently; enough

   わかりやすく

   clearly; in an easy-to-understand way

   説明できていない

   not able to explain

   のかもしれない

   may; might be the case

   と思います

   I think

   More detail

   私は marks the speaker as the topic: “as for me, I …”. は presents the topic and can create a mild contrast, but the sentence does not specify what the contrast is. The pronoun 私 is the first-person form “I”; it refers to the speaker in this utterance. 導入部分 means “the introduction section.” It is a noun phrase: 導入 means introduction or bringing something in, and 部分 means section or part. In the sentence, では follows it: 導入部分では means “in the introduction section” while marking that section as the setting or topic for the assessment. The quoted phrase itself does not include では. 問題 means “the problem” here. It is a noun that can also mean an issue or a question, but the fixed translation supports “problem” in this sentence. 十分に means “sufficiently” or “enough.” It modifies the following manner expression and says that the required degree has not been reached. The adverb is formed from 十分 plus に; it does not itself assert a numeric amount. わかりやすく means “in an easy-to-understand way” or “clearly.” It is the adverbial form of the adjective わかりやすい (“easy to understand”). The useful pattern is わかりやすく + verb, as in わかりやすく話す (“explain or speak clearly”). It describes the manner of explaining, while 十分に describes the degree. 説明できていない contains the verb 説明する (“to explain”) in its potential form 説明できる (“can explain”), followed by ていない. Here, 説明できていない means that the speaker has not managed to explain something, or is not succeeding in explaining it. The form is negative; it does not mean that the speaker is actively refusing to explain. Example: まだうまく説明できていません。 — “I still have not managed to explain it well.” のかもしれない presents the preceding clause as a possibility: “may be the case” or “might.” In 説明できていないのかもしれない, the possibility concerns the whole situation of not having managed to explain clearly enough. の nominalizes the preceding clause so that it can be followed by this possibility expression. と思います means “I think.” 思います is the polite non-past form of 思う (“to think”). With a preceding clause, と思います presents that clause as the speaker’s current thought or assessment. It combines with のかもしれない here, so the speaker is expressing a cautious opinion rather than certainty. Together, 私は sets up the speaker’s perspective, and 導入部分では identifies the introduction section as the relevant setting. The speaker assesses whether 問題 has been explained 十分にわかりやすく—clearly enough—and says that they may 説明できていない, “not have managed to explain it.” The final と思います frames the complete assessment as “I think”: “I think the introduction may not explain the problem clearly enough.”

4. では、どこを変えてほしいのか、具体的な例を聞いてみてください。

   Then ask for a specific example of what they want changed.

   では

   then

   どこを

   what part

   変えてほしい

   want changed

   のか

   whether / what …

   具体的な

   specific

   例

   example

   聞いてみてください

   please ask

   More detail

   では sets up the next step from the preceding discussion: “then” or “in that case.” It is a connective, not part of the request to ask. A reusable pattern is では、… for moving to a consequence or next action. どこを asks which part is the object of the change. どこ can mean “where,” but with を here it means “what part” or “which point” is to be changed. The particle を marks that object. 変えてほしい combines 変える (“to change”) with 〜てほしい (“want someone to do …”). The observed form 変えて is the て-form of 変える; ほしい expresses the speaker’s desire. The person expected to make the change is not stated in this sentence. Example: ここを変えてほしい。 — “I want you to change this part.” のか turns the preceding content into an embedded question or question-like point: どこを変えてほしいのか means “what part they want changed.” Here the translation identifies the intended subject of ほしい as “they”; Japanese leaves that subject understood rather than marking it in the quoted span. The form のか is different from a direct question such as どこを変えてほしいですか。 (“What part do you want changed?”). 具体的な means “specific” or “concrete.” It is the adjective form used before a noun: 具体的な例 (“a specific example”). Its base form is the な-adjective 具体的だ; before a noun, だ changes to な. 例 means “example.” It is a noun and can be used in patterns such as 例を挙げる (“give an example”) and 例を聞く (“ask for an example,” depending on context). In this sentence, it is the object of 聞く. 聞いてみてください is a polite request meaning “please try asking.” 聞く can mean “ask” or “listen/hear”; with 例を here, it means “ask for an example.” 聞いてみる adds the idea of trying the action, and ください makes it a request. A reusable pattern is V-てみてください: 読んでみてください。 — “Please try reading it.” Together, どこを変えてほしいのか identifies the content to ask about: what part they want changed. 具体的な例を聞いてみてください asks the listener to try asking for a specific example. With では at the beginning, the whole utterance is: “Then, please ask for a specific example of what they want changed.”

5. それでは、自分を守ろうとしているように聞こえませんか。

   Would that sound defensive?

   それでは

   then; in that case

   自分

   oneself; self

   守ろうとしている

   is trying to protect

   ように聞こえませんか

   doesn’t it sound as if …?

   More detail

   それでは means “then” or “in that case,” linking this question to the situation being discussed. It is a useful transition; では can also introduce a conclusion or next step, while それでは makes the connection to the current situation explicit. 自分 means “oneself” here. With the object marker を, 自分を is the person being protected: literally, “oneself.” This word alone does not identify the specific referent, so the explanation should not assume that it means the speaker or another particular participant. 自分 can also occur in other grammatical roles, such as 自分で (“by oneself”); the particle helps show its role. 守ろうとしている describes an ongoing attempt to protect. 守ろう is the volitional form of 守る (“to protect”); the pattern verb-volitional + とする means “try to do” or “be about to do.” Here としている presents that attempt as current or ongoing. For example, 問題を解決しようとしている means “is trying to solve the problem.” The lexical verb 守る, not 自分, carries the volitional inflection. ように聞こえませんか asks whether something sounds a certain way. ように presents the appearance or impression “as if …,” and 聞こえる means “sound” or “be heard as.” Its polite negative question form is 聞こえませんか, literally asking “doesn’t it sound …?” In this utterance, the construction asks whether the wording gives the impression of trying to protect oneself. The negative question is not a separate denial; it invites agreement with that impression. Together, それでは (“then/in that case”) + 自分を守ろうとしている (“trying to protect oneself”) + ように聞こえませんか (“doesn’t it sound as if …?”) produces the overall question “Would that sound as if someone were trying to protect themself?” The fixed translation naturally summarizes that impression as “Would that sound defensive?”

6. 相手の期待に合わせたいと言えば、そうは聞こえません。

   Not if you say you want to match their expectations.

   相手

   the other party

   期待

   expectations

   合わせたい

   want to match

   と言えば

   if you say

   そうは

   that way

   聞こえません

   doesn't sound

   More detail

   相手 means “the other party” or “them” in this sentence. It is a noun commonly used for the person or side one is dealing with. The possessive particle の links it to the following noun: 相手の期待 = “the other party’s expectations.” 期待 means “expectation(s).” In 相手の期待, の marks whose expectations they are. For example, 相手の意見 means “the other party’s opinion”; this is an example of the same linking pattern, not a fact about the supplied conversation. 合わせたい expresses “want to match” or “want to adjust to.” Its base verb is 合わせる, “to match, align, or adjust something to something,” and たい is attached to the verb stem to express the subject’s desire: 合わせる → 合わせたい. Here the desired action is matching the other party’s expectations. Example: 予定を合わせたい。 — “I want to coordinate the schedules.” と言えば means “if you say …” in this sentence. The quoted content comes before と, and 言えば is the conditional form of 言う, “to say”: 言う → 言えば. Thus 相手の期待に合わせたいと言えば is “if you say that you want to match the other party’s expectations.” The conditional form presents this as a condition for the result in the following clause. そうは means “that way” with a contrastive emphasis from は. Here そう refers to the impression or manner under discussion, rather than naming a separate concrete object. The particle は helps set up the negative contrast in そうは聞こえません. 聞こえません means “doesn’t sound” or “is not heard.” Its base form is 聞こえる, “to be audible” or “to sound,” and 聞こえません is its polite negative nonpast form. Unlike transitive 聞く (“to listen to” or “to ask”), 聞こえる describes how something comes across to the listener without presenting the listener as deliberately hearing it. Example: その説明は自然に聞こえます。 — “That explanation sounds natural.” Together, 相手の期待に合わせたい says “want to match the other party’s expectations.” Adding と and 言えば makes that content conditional: “if you say that you want to match the other party’s expectations.” The final part, そうは聞こえません, says that it does not sound that way. The complete meaning is: “Not if you say you want to match their expectations.”

7. 私は、もっとデータが必要なのか、それとももっと自信のある語調が必要なのか、聞いてみることができます。

   I can ask whether they want more data or a more confident tone.

   私は

   I; as for me

   もっと

   more

   データ

   data

   必要なのか

   whether it is needed

   それとも

   or instead

   自信のある

   confident; having confidence

   語調

   tone of voice

   聞いてみる

   ask; try asking

   ことができます

   can do

   More detail

   私は sets 私 (“I”) as the topic, with は marking what the sentence is about. Japanese often leaves repeated subjects unspoken; here the fixed translation makes the speaker’s role explicit. もっと means “more” or “additional.” It modifies the two things being considered: もっとデータ (“more data”) and, later, the understood もっと before 自信のある語調 (“a more confident tone”). It does not itself state a numerical amount. データ means “data.” As a loanword, it is used as a noun; もっとデータが必要 means that more data is needed. In this sentence, が marks データ as the thing that is needed. 必要なのか asks whether something is needed, inside the larger question. 必要 means “necessary” or “needed,” and なのか gives the clause an embedded yes-or-no question form: Xが必要なのか = “whether X is needed.” The の here is part of the explanatory/question construction, not the noun “thing.” それとも introduces the alternative in an either-or question: “or instead.” Thus もっとデータが必要なのか、それとも… sets up a choice between needing more data and needing something else. 自信のある literally describes something as having confidence. It modifies the following noun, so 自信のある語調 means “a confident tone.” The adjective-like expression is not the same as the separate noun 自信 (“confidence”); its attributive form here connects that noun-based description to 語調. 語調 means “tone of voice” or “tone” in the way an utterance sounds. In this sentence it is the second possible thing that may be needed. もっと自信のある語調 therefore means “a more confident tone,” with もっと understood as modifying the whole description. 聞いてみる combines 聞く (“ask” or “listen,” depending on context) with auxiliary みる. Here the fixed translation selects the “ask” sense, and 〜てみる adds the idea of trying an action: 聞いてみる = “try asking” or naturally “ask.” The auxiliary みる is in its connective て form and does not mean literal visual seeing here. ことができます expresses ability or possibility. こと nominalizes the preceding action, and できます is the polite form of できる (“can” or “be able to”): V-ることができる = “can V.” The polite ending makes the sentence courteous; it is できます, not the preceding verb, that carries the polite form. Together, 私は marks the speaker as the topic, and the two alternatives are もっとデータが必要なのか and もっと自信のある語調が必要なのか. 聞いてみることができます says that the speaker can ask about those alternatives. The complete meaning is: “I can ask whether they want more data or a more confident tone.”

8. それなら、相手は明確な二つの方向から選べます。

   That gives them two clear directions to choose from.

   それなら

   then; if that is the case

   相手

   the other party

   明確な

   clear; definite

   二つ

   two

   方向

   direction

   選べます

   can choose

   More detail

   それなら means “if that is the case” or “then,” linking this sentence to the preceding situation. それ points to something already established, while なら presents the condition or basis for what follows. A reusable pattern is それなら、X。 — “If so, X.” 相手 means “the other party” or “the person/group on the other side.” In this sentence, it is marked by は (included in the source as 相手は) as the topic and corresponds to “them” in the fixed translation. The word itself does not specify a particular person or number. 明確な means “clear” or “definite” here. Its base form is the な-adjective 明確だ; before a noun, it uses 明確な, as in 明確な方向 (“a clear direction”). This な is part of the adjective’s noun-modifying form, not an article. 二つ is the native Japanese counting form for “two” when counting general items. It is built from 二 (“two”) and the general counter つ; the form is 二つ, not a separately inflected form of 方向. With a noun, the pattern is 二つの + noun, so 二つの方向 means “two directions.” 方向 means “direction” or “course.” In this sentence it refers to the two clear courses available for selection. A useful related expression is その方向 (“that direction”), as in the following-context example その方向がわかれば — “once I know that direction.” 選べます means “can choose.” It is the polite potential form of 選ぶ (“to choose”): 選ぶ → 選べる (“can choose”) → 選べます (polite “can choose”). The potential form expresses ability or availability of choice; the polite ending ます makes the statement appropriately polite. For example, こちらを選べます。 means “You can choose this one.” Together, 明確な二つの方向 forms the noun phrase “two clear directions,” and 相手は makes the other party the topic. 選べます says that this party can choose from those options. With the preceding それなら, the whole utterance means: “If that is the case, they can choose from two clear directions,” matching the fixed translation “That gives them two clear directions to choose from.”

9. その方向がわかれば、私は提案をすぐに修正できます。

   Once I know the direction, I can revise it quickly.

   その

   that

   方向

   direction

   わかれば

   once I know

   提案

   proposal

   すぐに

   quickly

   修正できます

   can revise

   More detail

   その is a demonstrative modifier meaning “that” and comes before a noun. Here, その方向 means “that direction.” The demonstrative indicates a contextually identified direction, while the exact referent is supplied by context rather than by その alone. It does not express number. 方向 means “direction.” The reusable pattern その + noun can refer to an identified thing: その方法 means “that method.” わかれば is the conditional form of わかる, “to know” or “to understand.” Here it means “once I know,” matching the fixed translation. The -ば ending presents knowing the direction as the condition for the main clause. Japanese can leave the subject unspoken; the fixed translation identifies it here as “I.” 提案 means “proposal” or “suggestion.” It is the object of the revision expressed later. The reusable pattern Nを修正する means “to revise or correct N.” すぐに means “quickly” or “immediately.” Here it modifies the act of revising. Example: すぐに返事します。 means “I will reply immediately.” 修正できます means “can revise” here. 修正する is the base verb meaning “to revise” or “to correct”; its ability form is 修正できる, and the polite form seen here is 修正できます. The pattern Nを修正できます means “can revise N.” Together, その方向がわかれば sets the condition, “once I know that direction,” and 私は提案をすぐに修正できます gives the result, “I can revise the proposal quickly.” The complete meaning is: “Once I know the direction, I can revise it quickly.”

10. 明確な指示があれば、不要な書き直しをしなくて済みます。

    Clear guidance can save unnecessary rewriting.

    明確な

    clear

    指示

    guidance; instructions

    があれば

    if there is; when there is

    不要な

    unnecessary

    書き直し

    rewriting

    しなくて済みます

    can avoid doing it

    More detail

    明確な means “clear” here. 明確 is a na-adjective: before a noun, it takes な, as in 明確な指示 (“clear guidance”). A useful contrast is 不明確な (“unclear”), which also takes な before a noun. 指示 means “guidance” or “instructions.” It is a noun and can refer either to direction given to someone or to instructions to follow; the translation selects the guidance/instructions sense here. For example, 指示に従います。 means “I will follow the instructions.” があれば expresses “if there is” or “when there is.” It consists of the subject marker が and the conditional form あれば of ある (“to exist; to be available”). Thus, 明確な指示があれば means “if there is clear guidance.” The conditional form is reusable with other nouns, for example, 時間があれば、行きます。 — “If I have time, I’ll go.” 不要な means “unnecessary.” 不要 is another na-adjective, so 不要な modifies the noun that follows it. Its useful opposite is 必要な (“necessary”): 必要な情報 means “necessary information,” while 不要な情報 means “unnecessary information.” 書き直し means “rewriting” in this sentence. It is the noun-like form of 書き直す, “to rewrite,” which combines 書く (“to write”) with 直す (“to redo or correct”). The verb can be used directly in 文章を書き直します。 — “I will rewrite the text.” しなくて済みます means “can avoid doing it” or “will not have to do it.” しなくて is the negative form of する (“to do”) in the -なくて form, and 済みます is the polite form of 済む (“to be settled; to manage without something”). The pattern V-なくて済む means “manage without doing V” or “not have to do V”; for example, 今日は出かけなくて済みます。 — “I won’t have to go out today.” Here, する refers to the rewriting named by 書き直し, not to an independently specified action. Together, 明確な指示があれば sets the condition: “if there is clear guidance.” 不要な書き直し identifies what can be avoided: “unnecessary rewriting.” しなくて済みます says that the speaker can manage without doing it. The complete meaning is: “Clear guidance can save unnecessary rewriting.” The polite ending ます makes the statement suitable for a polite, neutral explanation.