About This Lesson
Use Pack Light for a Business Trip to practice Japanese conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.
Dialogue
A
出張には機内持ち込みバッグだけを持って行きたいです。
shoo-CHOH nee-wah kee-NYE moch-ee-KOH-mee BAG-goo DAH-keh oh MOHT-teh ee-kee-TYE dess. I want to take only a carry-on bag for the business trip.
B
それなら、会議の服を中心にして、余分な物はできるだけ少なくしましょう。
soh-reh NAH-rah, KYE-ghee noh FOO-koo oh CHOO-sheen nee SHEE-teh, yoh-BOON nah moh-noh wah deh-kee-ROO DAH-keh soo-KOO-nah-koo shee-mah-SHOH. Then plan around the meeting outfit and keep extras to a minimum.
A
予定には会議が一つと、カジュアルな夕食が一つあります。
yoh-TAY nee-wah KYE-ghee gah ee-CHEE-tsoo toh, kah-zhoo-AH-roo nah YOO-shoh-koo gah ee-CHEE-tsoo ah-ree-MAHSS. I have one meeting and one casual dinner on the itinerary.
B
どちらにも使える服を入れましょう。
doh-chee-rah nee-moh tsoo-KEH-roo FOO-koo oh ee-reh-mah-SHOH. Pack pieces that can work for both.
B
そうしないと、バッグがすぐにいっぱいになります。
soh shee-NAI-toh, BAG-goo gah soo-GOO nee ee-PAI nee nah-ree-MAHSS. Or the bag will fill up fast.
A
会議の前にシャツにしわができないか心配です。
KYE-ghee noh MAH-eh nee SHAT-soo nee SHEE-wah gah deh-kee-NAI kah sheem-PAI dess. I'm worried my shirt will wrinkle before the meeting.
B
丁寧に丸めて、ホテルに着いたらすぐに出しましょう。
tee-neh-EE nee mah-roo-MEH-teh, hoh-teh-ROO nee TSOO-ee-tah-rah soo-GOO nee dah-shee-mah-SHOH. Roll it carefully, then unpack it as soon as you reach the hotel.
A
充電器と書類は前のポケットに入れたほうがいいですか。
JOO-den-kee toh shoh-ROO-ee wah MAH-eh noh poh-KEHT-toh nee ee-reh-tah hoh-gah EE-dess kah. Should chargers and documents go in the front pocket?
B
すぐに取り出したい物と、アジェンダの予備のコピーもそこに入れておきましょう。
soo-GOO nee toh-ree-DAH-shee-tai moh-noh toh, ah-JEN-dah noh yoh-BEE noh KOH-pee moh soh-koh nee ee-reh-teh oh-kee-mah-SHOH. Keep quick-access items there, along with a backup copy of the agenda.
A
そうすれば、空港でバッグ全体を開けなくても済みます。
soh soo-reh-bah, KOO-koh deh BAG-goo zen-TAI oh ah-keh-nah-koo-teh moh soo-MEE-mahSS. Then I won't have to open the whole bag at the airport.
B
それらをすぐ手元に置いておけば、保安検査が楽になります。
soh-reh-rah oh soo-GOO teh-MOH-toh nee oh-ee-teh oh-keh-bah, hoh-AHN ken-sah gah rah-KOO nee nah-ree-MAHSS. Security will be easier when those things are close at hand.Word by Word
出張
出張 means a business trip here and identifies the work-related purpose of the travel. It is used in 出張には to set the trip as the context for the sentence. A common reuse is to use it when talking about work travel and related plans.
に
In 出張には, に marks the business trip as the purpose or context, while は highlights that context. This combination helps frame what the speaker wants to take for the trip. The particle に commonly follows a noun when showing a destination, purpose, or relevant context.
は
In 出張には, は highlights the business-trip context and can give it a topic or contrastive focus. The に before it supplies the relationship to the trip. A common reuse pattern is to place は after the context that the speaker wants to emphasize.
機内持ち込み
機内持ち込み in 機内持ち込みバッグ means carry-on, or something allowed to be brought into the airplane cabin. 機内 refers to inside the cabin, and 持ち込み refers to bringing something in; together they specify the type of バッグ. This expression is commonly placed before a baggage noun to identify cabin baggage.
バッグ
バッグ means bag here, specifically the bag used for the business trip. It is the item limited in バッグだけを and the container that can become full in バッグがすぐにいっぱいになります. It is useful for describing luggage and other bags in travel situations.
だけ
In バッグだけを, だけ limits the choice to the bag alone and means only. In できるだけ少なく, it contributes to the expression as much as possible, so the whole phrase means as little as possible. After a noun, だけ commonly restricts the amount or choice to that noun.
を
In バッグだけを持って行きたいです, を marks バッグだけ as the object being taken along. It connects the object to the action that follows. A common reuse is to place を after the thing that a verb acts on.
持って
In 持って行きたい, 持って means carrying or taking something along and links that action to movement. Together, 持って行きたい means want to take something with oneself. The て-form commonly connects an action such as carrying with a following movement verb.
行きたい
行きたい expresses the desire to go, and in 持って行きたい it gives the whole phrase the meaning want to take something along. The form 行きたい is the part that expresses the speaker’s wish. A common reuse is to attach たい to a verb when stating what someone wants to do.
です
In 行きたいです, です gives the sentence a polite ending while the main meaning comes from 行きたい. It makes the speaker’s wish suitable for a polite conversation. It commonly follows a polite statement or description.
それ
In それなら, それ refers back to the situation just mentioned, namely taking only a carry-on bag. Together with なら, it creates the meaning if that is the case or then. It is commonly used to refer to something already known in the conversation.
なら
In それなら, なら frames the preceding situation as a condition and leads to the advice that follows. The whole expression means if that is the case or then, rather than simply meaning a standalone if. A common reuse is to place なら after a situation or topic when responding with a conclusion or suggestion.
会議
会議 means meeting here and refers to the work meeting planned during the trip. It appears in 会議の服, 会議が一つ, and 会議の前, where it identifies the relevant clothes, event, and time. It is commonly used with の to describe something connected with a meeting.
の
In 会議の服 and 会議の前, の links 会議 to the following noun and shows the relevant relationship: clothes for the meeting or the time before the meeting. It connects nouns without necessarily expressing possession. A common reuse is noun + の + noun when one noun modifies or specifies another.
服
服 means clothes or an outfit here, especially clothing suitable for the meeting and dinner. In 会議の服 and 使える服, it identifies the clothing that should be packed. It commonly follows a noun that describes the purpose or setting of the clothes.
中心
In 会議の服を中心にして, 中心 means the center or main focus, so the meeting clothes become the basis for the packing plan. The phrase treats those clothes as the starting point for deciding what else to bring. A common reuse pattern is to make one topic the focus with を中心にする.
して
In 会議の服を中心にして, して links the idea of making the meeting clothes the focus to the next instruction about limiting extras. It is the て-form of する in this expression. The て-form commonly connects one action or arrangement to another.
余分
余分 in 余分な物 means extra or unnecessary beyond what is needed for the trip. It describes items that should be kept to a minimum. It commonly appears before a noun when identifying something additional that may not be needed.
な
In 余分な物, な links 余分 to the noun 物 and allows it to describe the items as extra. The full phrase means extra items or unnecessary things. This linking form is commonly used between certain descriptive words and the noun they modify.
物
物 means thing or item here. In 余分な物 it refers to unnecessary packing items, while in すぐに取り出したい物 it refers to items the traveler wants to access quickly. It commonly follows a description to form a general expression for a thing or item.
できる
In できるだけ少なく, できる contributes the idea of possibility, and the whole expression means as little as possible. Here it is not describing an item being created; it helps set the maximum degree of reduction. A common reuse is できるだけ followed by a description of the desired degree.
少なく
In できるだけ少なく, 少なく means to a small amount or in a reduced way. Together with できるだけ, it expresses the goal of keeping extra items as few as possible. It is useful when describing a quantity that should be reduced.
しましょう
In 少なくしましょう, しましょう makes a polite suggestion to reduce the amount together. The whole phrase proposes keeping the extra items to a minimum. It commonly appears at the end of a suggestion about an action to take together.
予定
予定 means schedule or itinerary here and refers to the planned events during the trip. In 予定には, it introduces the schedule in which the meeting and dinner are included. It is commonly used when discussing planned events or arrangements.
が
In 会議が一つと、カジュアルな夕食が一つあります, が marks the meeting and dinner as the things included in the schedule. It works with あります to describe what exists or is planned. A common reuse is noun + が + あります when stating that an item or event exists.
と
After 一つ in 一つと、, と links the meeting and dinner as two listed items. In そうしないと, it instead contributes the meaning if not or otherwise and introduces the consequence. Its function depends on the exact surrounding expression.
カジュアル
カジュアル describes the dinner in カジュアルな夕食 as informal or relaxed rather than formal. It helps distinguish this event from the meeting when deciding which clothes can serve both purposes. It is commonly used to describe an informal style, event, or setting.
夕食
夕食 means dinner here and refers to the casual evening meal on the itinerary. In カジュアルな夕食, it is the event for which some meeting clothes may also be suitable. It is commonly used when discussing an evening meal or dinner plans.
あります
In 予定には会議が一つと、カジュアルな夕食が一つあります, あります states that the meeting and dinner are present on the schedule. It is the polite form used for describing the existence of these planned events. A common reuse is to state that an object, event, or plan exists.
どちら
In どちらにも使える服, どちら refers to either one of the two events, the meeting and the casual dinner. With も, the phrase means usable for both of them. It is commonly used when referring to one of two choices or alternatives.
も
In どちらにも使える服, も adds the meaning also or both to どちら, showing that the clothes work for either event. It broadens the usefulness from one option to both options in this context. It commonly follows a noun or expression to include it as well.
使える
In どちらにも使える服, 使える means can be used or is suitable for either event. The phrase shows that the same clothes can serve both the meeting and the casual dinner. A common reuse is to use 使える when describing something suitable for a purpose or situation.
入れましょう
In 服を入れましょう, 入れましょう politely suggests putting or packing the clothes into the bag together. The object being packed is identified by 服を. It commonly appears at the end of a suggestion about putting something somewhere.
そう
In そうしないと, そう refers to the proposed way of packing clothing that was just described. Together with しないと, it means otherwise or if you do not do so. It is commonly used to refer back to an action or method already mentioned.
しない
In そうしないと, しない is the negative form of する and means not do in the phrase if you do not do so. The whole expression introduces the result that the bag will fill quickly. A common pattern is a negative action followed by と to warn about an automatic consequence.
すぐに
すぐに means immediately or soon. In すぐにいっぱいになります it describes how quickly the bag becomes full, and in すぐに出しましょう it means unpack soon after arriving. It commonly appears before a verb to express quick timing.
いっぱい
In いっぱいになります, いっぱい means full or filled up, not simply a large amount. The whole phrase says that the bag changes into a full state. It is commonly used with なる when a container or space becomes full.
なります
In いっぱいになります, なります means becomes or gets and describes the change to a full state. It is the polite form used to say that the bag will become full. A common reuse is to use it after a condition or description when describing a change.
前
前 has two related uses in the dialogue: it means front in 前のポケット and before in 会議の前. The surrounding noun or phrase determines whether it refers to a location or an earlier time. It is commonly used for both front positions and time before an event.
シャツ
シャツ means shirt here, specifically the shirt that may wrinkle before the meeting. In シャツにしわができないか, it is the item in which the wrinkles may form. It is commonly used for a shirt or shirt-like garment.
しわ
しわ means a wrinkle here, referring to an unwanted crease in the shirt. In シャツにしわができないか, it is the thing that may form in the shirt. A common reuse is to describe wrinkles forming in clothing or another surface.
できない
In シャツにしわができないか, できない means do not form or appear, referring to wrinkles not forming in the shirt. Together with か and 心配です, the sentence expresses worry about whether wrinkles will appear. It can be reused with a subject marked by が when describing something that does not form or occur.
か
In しわができないか心配です, か marks the embedded uncertainty about whether wrinkles will form. It is not functioning as a simple question to the listener; it makes the uncertain possibility the object of 心配です. A common reuse is to place か after a clause when expressing uncertainty about that clause.
心配
心配 means worry or concern here. In できないか心配です, the speaker is concerned about whether the shirt will wrinkle before the meeting. It is commonly used when stating concern about a possible problem or outcome.
丁寧
In 丁寧に丸めて, 丁寧 means carefully or gently and describes how the shirt should be rolled. It emphasizes handling the clothing with care to reduce the risk of wrinkles. It commonly appears before に when describing a careful manner of doing something.
丸めて
丸めて means roll up and connects the rolling action to the instruction that follows. In 丁寧に丸めて, it tells the listener to roll the shirt carefully before unpacking it later. It commonly takes the item being rolled as its object.
ホテル
ホテル means hotel here and identifies the place where the traveler will unpack the clothes. In ホテルに着いたら, it is the destination reached before the next action. It is commonly used with に when naming a destination or arrival point.
着いたら
In ホテルに着いたら, 着いたら means when or once you arrive at the hotel. It sets arrival as the time for the following action, unpacking the clothes. A common reuse is to place a destination before に and use 着いたら to introduce what to do after arrival.
出しましょう
In 出しましょう, 出しましょう politely suggests taking something out; in this dialogue, it means unpacking the rolled shirt from the bag. The suggestion applies after reaching the hotel. It commonly appears when proposing that an item be removed from a container or place.
充電器
充電器 means charger here and is one of the items that may need to be reached quickly at the airport. It is mentioned together with documents in the question about the front pocket. It is commonly used for a device or accessory used for charging.
書類
書類 means documents or papers here, specifically travel or business papers that may be needed during the trip. Like 充電器, it is considered an item worth keeping in the front pocket. It is commonly used for papers handled for work or official purposes.
ポケット
ポケット means pocket here and appears in 前のポケット, the front pocket of the bag. This identifies the convenient storage location for chargers and documents. It commonly follows a noun with の when the location is further specified.
入れたほうがいい
入れたほうがいい means it is better to put something in or should put something in; here it recommends putting the chargers and documents in the front pocket. In this construction, 入れた presents the action of putting in, ほう presents that action as the preferred option, が marks the preferred option, and いい evaluates it as good or advisable. The pattern 入れたほうがいい is commonly used to give practical advice.
取り出したい
取り出したい means want to take out or access, as in すぐに取り出したい物, items the traveler wants to reach quickly. The form expresses the person’s desire to remove the items from their storage place. It is commonly used when explaining which objects someone wants to access.
アジェンダ
アジェンダ means agenda here and refers to the meeting plan or list of topics. In アジェンダの予備のコピー, it is the document for which a backup copy is kept. It is commonly used when discussing a meeting’s planned topics or schedule.
予備
予備 means backup or spare here. In 予備のコピー, it identifies a copy kept in case the main copy is unavailable or needed separately. It commonly appears before a noun to describe something prepared as an extra.
コピー
コピー means copy here, specifically a duplicate of the agenda. In アジェンダの予備のコピー, it is the spare paper version kept for quick access. It is commonly used for duplicated documents or printed materials.
そこ
In そこに入れておきましょう, そこ means there and refers back to the front pocket mentioned in the previous question. It identifies the place where the quick-access items and backup agenda copy should be kept. It is commonly used to refer to a place already established in the conversation.
入れておきましょう
入れておきましょう means let’s put something in and leave it there ready for later use. In this construction, 入れて describes putting the items in, and おきましょう adds the idea of doing it in advance and keeping the result. The full expression is useful when preparing something before it is needed.
すれば
In そうすれば, すれば contributes the conditional meaning if you do so or if that is done. It connects the previous packing arrangement to the benefit of not opening the whole bag at the airport. It is commonly used after a referred-to action when stating its result.
全体
全体 means the whole or entire amount here. In バッグ全体を, it emphasizes that the speaker can avoid opening the entire bag rather than just one section. It commonly follows a noun to refer to all of that thing as one whole.
開けなくても済みます
開けなくても済みます means can manage without opening or will not need to open. In this construction, 開けなくても says even without opening, while 済みます says that the situation can be handled without that action. The pattern 開けなくても済みます is useful when explaining that an unwanted or unnecessary action can be avoided.
それら
それら means those things and refers back to the chargers, documents, quick-access items, and backup agenda copy. In それらを, it marks that group as the items being kept close at hand. It is commonly used for several previously mentioned objects.
すぐ
In すぐ手元に, すぐ means right nearby or immediately within reach rather than soon in time. It strengthens 手元 by showing that the items are kept very close. It commonly combines with a location expression when something needs to be immediately accessible.
手元
手元 means at hand or within the person’s immediate reach. In すぐ手元に置いておけば, it describes keeping the items close enough to access quickly during security inspection. A common reuse is 手元に置く when keeping something nearby.
置いて
In 手元に置いておけば, 置いて means put or keep in a place and links that action to the following conditional expression. The location 手元に shows where the items should be kept. It commonly takes a location marked by に when describing where something is placed.
おけば
In 置いておけば, おけば adds the idea of leaving or keeping the items in place, and the conditional form means if you keep them there. The whole phrase describes preparation that will make the later security check easier. It is commonly used after a て-form when a prior arrangement leads to a benefit.
保安検査
保安検査 means security inspection here, specifically the airport security check. It is the process that becomes easier when chargers and documents are kept close at hand. It is commonly used when discussing airport security procedures.
楽に
In 楽になります, 楽に means more easily or with less trouble, not simply enjoyably. The full phrase says that the security inspection will become easier because the needed items are accessible. It is commonly used with なる when a task or situation becomes less difficult.
Grammar Points
できるだけ + 動詞
できるだけ持って行きたいです。
deh-kee-ROO DAH-keh MOHT-teh ee-kee-TYE dess.I want to take it with me as much as possible.
できるだけは「as much as possible」を表し、後ろの動作の程度を強めます。
動詞ます形の語幹 + たいです
持って行きたいです。
MOHT-teh ee-kee-TYE dess.I want to take it with me.
たいですは動詞に付き、話し手の希望や「want to do」を表します。
Japanese Vocabulary
いっぱいになります
phrase
ee-PAI nee nah-ree-MAHSS
will become full
バッグがすぐにいっぱいになります
カジュアルな
adj
kah-zhoo-AH-roo nah
casual
カジュアルな夕食
しわ
noun
SHEE-wah
wrinkle
シャツにしわができる
できるだけ
adv
deh-kee-ROO DAH-keh
as much as possible
できるだけ少なくする
会議
noun
KYE-ghee
meeting
会議の服
機内持ち込みバッグ
noun
kee-NYE moch-ee-KOH-mee BAG-goo
carry-on bag
機内持ち込みバッグだけを持って行く
使える
verb
tsoo-KEH-roo
can use; usable
どちらにも使える服
持って行きたいです
phrase
MOHT-teh ee-kee-TYE dess
want to take
バッグだけを持って行きたいです
出張
noun
shoo-CHOH
business trip
出張に行く
夕食
noun
YOO-shoh-koo
dinner
カジュアルな夕食
予定
noun
yoh-TAY
schedule; itinerary
予定には会議が一つある
余分な
adj
yoh-BOON nah
extra; unnecessary
余分な物
Quiz
Spelling
Tap the letters to spell the word.
casual
Show Answer
カジュアルなas much as possible
Show Answer
できるだけwant to take
Show Answer
持って行きたいですcarry-on bag