About This Lesson
Use Rescheduling a Meeting Because of Icy Roads to practice Japanese conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.
Dialogue
A
今朝は道路が凍っていて、視界が悪いです。
keh-SAH wah doh-ROH gah koht-teh-ee-teh, shee-KAI gah wah-ROO-ee dess. The roads are icy, and visibility is poor this morning.
B
会議に車で行くのは危険そうです。
KAI-gee nee koo-roo-MAH deh ee-KOO no wah kee-KEN soh dess. Driving to the meeting sounds risky.
A
予定を変更したくはありませんが、安全を最優先にすべきです。
yoh-TEH o hen-KOH shee-TAH-koo wah ah-ree-MAH-sen gah, ahn-ZEN o sai-YOO-sen nee soo-BEH-kee dess. I hate to reschedule, but safety should come first.
B
今すぐ相手にメッセージを送って、道路状況をはっきり説明してください。
ee-mah SOO-goo AI-teh nee mehs-SEH-jee o oh-KOOT-teh, doh-ROH JOH-KYOH o hahk-KEE-ree seht-soo-MEH shee-teh koo-dah-SAI. Message them now and explain the road conditions clearly.
A
完全に中止する代わりに、オンラインで会うことを提案したほうがいいですか。
kahn-ZEN-nee CHOO-shee soo-roo kah-wah-ree nee, ohn-RAI-N deh ah-OO koh-toh o teh-ee-AHN shee-TAH hoh-gah ee dess kah. Should I suggest meeting online instead of canceling completely?
B
それなら、誰も移動せずに仕事を進められます。
soh-reh-NAH-rah, dah-reh-MOH ee-DOH seh-zoo-nee shee-GOH-toh o soo-soo-MEH-rah-reh-MAHSS. That would keep the work moving without anyone traveling.
A
相手がビデオで参加できるか、聞いてみます。
AI-teh gah BEE-deh-oh deh sahng-KAH deh-kee-roo kah, kee-EE-teh mee-MAHSS. I can ask whether joining by video would work for them.
B
道路がもっと安全になったら、直接会うことも提案してください。
doh-ROH gah MOHT-toh ahn-ZEN nee nahn-TAH-rah, choh-koo-SEHT-soo ah-OO koh-toh moh teh-ee-AHN shee-teh koo-dah-SAI. Offer to meet in person once the roads are safer, too.
A
相手が待つほうがいいと思うなら、私は明日でも大丈夫です。
AI-teh gah MAHT-soo hoh gah ee toh oh-MOH-oo nah-rah, wah-TAH-shee wah ah-SHEE-tah deh-moh dai-JOH-boo dess. If they would rather wait, tomorrow also works for me.
B
明確な選択肢があれば、変更を受け入れやすくなるはずです。
meh-ee-KAH-koo nah seh-TAH-koo-shee gah ah-reh-bah, hen-KOH o oo-KEH-ee-reh yah-soo-koo nah-roo hah-zoo dess. Clear options should make the change easier to accept.Word by Word
今朝
「今朝」 identifies the time as this morning. Here it sets the time for the road and visibility report, and it can be used to specify when a current condition is being described.
は
「は」 marks 「今朝」 as the topic, so the sentence is about this morning. It is useful when setting a time, person, or situation as the topic of a statement.
道路
「道路」 means roads or the roadway, the surface being discussed in this weather report. Here it is connected with freezing conditions, and it is useful when talking about traffic or travel conditions.
が
「が」 marks 「道路」 as the subject of the condition 「凍っていて」. It identifies what is frozen, and it commonly marks the thing being described in a condition statement.
凍っていて
「凍っていて」 says that the roads are frozen and connects that condition to the poor visibility statement. Its citation form is 凍る; this form presents the frozen state as background for the next observation. It is useful when linking one current condition to another.
視界
「視界」 means visibility or the visible field. In 「視界が悪いです」, it identifies what is poor, and this expression is useful when reporting that it is difficult to see.
悪い
「悪い」 describes the visibility as poor in 「視界が悪いです」. It is useful for describing an unfavorable condition, such as visibility that is not good.
です
「です」 gives the statement a polite ending in 「悪いです」. Here it presents the current condition politely, which is suitable when explaining a problem to another adult.
会議
「会議」 means meeting. In 「会議に車で行く」, it identifies the meeting as the destination or purpose of going, and it is useful when discussing attendance at a meeting.
に
「に」 connects 「会議」 with the action of going in 「会議に車で行く」. Here it marks the destination or purpose, and it is useful for showing where or what someone is going to.
車
「車」 means car. In 「車で行く」, it identifies the vehicle used to travel to the meeting, and it is useful when explaining how someone will travel.
で
「で」 shows the means of travel in 「車で行く」, meaning by car. It is useful for identifying the vehicle or method used to carry out an action.
行く
「行く」 means go, here referring to going to the meeting by car. Its citation form is 行く; the pattern 「車で行く」 is useful when describing travel to a destination.
の
「の」 turns 「車で行く」 into the action being evaluated in 「車で行くのは危険そうです」. It makes going by car the topic of the judgment, and this pattern is useful when saying that an action seems safe, risky, or appropriate.
危険そう
「危険そう」 presents the action as seeming risky or dangerous based on the road conditions. It describes an impression in 「車で行くのは危険そうです」, and it is useful when assessing a possible action.
予定
「予定」 means the planned schedule or arrangement. In 「予定を変更したくはありません」, it is the plan that the speaker does not want to change, and it is useful when discussing scheduled events.
を
「を」 marks 「予定」 as the thing affected by 「変更したくはありません」. Here it identifies the object of changing, and it commonly marks what an action directly affects.
変更したく
「変更したく」 expresses wanting to change, but in 「変更したくはありません」 the speaker says they do not want to change the schedule. Its base verb is 変更する, and this form appears before はありません in a polite negative expression. It is useful for politely expressing reluctance to make a change.
ありません
「ありません」 completes the polite negative expression 「変更したくはありません」, meaning the speaker does not want to change the plan. It is useful for politely denying or negating a stated condition or wish.
安全
「安全」 means safety or being safe. In 「安全を最優先にすべきです」, safety is the concern that must receive the highest priority, and it is useful when making decisions in a risky situation.
最優先
「最優先」 means the highest priority. In 「安全を最優先にすべきです」, it presents safety as the first consideration, and it is useful when ranking one concern above others.
すべき
「すべき」 expresses what should or ought to be done. Here it says that making safety the highest priority is the appropriate action, and it is useful for giving firm advice about a decision.
今
「今」 refers to the present time. Together with 「すぐ」 in 「今すぐ相手にメッセージを送って」, it emphasizes that the action should happen immediately. It is useful when focusing on the current moment.
すぐ
「すぐ」 means immediately or without delay. In 「今すぐ」, it strengthens the request to send the message at once, and it is useful when an action needs to happen promptly.
相手
「相手」 means the other person or party involved, here the person receiving the message. In 「相手にメッセージを送って」, it identifies the recipient, and it is useful when referring to the other side of an interaction.
メッセージ
「メッセージ」 means a message. In 「メッセージを送って」, it is the communication being sent to the other party, and it is useful when discussing written communication.
送って
「送って」 means send and connects the sending action to the following explanation request. Its citation form is 送る; here the form helps link the requested steps in 「メッセージを送って、道路状況をはっきり説明してください」. It is useful when asking someone to carry out related actions in sequence.
状況
「状況」 means situation or conditions. In 「道路状況」, it refers specifically to the road conditions that should be explained, and it is useful when reporting the current state of circumstances.
はっきり
「はっきり」 means clearly. In 「はっきり説明してください」, it describes how the road conditions should be explained, and it is useful when asking for information to be understandable and unambiguous.
説明して
「説明して」 means explain and forms part of the polite request 「説明してください」. Its citation form is 説明する; here it asks for a clear explanation of the road conditions. It is useful when requesting that someone clarify information.
ください
「ください」 makes 「説明してください」 a polite request meaning please explain. It is useful after an action expression when asking another person to do something respectfully.
完全
「完全」 means complete or entire. In 「完全に中止する」, it emphasizes canceling the meeting completely rather than changing it to another format, and it is useful when describing the extent of an action.
中止する
「中止する」 means to cancel or discontinue an event or plan. Here it refers to canceling the meeting completely, and it is useful when an arranged activity will not take place.
代わり
「代わり」 means instead or in place of something. In 「中止する代わりに」, it introduces the online meeting as an alternative to completely canceling, and it is useful when replacing one action with another.
オンライン
「オンライン」 means online, referring here to the format of the meeting. In 「オンラインで会う」, it identifies meeting through an online connection, and it is useful when proposing a remote alternative.
会う
「会う」 means meet, here in the online meeting option 「オンラインで会う」. Its citation form is 会う; the expression is useful when proposing that people meet despite not meeting in person.
こと
「こと」 nominalizes the action 「会う」 in 「会うことを提案したほうがいいですか」. It turns meeting online into something that can be proposed, and this pattern is useful when discussing or evaluating an action as an option.
提案した
「提案した」 is the past-form component in 「提案したほうがいいですか」, which asks whether it would be better to suggest something. Its citation form is 提案する; here it does not report that the suggestion has already happened. This construction is useful when asking which action is preferable.
ほう
「ほう」 means the preferable option or side in 「提案したほうがいいですか」. Together with the preceding action and 「いい」, it forms a recommendation question, and it is useful when comparing possible actions.
いい
「いい」 means good or preferable in 「提案したほうがいいですか」. As part of that construction, it asks whether suggesting the online meeting is the better choice, and it is useful when seeking advice about an action.
か
「か」 marks the sentence as a question in 「提案したほうがいいですか」. It is useful when asking politely whether an action is advisable.
それ
「それ」 refers to the online meeting proposal just mentioned. In 「それなら」, it makes that proposal the basis for the next response, and it is useful when referring back to a previously stated option.
なら
「なら」 means if that is the case or in that situation. In 「それなら」, it introduces the consequences of choosing the online option, and it is useful when responding to a suggestion or condition.
誰
「誰」 refers to a person or people. In 「誰も移動せずに」, it combines with 「も」 and the no-travel expression to mean without anyone traveling. It is useful when identifying people in a statement about who is or is not involved.
も
「も」 contributes the meaning of any or all in 「誰も移動せずに」. With 「誰」 and the absence expressed by 「移動せずに」, the phrase means that no one travels. This pattern is useful when emphasizing that not a single person does an action.
移動せずに
「移動せずに」 means without traveling or moving. Its citation form is 移動する; the form connects the absence of travel to the ability to continue the work. It is useful for explaining that one action happens without doing another.
仕事
「仕事」 means work. In 「仕事を進められます」, it is the task that can continue even when nobody travels, and it is useful when discussing ongoing tasks or responsibilities.
進められます
「進められます」 means can move the work forward or can continue the work. Its base verb is 進める; here the polite potential form presents continuing the work as possible under the online arrangement. It is useful when explaining that a task can proceed despite a limitation.
ビデオ
「ビデオ」 means video, here referring to joining through a video connection. In 「ビデオで参加できる」, it identifies the method of participation, and it is useful when discussing remote attendance.
参加できる
「参加できる」 means can participate or join. Its base verb is 参加する; in 「ビデオで参加できるか」, it asks whether the other party is able to join by video. It is useful when checking someone’s ability to attend an event.
聞いてみます
「聞いてみます」 means I will try asking or I will check by asking. Its citation form is 聞く; here the form presents asking about video participation as a practical attempt to confirm the option. It is useful when offering to check information with another person.
もっと
「もっと」 means more. In 「もっと安全になったら」, it indicates a greater degree of safety than the current condition, and it is useful when describing a condition that must improve further.
なったら
「なったら」 means when or once something becomes a certain state. Its citation form is なる; in 「道路がもっと安全になったら」, it sets safer roads as the condition for meeting in person. It is useful for linking a future action to a condition being reached.
直接
「直接」 means directly or in person. In 「直接会う」, it contrasts with the proposed online meeting and refers to meeting face to face, and it is useful when specifying that contact will not be remote.
提案して
「提案して」 means suggest or offer and forms part of the request 「提案してください」. Its citation form is 提案する; here it asks the listener to offer an in-person meeting as another option. It is useful when requesting that someone propose a plan.
待つ
「待つ」 means wait. In 「待つほうがいい」, it is the alternative action being considered as preferable, and it is useful when discussing whether delaying an action is better.
と
「と」 marks the content of the thought in 「待つほうがいいと思う」. It connects the opinion that waiting is preferable to 「思う」, and it is useful when expressing or reporting what someone thinks.
思う
「思う」 means think or believe. In 「待つほうがいいと思う」, it presents waiting as the other party’s opinion, and it is useful when describing someone’s judgment or preference.
私
「私」 means I or me and identifies the speaker in 「私は明日でも大丈夫です」. Here it shows whose schedule can accommodate tomorrow, and it is useful when clarifying the person for whom an arrangement is acceptable.
明日
「明日」 means tomorrow. In 「明日でも大丈夫です」, it offers tomorrow as an acceptable alternative meeting time, and it is useful when proposing a date after the current one.
大丈夫
「大丈夫」 means okay or acceptable. In 「明日でも大丈夫」, it says that tomorrow works for the speaker, and it is useful when confirming that a proposed time or arrangement causes no problem.
明確
「明確」 means clear or definite. In 「明確な選択肢」, it describes options that are easy to understand, and it is useful when presenting alternatives without ambiguity.
な
「な」 links the descriptive word 「明確」 to the noun 「選択肢」 in 「明確な選択肢」. It is useful for connecting this kind of description to the noun it modifies.
選択肢
「選択肢」 means an option or choice. In 「明確な選択肢があれば」, it refers to the alternatives offered for handling the meeting, and it is useful when presenting more than one possible plan.
あれば
「あれば」 means if there is or if there are. Its citation form is ある; in 「選択肢があれば」, it makes the existence of clear options the condition for accepting the change more easily. It is useful when describing what happens if something is available.
変更
「変更」 means a change, here the change to the meeting arrangement. In 「変更を受け入れやすく」, it is the thing that becomes easier for people to accept, and it is useful when discussing adjustments to a plan.
受け入れやすく
「受け入れやすく」 means easy to accept and connects that idea to 「なる」. Its base expression is 受け入れやすい; this form explains that clear options make accepting the change easier. It is useful when describing an action or decision that becomes easier for people to accept.
なる
「なる」 means become or come to be. In 「受け入れやすくなるはずです」, it shows that the change reaches an easier-to-accept state, and it is useful when describing a change in condition.
はず
「はず」 expresses an expectation that something should or is expected to be true. In 「受け入れやすくなるはずです」, it presents easier acceptance as the expected result of clear options, and it is useful when making a reasoned prediction.
Grammar Points
〜ずに
移動せずに、オンラインで参加できます。
ee-DOH seh-zoo-nee, ohn-RAI-N deh sahng-KAH deh-kee-MAHSS.You can participate online without traveling.
〜ずに means “without doing.” It connects to the verb stem and expresses that an action is not performed.
〜ていて
道路が凍っていて、視界が悪いです。
doh-ROH gah koht-teh-ee-teh, shee-KAI gah wah-ROO-ee dess.The road is frozen, and visibility is poor.
〜ていて links a state or situation to a result or related condition.
Japanese Vocabulary
悪い
adj
wah-ROO-ee
poor; bad
安全
noun
ahn-ZEN
safety; safe
会議
noun
KAI-gee
meeting
危険
adj
kee-KEN
dangerous; risky
今朝
adv
keh-SAH
this morning
最優先
noun
sai-YOO-sen
top priority
視界
noun
shee-KAI
visibility
車で行く
phrase
koo-roo-MAH deh ee-KOO
drive; go by car
凍る
verb
koh-ROO
freeze
凍っていて
道路
noun
doh-ROH
road
変更する
verb
hen-KOH soo-roo
change; reschedule
変更したく
予定
noun
yoh-TEH
schedule; plan
Quiz
Spelling
Tap the letters to spell the word.
drive; go by car
Show Answer
車で行くfreeze
Show Answer
凍っていてchange; reschedule
Show Answer
変更したくvisibility