About This Lesson
Use Building a Realistic Healthy Routine to practice Japanese conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.
Dialogue
A
もっと健康的な生活習慣を作りたいのですが、いつも1週間でやめてしまいます。
MOHT-toh ken-koh-TEH-kee-nah SAY-kah-tsu SHOO-kahn oh tsoo-koo-ree-TAI noh dess-GAH, ee-TSOO-moh ees-SHOO-kahn deh yah-meh-teh shee-MAI-mahss. I want a healthier routine, but I always quit after a week.
B
一度に変えようとしすぎているのかもしれません。
ee-CHEE-doh nee kah-eh-YOH toh shee-soo-GEE-teh-ee-roo noh kah-moh shee-reh-MAH-sen. Maybe you are trying to change too much at once.
A
私はいつも、運動と料理と早寝を同時に計画します。
wah-TAH-shee wah ee-TSOO-moh, oon-DOH toh RYOH-ree toh hah-yah-NEH oh DOH-jee nee KAY-kah-koo shee-MAHSS. I usually plan exercise, cooking, and earlier sleep all at the same time.
B
まず一つの習慣を選んで、何が邪魔になるか考えてみてください。
MAH-zoo hee-TOH-tsoo noh SHOO-kahn oh eh-RAHN-deh, NAH-nee gah JAH-mah nee nah-ROO kah kahn-GAH-eh-teh MEE-teh koo-DAH-sai. Pick one habit first and look at what gets in the way.
A
一番の問題は、仕事の後はあまり元気がないことです。
ee-CHEE-bahn noh mohn-DAI wah, shee-GOH-toh noh AH-toh wah ah-MAH-ree GEN-kee gah NAI koh-toh dess. The main problem is that I have low energy after work.
B
それなら、夕食の前に短い散歩から始めてみてください。
soh-reh-NAH-rah, YOO-shoh-koo noh MAH-eh nee mee-jee-KAI SAHN-poh kah-rah hah-jee-MEH-teh MEE-teh koo-DAH-sai. Then start with a short walk before dinner.
A
それなら現実的で、あまり大変ではなさそうです。
soh-reh-NAH-rah gen-jee-tsoo-TEH-kee deh, ah-MAH-ree tie-HEN deh wah nah-sah-SOH dess. That feels realistic and not too demanding.
B
散歩が自然にできるようになったら、後でバランスのよい食事を加えてもいいです。
SAHN-poh gah shee-ZEN nee deh-KEE-roo YOO nee naht-TAH-rah, AH-toh deh bah-RAHN-soo noh YOH-ee SHOH-koo-jee oh koo-wah-EH-teh moh EE dess. You can add balanced meals later, once walking feels natural.
A
毎日やろうとするより、週に3回記録するほうがよさそうです。
MYE-nee-chee yah-ROH toh soo-roo YOH-ree, SHOO nee SAHN-kai kee-ROH-koo soo-roo HOH gah yoh-sah-SOH dess. Tracking it three times a week sounds better than trying every day.
B
柔軟な目標のほうが、長く続けやすいです。
JOO-nahn nah moh-koo-HYOH noh HOH gah, nah-GAH-koo tsoo-zoo-keh-YAH-soo dess. Flexible goals are easier to keep over time.Word by Word
もっと
「もっと」 means “more” here, making the desired routine healthier than it is now. It commonly comes before an adjective or adverb when expressing an increased degree.
健康的
「健康的」 describes something as healthy; here it describes the desired lifestyle routine. In 「健康的な生活習慣」, it comes before a noun with 「な」.
な
In 「健康的な生活習慣」, 「な」 links the describing word 「健康的」 to the noun 「生活習慣」. This is the linking form used when this type of description comes before a noun.
生活習慣
「生活習慣」 means a lifestyle routine or set of daily habits. In 「生活習慣を作りたい」, it is the thing the speaker wants to create.
を
In 「生活習慣を作りたい」, 「を」 marks 「生活習慣」 as the object of creating. It commonly follows the thing that an action directly affects.
作り
「作り」 carries the meaning of making or building in 「作りたい」. It is followed by 「たい」 to express the speaker’s desire to make a healthier routine.
たい
In 「作りたい」, 「たい」 expresses the speaker’s desire to make or build something. It follows the verb form 「作り」 and is useful for stating what the speaker wants to do.
の
In 「作りたいのですが」, 「の」 turns the preceding desire into an explanatory statement before the polite ending and soft contrast. This form is useful when presenting a situation gently before adding a difficulty or contrast.
です
In 「作りたいのですが」, 「です」 makes the explanatory statement polite. It appears before 「が」, which connects the speaker’s wish with the problem that follows.
が
In 「作りたいのですが」, 「が」 connects the wish with the contrasting problem that the speaker always quits. Here it works as a soft “but,” rather than marking the subject.
いつも
「いつも」 means “always” and shows that quitting happens repeatedly for the speaker. It commonly comes before the verb describing the repeated action, as in 「いつもやめてしまいます」.
週間
In 「1週間で」, 「週間」 refers to a period measured in weeks, here one week. The number before it specifies the length of the period.
で
In 「1週間でやめてしまいます」, 「で」 marks the time limit within which the quitting happens. It can mark the period needed for an action or the point by which something occurs.
やめ
「やめ」 means quit or stop in 「やめてしまいます」. It links to 「しまいます」 and describes the speaker stopping the routine.
て
In 「やめてしまいます」, 「て」 connects 「やめ」 with the auxiliary 「しまいます」. This connection lets the sentence describe the quitting as an outcome with an unwanted or regrettable feeling.
しまい
In 「やめてしまいます」, 「しまい」 shows that the speaker ends up quitting, with an unwanted-result nuance. It follows the connecting form 「やめて」 and is often used when an action has an unfortunate consequence.
ます
In 「やめてしまいます」, 「ます」 gives the verb phrase a polite ending. It makes the speaker’s statement about the repeated habit suitable for a polite conversation.
一度
In 「一度に変えよう」, 「一度」 means one time or one occasion. Together with 「に」, it describes trying to change everything at once.
変え
「変え」 carries the meaning of changing something in 「変えようとしすぎている」. It is the action being attempted excessively in this sentence.
よう
In 「変えようとする」, 「よう」 is the volitional form expressing an intention or attempt to change. With 「とする」, it describes trying to carry out that intended action.
と
In 「変えようとしすぎている」, 「と」 marks the intended action before the verb expressing an attempt. The full connection 「変えようとする」 means to try to change.
し
In 「しすぎている」, 「し」 is the form of doing used before 「すぎ」. It identifies changing too much as the action that has become excessive.
すぎ
In 「しすぎている」, 「すぎ」 adds the meaning “too much” or “excessively” to the action of trying to change. It is useful after an action when the amount or degree has gone beyond what is appropriate.
いる
In 「しすぎている」, 「いる」 shows that the excessive attempt is an ongoing state. The sentence therefore describes what the person has been doing, not just a single completed action.
かもしれません
「かもしれません」 means “might” or “may” and makes the explanation uncertain but polite. Here it presents trying to change too much as a possible reason rather than a definite judgment.
私
「私」 means “I” or “me”; here it identifies the speaker. In 「私は」, it introduces the speaker as the topic of the statement.
は
In 「私は」, 「は」 marks 「私」 as the topic. It tells the listener that the following information concerns the speaker.
運動
「運動」 means exercise in this dialogue. In 「運動と料理と早寝」, it is one of the activities the speaker plans.
料理
「料理」 means cooking here. It is listed with 「運動」 and 「早寝」 as another planned health-related activity.
早寝
「早寝」 means going to bed early. In 「運動と料理と早寝」, it names one of the habits the speaker plans to do together with the other activities.
同時
In 「同時に計画します」, 「同時」 means at the same time. The following 「に」 makes it describe when the planning of the activities takes place.
計画
「計画」 means a plan or planning; in 「計画します」, it names the action of planning. It is used with 「します」 to express making a plan.
まず
「まず」 means “first” and puts the next action at the beginning of the recommended sequence. Here it tells the listener to choose one habit before considering the rest.
一つ
「一つ」 means one item or one thing. In 「一つの習慣」, it specifies that the speaker should choose a single habit.
習慣
「習慣」 means a habit or routine. In 「一つの習慣を選んで」, it is the thing to be selected first.
選ん
「選ん」 carries the meaning of choosing in 「選んで」. The connecting form lets this action lead into the next instruction, looking at what causes difficulty.
何
In 「何が邪魔になるか」, 「何」 means “what” and asks which factor gets in the way. It introduces the unknown obstacle being considered.
邪魔
In 「邪魔になる」, 「邪魔」 means an obstacle or interference. The expression describes something that prevents the planned habit from going smoothly.
なる
In 「邪魔になる」, 「なる」 means “become,” but the whole expression means “get in the way” or “become an obstacle.” This pattern is used to identify a factor that interferes with an action.
か
In 「何が邪魔になるか」, 「か」 marks the embedded question about what gets in the way. The question is included inside the larger request to think about it.
考え
「考え」 carries the meaning of thinking about or considering something in 「考えてみてください」. It introduces the action the listener is being asked to try.
み
In 「考えてみてください」, 「み」 adds the meaning “try doing” to 「考えて」. This form is useful when politely encouraging someone to try an action.
ください
In 「考えてみてください」, 「ください」 makes the request polite: “please try thinking about it.” It follows the connecting form of the requested verb.
一番
In 「一番の問題」, 「一番」 means the main or most important one. It identifies low energy after work as the speaker’s primary problem.
問題
「問題」 means problem or difficulty. In 「一番の問題」, it names the main difficulty that affects the speaker’s routine.
仕事
「仕事」 means work or one’s job. In 「仕事の後」, it identifies the event after which the speaker has low energy.
後
In 「仕事の後」, 「後」 means after or following. It places the lack of energy after the work period.
あまり
In 「あまり元気がない」, 「あまり」 means “not very” or “not much” when used with the negative 「ない」. It softens the statement to mean that the speaker does not have much energy.
元気
In 「元気がない」, 「元気」 refers to energy or feeling well. With 「ない」, the phrase says that the speaker is not energetic after work.
ない
In 「元気がない」, 「ない」 expresses the absence of energy or being well. It makes 「元気」 negative in this context.
こと
In 「元気がないことです」, 「こと」 turns the preceding situation into a matter or fact: the fact that the speaker lacks energy. This nominalized clause serves as the content identified as the problem.
それなら
「それなら」 means “then” or “in that case,” responding to the information just given. Here it introduces advice based on the speaker’s low energy after work.
夕食
「夕食」 means dinner or the evening meal. In 「夕食の前」, it provides the event used to set the time for the walk.
前
In 「夕食の前に」, 「前」 means before. It places the short walk before dinner and is useful for expressing the order of two events.
短い
「短い」 means short and directly describes the length of the walk in 「短い散歩」. It helps make the suggested activity sound limited and manageable.
散歩
「散歩」 means a walk or stroll. In 「短い散歩から始めてみてください」, it is the habit recommended as the starting point.
から
In 「散歩から始めてみてください」, 「から」 means starting with the walk. It identifies the first activity from which the new routine should begin.
始め
「始め」 carries the meaning of starting in 「始めてみてください」. It is followed by 「みてください」 to politely encourage trying to start with the walk.
現実的
「現実的」 means realistic or practical. In 「現実的で、あまり大変ではなさそうです」, it describes the suggested walk as achievable for the speaker.
大変
In 「大変ではなさそうです」, 「大変」 means demanding or difficult. The surrounding expression says that the suggested habit does not seem too demanding.
なさそう
In 「大変ではなさそうです」, 「なさそう」 means “does not seem to be.” It expresses an appearance or judgment that the activity is not too demanding.
自然
In 「自然にできるようになったら」, 「自然」 means natural or comfortably familiar in practice. It describes walking becoming something that can be done without feeling forced.
できる
In 「自然にできるようになったら」, 「できる」 means can do or be able to do. It refers to being able to walk naturally as part of the routine.
なっ
In 「できるようになったら」, 「なっ」 is the form of becoming used before 「たら」. It marks reaching the state in which walking feels natural and manageable.
たら
In 「なったら」, 「たら」 means “when” or “once.” It sets the condition that walking has become natural before the speaker adds balanced meals.
バランス
In 「バランスのよい食事」, 「バランス」 means balance. It describes the meal as having a balanced composition or quality.
よい
In 「バランスのよい食事」, 「よい」 means good or appropriate and describes the balance of the meal. It links the idea of good balance to 「食事」.
食事
「食事」 means a meal or eating. In 「バランスのよい食事を加えてもいい」, it is the additional health habit that may be added later.
加え
「加え」 carries the meaning of adding in 「加えてもいい」. It refers to introducing balanced meals after walking has become natural.
も
In 「加えてもいい」, 「も」 is part of the expression that presents the added action as acceptable. The full expression 「加えてもいい」 means that adding it is permitted or okay.
いい
In 「加えてもいい」, 「いい」 means acceptable or okay. Together with 「ても」, it gives permission to add balanced meals later.
毎日
「毎日」 means every day. In 「毎日やろうとする」, it describes the frequency of the attempted activity.
やろう
In 「毎日やろうとする」, 「やろう」 expresses the intention or attempt to do something. With 「とする」, the full expression means trying to do it every day.
する
In 「やろうとする」, 「する」 completes the expression for attempting an intended action. The full phrase describes trying to carry out the daily activity.
より
In 「毎日やろうとするより」, 「より」 marks the first option as the standard of comparison, meaning “rather than trying every day.” It is used with 「ほうが」 to compare two choices.
週
In 「週に3回」, 「週」 means week. Together with 「に」 and 「3回」, it sets the weekly frequency of recording.
回
In 「週に3回」, 「回」 counts the number of times an action happens. Here it says that the action is done three times per week.
記録
「記録」 means recording or tracking. In 「記録する」, it names the action of keeping track of the habit.
ほう
In 「記録するほうがよさそうです」, 「ほう」 identifies the compared option or side. It makes the recording option the one being judged better.
よさそう
In 「ほうがよさそうです」, 「よさそう」 means “seems better” or “looks like a better choice.” It expresses the speaker’s evaluation with some tentativeness.
柔軟
「柔軟」 means flexible. In 「柔軟な目標」, it describes goals that can accommodate a realistic routine over time.
目標
「目標」 means a goal or target. In 「柔軟な目標」, it refers to the health goals that are easier to maintain.
長く
In 「長く続けやすい」, 「長く」 means for a long time and describes the duration of continuing. It modifies the following idea of keeping the goal.
続け
「続け」 carries the meaning of continuing in 「続けやすい」. It is followed by 「やすい」 to describe something that is easy to keep doing.
やすい
In 「続けやすい」, 「やすい」 means easy to do and describes continuing the goal as manageable. It follows the action form 「続け」 to form the idea “easy to continue.”
Grammar Points
〜てしまう
いつも習慣をやめてしまいます。
ee-TSOO-moh SHOO-kahn oh yah-meh-teh shee-MAI-mahss.I always end up quitting the habit.
〜てしまう expresses completing an action, often with regret or an unintended result.
〜ではなさそう
大変ではなさそうです。
tie-HEN deh wah nah-sah-SOH dess.It does not seem difficult.
〜ではなさそう means that something appears not to be the case.
Japanese Vocabulary
いつも
adv
ee-TSOO-moh
always; usually
やめる
verb
yah-MEH-roo
to quit; to stop
やめてしまいます
一度に
adv
ee-CHEE-doh nee
at once; all at one time
運動
noun
oon-DOH
exercise
健康的
adj
ken-koh-TEH-kee
healthy
健康的な
作る
verb
tsoo-KOO-roo
to make; to create
作りたい
習慣
noun
SHOO-kahn
habit
生活習慣
noun
SAY-kah-tsu SHOO-kahn
lifestyle habit; daily routine
早寝
noun
hah-yah-NEH
going to bed early
同時に
adv
DOH-jee nee
at the same time; simultaneously
変える
verb
kah-eh-ROO
to change
変えよう
料理
noun
RYOH-ree
cooking; cuisine
Quiz
Spelling
Tap the letters to spell the word.
healthy
Show Answer
健康的なto quit; to stop
Show Answer
やめてしまいますto change
Show Answer
変えようlifestyle habit; daily routine