About This Lesson
Use Resolving a Shared Kitchen Problem to practice Japanese conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.
Dialogue
A
夕食のあと、共有キッチンがまた散らかったままになっていました。
YOO-shoh-koo noh AH-toh, kyoh-YOO KEE-cheen gah MAH-tah chee-rah-KAHT-tah MAH-mah nee NAHT-teh ee-mah-SHEE-tah. The shared kitchen was left messy again after dinner.
B
一人を責めずに、そのことを話し合ったほうがよいでしょう。
hee-TOH-ree oh seh-MEH-zoo-nee, soh-noh KOH-toh oh hah-nah-shee-AH-tah hoh-GAH yoh-ee deh-SHOH. We should bring it up without blaming one person.
A
掃除の分担について思い出してもらう一言が、役に立つかもしれません。
SOH-jee noh boohn-TAHN nee tsoo-ee-teh oh-MOH-ee-dah-SHEE-teh moh-RAH-oo hee-toh-KOH-toh gah, yah-koo nee TAHT-soo kah moh-SHEE-reh-mah-SEN. Maybe a reminder about cleaning responsibilities would help.
B
皿やカウンター、ゴミについて触れて、具体的に伝えましょう。
SAH-rah yah kah-oon-TAH, GOH-mee nee tsoo-ee-teh foo-REH-teh, goo-TAH-ee-TEH-kee nee tsoo-TAH-eh mah-SHOH. Make it specific by mentioning dishes, counters, and trash.
A
スケジュールを掲示するか、先にグループチャットで話すべきでしょうか。
skoo-JOO-roo oh KAY-jee soo-ROO kah, SAH-kee nee goo-ROO-poo CHAHT-toh deh hah-NAH-soo BEH-kee deh-SHOH-kah. Should we post a schedule or talk in the group chat first?
B
攻撃的に感じられないように、落ち着いたメッセージから始めましょう。
koh-GEH-kee-TEH-kee nee kahn-jee-rah-reh-NAH-ee YOO nee, oh-chee-TSOO-ee-tah MEHS-seh-jee kah-rah hah-jee-meh-mah-SHOH. Start with a calm message so it does not feel aggressive.
A
そのメッセージで、みんなに共有スペースを大切に使うようお願いできます。
soh-noh MEHS-seh-jee deh, MEEN-nah nee kyoh-YOO SPEH-soo oh tie-SEHT-soo nee tsoo-KAH-oo YOO oh-neh-GAH-ee deh-kee-MAHS. The message can ask everyone to respect the shared space.
B
落ち着いた言葉を使って、「いつも」や「絶対に」などの言葉は避けましょう。
oh-chee-TSOO-ee-tah koh-TOH-bah oh tsoo-KAHT-teh, ee-TSOO-moh yah zeht-TAH-ee nee NAH-doh-noh koh-TOH-bah wah sah-KEH-mah-SHOH. Use calm wording and avoid words like always and never.
A
そうすれば、そのメッセージが攻撃のように聞こえるのを防げます。
soh-oo soo-REH-bah, soh-noh MEHS-seh-jee gah koh-GEH-kee noh YOO nee kee-KOH-eh-roo noh oh foo-SEH-geh-MAHS. That keeps the message from sounding like an attack.
B
キッチンのルールは、相手を尊重する口調で伝えたほうが、うまくいきます。
KEE-cheen noh ROO-roo wah, ah-EE-teh oh sohn-CHOH soo-ROO koo-CHOH deh tsoo-TEH-tah hoh-GAH, oo-MAH-koo EE-kee-MAHS. Clear kitchen rules work better when the tone stays respectful.Word by Word
夕食
「夕食」means dinner in this dialogue. It can be followed by 「のあと」 to say after dinner.
の
In 「夕食のあと」, 「の」links 「夕食」 to 「あと」 and shows the time relation. This pattern connects a noun with a following noun that explains it.
あと
「あと」means after or later here, referring to the time after dinner. The pattern 「Nのあと」 is used for after N.
共有
「共有」means shared in 「共有キッチン」. It describes something used by more than one person and comes before the noun it modifies.
キッチン
「キッチン」means kitchen, the shared place being discussed. It is a loanword commonly used for a kitchen or cooking area.
が
In 「共有キッチンが」, 「が」marks the shared kitchen as the subject of the condition being described. It identifies what was left messy.
また
「また」means again, showing that the kitchen became messy on another occasion too. It is placed before the action or condition that is repeated.
散らかった
「散らかった」describes the kitchen as having become messy or being messy. In 「散らかったまま」, it identifies the state that continued.
まま
「まま」means remaining in the same state in 「散らかったまま」. It is used after a state to show that the state was not changed.
に
In 「ままになっていました」, 「に」marks the state that something ended up in. Together with 「まま」 and 「なって」, it describes remaining in that state.
なって
「なって」shows becoming or ending up in a state in 「ままになっていました」. It connects that state with the continuing description that follows.
いました
In 「なっていました」, 「いました」shows that the state continued up to the time being described. This polite past form completes the report about the kitchen.
一人
「一人」means one person in 「一人を責めずに」. It identifies the individual who should not be singled out for blame.
を
In 「一人を責めずに」, 「を」marks 「一人」 as the person affected by the blaming action. It commonly marks the object of an action.
責めずに
「責めずに」means without blaming in this dialogue. It connects the idea of not blaming one person with the following action, 「そのことを話し合った」.
その
「その」means that or the mentioned one, referring here to the kitchen problem already described. It comes directly before the noun it specifies, 「こと」.
こと
「こと」means the matter or issue in 「そのこと」. Together, 「そのこと」 refers to the situation that the speakers want to discuss.
話し合った
「話し合った」means discussed or talked over, referring to discussing the kitchen problem together. The form describes a completed discussion in 「そのことを話し合った」.
ほう
In 「話し合ったほうがよいでしょう」, 「ほう」presents one course of action as the preferable option. The recommendation comes from the whole pattern 「〜たほうがよい」.
よい
「よい」means good or preferable in 「〜たほうがよい」. With 「ほう」, it expresses that the preceding action is the better choice.
でしょう
「でしょう」adds a polite tentative tone to 「よいでしょう」, making the recommendation sound like it would probably be good. It is useful when offering advice without sounding absolute.
掃除
「掃除」means cleaning in this dialogue. It is used before 「の分担」 to identify the household task whose responsibility is being discussed.
分担
「分担」means the sharing or division of responsibilities in 「掃除の分担」. It is useful for discussing how a task is divided among people.
について
「掃除の分担について」means about the division of cleaning responsibilities. In 「について」, 「に」links the topic to the discussion and 「ついて」completes the expression meaning about.
思い出して
「思い出して」means recalling or remembering in 「思い出してもらう」. Its connecting form leads into having someone remember the cleaning responsibilities.
もらう
After 「思い出して」, 「もらう」means having someone do that as a favor or receiving that action from them. The whole expression 「思い出してもらう」 means to have someone remember.
一言
「一言」means a brief remark or a word in this context. 「思い出してもらう一言」is a short message intended to remind people about their responsibilities.
役に立つ
「役に立つ」means to be useful or help, as in the reminder being helpful. 「役」suggests a useful role, 「に」marks the relation to usefulness, and 「立つ」completes the expression.
かもしれません
「かもしれません」means may or might, showing that the reminder is only a possibility. In this expression, 「かも」signals possibility and 「しれません」completes the polite uncertain statement.
皿
「皿」means dishes or plates here. It is one of the specific kitchen items mentioned in 「皿やカウンター、ゴミ」.
や
In 「皿やカウンター、ゴミ」, 「や」lists examples without necessarily giving a complete list. It connects nouns when naming several relevant items.
カウンター
「カウンター」means counter, referring to the kitchen surface that needs attention. It is a loanword used for a counter or work surface.
ゴミ
「ゴミ」means trash or garbage in this dialogue. It is listed with 「皿やカウンター」 as a concrete cleaning responsibility.
触れて
「触れて」means mentioning or touching on a topic in 「触れて、具体的に伝えましょう」. It connects the act of mentioning the items with explaining the message specifically.
具体的
「具体的」means specific or concrete in 「具体的に伝えましょう」. With 「に」in the dialogue, it describes communicating details rather than speaking generally.
伝えましょう
「伝えましょう」means let us convey or communicate. It proposes clearly communicating the responsibilities after mentioning specific examples.
スケジュール
「スケジュール」means schedule, referring to a plan for organizing the cleaning responsibilities. It is the object of 「掲示する」in this question.
掲示する
「掲示する」means to post or display, as in posting the schedule for everyone to see. It is used with a notice, schedule, or other information placed where people can read it.
か
In 「掲示するか、先に」and the following alternative, 「か」marks one option in a question. It helps connect alternatives such as posting a schedule or talking first.
先に
「先に」means first or beforehand in 「先にグループチャットで話す」. It places the group-chat discussion before posting the schedule.
グループチャット
「グループチャット」means group chat, the shared channel where the speakers may discuss the issue. It can be followed by 「で」to mark the channel used for talking.
で
In 「グループチャットで話す」, 「で」marks the group chat as the means or setting of the conversation. It is used after a place or communication channel for an action.
話す
「話す」means to talk or speak in 「グループチャットで話す」. It describes discussing the issue through the group chat.
べき
In 「話すべきでしょうか」, 「べき」expresses what should or ought to be done. The whole form asks whether talking first is the appropriate choice.
攻撃的
「攻撃的」means aggressive in 「攻撃的に感じられない」. It describes a message that may be perceived as attacking rather than calm.
感じられない
「感じられない」means does not feel or does not seem in 「攻撃的に感じられないように」. Here it describes making sure the message is not perceived as aggressive.
よう
In 「感じられないように」, 「ように」expresses the intended result or purpose, so that something does not happen or seem a certain way. The manner or purpose comes from the whole expression, not from 「よう」alone.
落ち着いた
「落ち着いた」means calm in 「落ち着いたメッセージ」. It describes the tone of the message and comes before the noun it modifies.
メッセージ
「メッセージ」means message, referring to the proposed communication about kitchen responsibilities. It appears both as the starting point in 「メッセージから」and as the message being evaluated.
から
In 「メッセージから始めましょう」, 「から」means starting with or from. It marks the calm message as the point where the discussion should begin.
始めましょう
「始めましょう」means let us start. In this dialogue, it proposes beginning with a calm message.
みんな
「みんな」means everyone, referring to all the people who share the kitchen. It is the group being asked to respect the shared space.
スペース
「スペース」means space in 「共有スペース」. Here it refers to the area shared by the people using the kitchen.
大切
「大切」means important or valued in 「大切に使う」. With 「に使う」, it expresses using the shared space with care.
使う
「使う」means to use in 「共有スペースを大切に使う」. It describes how everyone should use the shared space.
お願い
「お願い」means a request or favor in 「お願いできます」. It presents the request for everyone to use the shared space carefully.
できます
「できます」means can or be able to in 「お願いできます」. Together with 「お願い」, it makes a polite statement that the message can ask everyone to do something.
言葉
「言葉」means words or wording in 「言葉を使って」. Here it refers to the expressions chosen for the message.
使って
「使って」means using in 「言葉を使って」and connects that action with 「避けましょう」. It describes using calm wording while avoiding certain expressions.
いつも
「いつも」means always. In this dialogue, it is given as an absolute word that may make a message sound like an attack.
絶対に
「絶対に」is a strong absolute expression, meaning absolutely or under no circumstances. It is mentioned here as wording to avoid in a calm message.
など
In 「いつもや絶対になどの言葉」, 「など」means such as or and the like. It shows that 「いつも」and 「絶対に」are examples rather than necessarily the entire set.
は
In 「言葉は避けましょう」, 「は」marks the words as the topic and highlights them for avoidance. It gives the topic a contrastive focus in the advice.
避けましょう
「避けましょう」means let us avoid. It proposes not using the absolute wording mentioned in the message.
そうすれば
「そうすれば」means if that is done, then or in that case. It links the advice about wording to the positive result that follows.
攻撃
「攻撃」means attack in 「攻撃のように聞こえる」. It refers to the impression that the message might give to its readers.
聞こえる
「聞こえる」means sound or be perceived as in 「攻撃のように聞こえる」. The expression describes how the message may come across to other people.
防げます
「防げます」means can prevent in 「聞こえるのを防げます」. It states that careful wording can prevent the message from sounding like an attack.
ルール
「ルール」means rules, referring here to the agreed rules for using the kitchen. It is modified by 「キッチンの」to specify which rules.
相手
「相手」means the other person or the listener in 「相手を尊重する」. It identifies the people receiving the message and affected by its tone.
尊重する
「尊重する」means to respect in 「相手を尊重する口調」. It describes treating the listener with consideration while communicating the rules.
口調
「口調」means tone or manner of speaking. In 「相手を尊重する口調」, it describes a respectful way of expressing the kitchen rules.
伝えた
In 「伝えたほうが、うまくいきます」, 「伝えた」means communicated or conveyed. With 「ほうが」, it presents communicating the rules in that way as the better option.
うまく
「うまく」means well or successfully in 「うまくいきます」. It describes the result of the rules being communicated in a respectful tone.
いきます
In 「うまくいきます」, 「いきます」does not mean physical movement; the whole expression means works out or goes well. It is commonly used with 「うまく」to describe a successful result.
Grammar Points
〜ずに
責めずに話し合いましょう。
seh-MEH-zoo-nee hah-nah-shee-AH-ee-mah-SHOH.Let's discuss without blaming.
「〜ずに」は「〜ないで」と同じく、「〜しないで」という意味を表します。やや改まった表現です。
〜ましょう
攻撃的な言葉を避けましょう。
koh-GEH-kee-TEH-kee nah koh-TOH-bah oh sah-KEH-mah-SHOH.Let's avoid aggressive wording.
「〜ましょう」は、相手に提案したり、一緒に何かをしようと呼びかけたりするときに使います。
Japanese Vocabulary
カウンター
noun
kah-oon-TAH
counter
一言
noun
hee-toh-KOH-toh
a brief remark
共有
adj
kyoh-YOO
shared
具体的
adj
goo-TAH-ee-TEH-kee
specific
皿
noun
SAH-rah
dish; plate
散らかる
verb
chee-rah-KAH-roo
become messy
散らかった
責める
verb
seh-MEH-roo
blame
責めずに
掃除
noun
SOH-jee
cleaning
分担
noun
boohn-TAHN
sharing of responsibilities
役に立つ
phrase
yah-koo nee TAHT-soo
be helpful
夕食
noun
YOO-shoh-koo
dinner
話し合う
verb
hah-nah-shee-AH-oo
discuss
話し合った
Quiz
Spelling
Tap the letters to spell the word.
blame
Show Answer
責めずにbecome messy
Show Answer
散らかったbe helpful
Show Answer
役に立つdiscuss