Expanding a Professional Networking Conversation | Learn Japanese in English

Japanese lesson set in a contemporary Tokyo everyday setting: At a professional networking event, two attendees discuss overlapping work in product strategy, research, operations, and workflow improvement..

EN → JA / Level: B2

About This Lesson

Use Expanding a Professional Networking Conversation to practice Japanese conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

A

名札にプロダクト戦略と書かれているのに気づきました。

nah-foo-DAH nee puh-roh-DAHK-toh sen-RYAH-koo toh kah-kah-reh-TEH ee-roo noh nee kee-zoo-kee-mahsh-tah. I noticed your badge mentions product strategy.
B

それが主な専門分野ですが、研究や業務運営にも関わっています。

soh-reh-gah oh-moh-NAH sen-MOHN boon-YAH deh-soo-gah, ken-KYOO yah gyooh-MOO oon-AY nee moh kah-kah-WAHT-teh ee-MAHS. That is my main area, though my work also crosses into research and operations.
A

プロダクトに関する意思決定が複雑になったとき、その組み合わせはきっと役立ちますね。

puh-roh-DAHK-toh nee kahn-SOO-roo ee-shee-keh-TAY gah foo-koo-ZAHT-soo nee naht-tah toh-kee, soh-noh koo-mee-ah-wah-SEH wah kee-toh yah-koo-dah-chee-MAHS neh. That mix must help when product decisions get complicated.
B

そうですね。特に、戦略がチームの実際の働き方に左右される場合に役立ちます。

SOH deh-soo neh. toh-koo-NEE, sen-RYAH-koo gah CHEE-moo noh jee-SAHY noh hah-TAH-kee-KAH-tah nee sah-YOO-sah-reh-roo bah-AHY nee yah-koo-dah-chee-MAHS. It does, especially when a strategy depends on how teams actually work.
A

私は小規模なデジタルチームのワークフローを整理する手伝いをしています。

wah-TAH-shee wah shoh-kee-BOH nah DEH-jee-TAH-roo CHEE-moo noh WAHK-oo foo-ROH oh say-REE-soo-roo teh-tsah-DAH-ee oh shee-TEH ee-MAHS. I help small digital teams clean up their workflows.
B

それなら、私たちはおそらく同じような調整上の問題に取り組んでいますね。

soh-reh-nah-rah, wah-TAH-shee-tah wah oh-soh-RAH-koo oh-NAH-jee YOH-NAH choh-SAY-joh noh moh-DAI nee toh-REE-koon-deh ee-MAHS neh. Then we are probably dealing with some of the same coordination issues.
A

いつか、それぞれのアプローチを比較してみたいです。

ee-TSOO-kah, soh-reh-ZOH-reh noh ah-puh-ROH-chee oh hee-KAH-koo shee-TEH mee-TAI dehss. I would like to compare approaches sometime.
B

それは役立ちそうですね。特に、実践的な話にできれば有益だと思います。

soh-reh wah yah-koo-dah-chee-SOH neh. toh-koo-NEE, jee-SEN-teh-kee nah hah-NAH-shee nee deh-kee-reh-bah yoo-AY-kee dah toh oh-moh-ee-MAHS. That could be useful, especially if we keep the conversation practical.

Word by Word

名札 名札 means a name badge, and here it is the badge that identifies the person at the event. It commonly appears with に in the pattern 名札に…と書かれている. You can use it when referring to a badge worn at a conference, workplace, or other event.
に In 名札にプロダクト戦略と書かれている, に marks the place or surface where the information is written: on the name badge. The pattern 名札に…と書かれている describes information displayed on a badge. Use it with a place or object that carries written information.
プロダクト プロダクト means product here and identifies the business area mentioned on the badge. It combines with 戦略 in プロダクト戦略 to mean product strategy. This borrowed word is useful when discussing products or product-related work.
戦略 戦略 means strategy, and in プロダクト戦略 it refers to the plans and direction for a product. It commonly combines with a field or object before it, as in プロダクト戦略. Use it in professional discussions about planning and direction.
と In プロダクト戦略と書かれている, と marks the exact wording that is written: プロダクト戦略. The pattern Xと書かれている means that X is written or stated. Use it when reporting text shown on a sign, document, badge, or screen.
書かれて 書かれて means written in the ongoing expression 書かれている, describing wording that is currently displayed. Here, プロダクト戦略 is written on the name badge. The te-form connects 書かれて with いる to describe a continuing state.
いる In 書かれている, いる indicates that the written state continues: the words remain displayed on the badge. The pattern verb-te-form plus いる can describe an ongoing state or action. It is also used in 関わっています in this dialogue for ongoing involvement.
の In 書かれているのに気づきました, の turns the preceding situation into something that can be noticed: noticing that it is written there. The pattern …のに気づく means to notice that something is the case. Use it before 気づく when the object of noticing is a fact or situation.
気づきました 気づきました means noticed or became aware of, referring here to noticing the wording on the badge. It is the polite past form used for a completed observation. The pattern Xに気づきました means noticed X.
それ それ means that or it, referring here to the area just mentioned, プロダクト戦略. It points back to information already introduced in the conversation. In それなら, it contributes the reference to that preceding situation.
が In それが主な専門分野です, が marks それ as the subject being identified as the main area of expertise. The pattern Xが…です presents or identifies X. Here it is not expressing contrast.
主な 主な means main or primary and directly describes 専門分野. It identifies this area as the speaker’s principal professional field. Use it before a noun when selecting the most important or central item.
専門分野 専門分野 means area of expertise or specialization. In それが主な専門分野です, it identifies the speaker’s main professional field. It is useful when explaining what kind of work or subject you specialize in.
です です politely identifies or describes something as the speaker’s main area in それが主な専門分野です. It gives the statement a polite conversational tone. Use it after a noun or noun phrase when making a polite identification or description.
研究 研究 means research, and here it is one area that the speaker’s work also involves. It appears in the list 研究や業務運営, where や gives examples of related areas. Use it when discussing research as part of professional or academic work.
や In 研究や業務運営, や links examples in an open-ended list: research, operations, and related areas. Unlike a complete list, it suggests that these are representative examples. Use it between nouns when mentioning several items without claiming to list everything.
業務運営 業務運営 means business or work operations, referring here to the practical running of work. It is listed alongside 研究 as an area connected to the speaker’s role. Use it in professional contexts when discussing how ongoing work is organized and managed.
も In 研究や業務運営にも関わっています, も means also, adding these areas to the speaker’s main specialty. It marks an additional area of involvement. Use it after each noun or phrase that should be included as another relevant item.
関わって 関わって means being involved in, as part of 関わっています. Here it describes the speaker’s continuing involvement with research and operations. The te-form connects the verb to います to express an ongoing situation.
います In 関わっています, います is the polite auxiliary that presents the involvement as ongoing. The pattern verb-te-form plus います describes a continuing action or state. It is appropriate when politely explaining current professional responsibilities.
関する 関する means related to or concerning, and in プロダクトに関する意思決定 it links product matters with decision-making. The pattern Xに関するY means Y concerning X. Use it before a noun when specifying the subject or area that the noun relates to.
意思決定 意思決定 means decision-making, referring here to decisions connected with the product. It commonly combines with に関する in プロダクトに関する意思決定. Use it in professional contexts when discussing how important choices are made.
複雑 複雑 means complicated or complex, describing the product decisions in the conversation. In 複雑になった, it describes a situation that became complicated. It commonly appears before な when directly modifying a noun, or with になる when describing a change of state.
なった なった means became, and here it says that the product decisions became complicated. It is the completed change expressed in 複雑になった. The pattern adjective or noun plus になった describes a change into a new state.
とき とき means when or at the time, and in 複雑になったとき it introduces the situation in which something is useful. The pattern Xとき means when X happens or when X is the case. Use it to connect an action or response with a particular situation.
その その means that or the aforementioned, referring back to the mix of product strategy, research, and operations. It directly describes 組み合わせ in その組み合わせ. Use it before a noun when pointing to something already mentioned.
組み合わせ 組み合わせ means combination or mix, referring here to the combination of professional areas just discussed. It is the topic of the statement その組み合わせはきっと役立ちますね. Use it when different elements are considered together.
は In その組み合わせはきっと役立ちますね, は marks the combination as the topic of the statement. It sets up what the speaker is commenting on. Use it after the topic when giving information or an evaluation about it.
きっと きっと means surely or very likely, expressing confident expectation that the combination will help. It strengthens the positive prediction in きっと役立ちますね. Use it when you expect something to be true or happen, while still presenting it conversationally.
役立ちます 役立ちます means is useful or helps, and here it says that the combination will help when decisions become complicated. It is the polite form used for a positive evaluation. The pattern Xが役立ちます means X is useful in a situation.
ね In きっと役立ちますね, ね softens the statement and invites the other person to agree with the speaker’s assessment. It gives the comment a collaborative conversational tone. Use it after a statement when seeking shared understanding or agreement.
そう そう has two uses in this dialogue: そうですね acknowledges the previous comment, while 役立ちそう contributes the meaning seems useful. In そうですね it confirms or agrees with what was said. In the pattern verb stem plus そう, it indicates an appearance or expectation based on what seems likely.
特に 特に means especially or particularly, narrowing the comment to an important condition. Here it highlights the situation in which the speaker’s experience is especially helpful. Use it before the part of a sentence that deserves special emphasis.
チーム チーム means team, and here it refers to the groups whose actual working methods affect strategy. It appears in チームの実際の働き方, with の linking the team to its way of working. Use it when discussing a group working toward a shared professional goal.
実際 実際 means actual or in reality, emphasizing how teams really work rather than how they are expected to work. In 実際の働き方, it directly describes the team’s working style. Use it when contrasting real conditions with plans, assumptions, or formal descriptions.
働き方 働き方 means way of working or working style, referring here to how teams actually carry out their work. It is modified by チームの実際の in the dialogue. Use it when discussing methods, habits, or patterns of work.
左右される 左右される means be influenced or determined by something, and here it says that a strategy is affected by how teams actually work. 左右 conveys being swayed in one direction or another, while される gives the expression its passive meaning. The pattern XはYに左右される means X is influenced by Y.
場合 場合 means case or situation, and in 場合 it introduces the condition just described: when a strategy depends on how teams work. The pattern X場合 can present a situation in which a statement applies. Use it when discussing what applies under particular circumstances.
私 私 means I or me, and here it identifies the speaker who helps digital teams improve their workflows. It is used in the polite statement 私は…手伝いをしています. Use it to state your own role or activity in a professional conversation.
小規模 小規模 means small-scale, describing the size of the digital teams. In 小規模なデジタルチーム, it identifies teams that are not large. Use it before な and a noun when describing the scale of an organization, project, or activity.
な In 小規模なデジタルチーム, な links the noun-like description 小規模 to the noun デジタルチーム. It allows 小規模 to modify the following noun directly. Use the pattern noun-like adjective plus な plus noun for this kind of description.
デジタル デジタル means digital and describes the teams’ field or work environment in デジタルチーム. It is a borrowed adjective-like word used directly before a noun. Use it when referring to work or products involving digital technology.
ワークフロー ワークフロー means workflow, the sequence or organization of work activities. Here it is the direct object of 整理する: the speaker helps clean up the teams’ workflows. Use it in professional conversations about processes and how work moves through a team.
を In ワークフローを整理する, を marks ワークフロー as the direct object of 整理する. It identifies what is being organized or cleaned up. Use it after the noun directly acted on by a verb.
整理する 整理する means organize or clean up, and here it refers to improving the structure of workflows. The pattern Xを整理する means organize or sort out X. Use it when describing efforts to make information, tasks, processes, or work arrangements clearer.
手伝い 手伝い means help or assistance, and in 手伝いをしています it refers to providing help with organizing workflows. It appears as a noun before をする. Use it when describing assistance you provide, especially with another person’s task or project.
して In 手伝いをしています, して is the te-form of する and connects the activity 手伝いをする with the ongoing auxiliary います. Together, the expression describes currently helping. The pattern nounをしている can describe continuing to carry out an activity.
それなら それなら means in that case or then, responding to the information just given about workflow work. それ points to the preceding situation, and なら frames it as the condition for the next statement. Use it when drawing a conclusion or changing the conversation based on what someone has said.
私たち 私たち means we or us, referring to both speakers as professionals facing related coordination problems. It is the subject of 私たちは…取り組んでいます. Use it when grouping yourself with the person you are speaking to.
おそらく おそらく means probably, expressing a cautious but reasonable judgment. Here it softens the claim that both speakers are dealing with the same kinds of issues. Use it before a statement when the conclusion is likely but not certain.
同じ 同じ means same, and in 同じような it introduces the idea that the issues are of the same general kind. It is modified by ような to avoid claiming that the issues are exactly identical. Use it when comparing people, objects, or situations.
ような In 同じような coordination issues, ような means like or of a similar kind and softens the comparison. It helps describe issues that resemble one another without saying they are exactly the same. The pattern XのようなY describes Y as being like X.
調整上 調整上 means from the standpoint of coordination or in terms of coordination. In 調整上の問題, it limits the type of problems being discussed to coordination-related problems. Use it before の問題 or another noun when identifying the aspect or viewpoint involved.
問題 問題 means problem or issue, and here it refers to difficulties with coordination between people or teams. It is modified by 調整上の and is the object of 取り組んでいます. Use it for a difficulty that needs attention or resolution.
取り組んで 取り組んで means working on or addressing, as part of 取り組んでいます. Here it describes actively dealing with coordination issues. The te-form connects the activity to います to show that the work is ongoing.
いつか いつか means sometime, referring to an unspecified future occasion. In いつか、それぞれのアプローチを比較してみたいです, it makes the proposal open-ended rather than setting a date. Use it when suggesting a future action without choosing a specific time.
それぞれ それぞれ means each or respective, and here it refers to the approach belonging to each speaker. It appears before アプローチ in それぞれのアプローチ. Use it when talking about corresponding items or methods belonging to different people or groups.
アプローチ アプローチ means approach or method, referring here to each speaker’s way of handling work problems. It is the object of 比較してみたい. Use it in professional discussions when comparing ways of solving a problem or carrying out work.
比較して 比較して means compare, as part of 比較してみたいです. It describes placing the two approaches side by side for examination. The te-form connects 比較する with みたい to express wanting to try the comparison.
みたい In 比較してみたいです, みたい means want to try doing, so the speaker wants to try comparing the approaches. The pattern verb-te-form plus みたい expresses a desire to try an action. Use it when proposing or expressing interest in trying something.
役立ちそう 役立ちそう means seems useful or looks as if it would help. Here it evaluates the proposed discussion positively, especially if the conversation remains practical. The pattern verb stem or adjective plus そう expresses an impression or likelihood based on what appears possible.
実践的 実践的 means practical, emphasizing useful application rather than abstract discussion. In 実践的な話, it describes a discussion focused on workable professional matters. Use it before な and a noun when describing advice, knowledge, or discussion that can be applied.
話 話 means talk or discussion, and here it refers to the conversation between the two professionals. In 実践的な話にできれば, it is the thing they hope to make practical. Use it for a conversation, subject of discussion, or spoken account.
できれば できれば means if possible or if we can make it so, and here it introduces the condition of keeping the conversation practical. It expresses a polite, non-forceful condition for the positive evaluation. Use it when proposing a preferred outcome while acknowledging that it may not be possible.
有益 有益 means beneficial or valuable, describing the practical conversation as worthwhile. In 有益だと思います, it gives the speaker’s assessment of the proposed discussion. Use it in professional contexts when something provides useful value or benefit.
だ In 有益だと思います, だ is the plain copula linking 有益 with 思います: the speaker thinks it is beneficial. The plain form appears before the reporting verb 思います. Use this pattern when presenting an opinion about a noun-like description.
思います 思います means think or believe, and here it introduces the speaker’s opinion that the conversation would be beneficial. It is the polite form used to soften and clearly frame the statement as a personal view. The pattern Xだと思います means I think X is the case.

Grammar Points

〜ています

調整上の問題に取り組んでいます。

choh-SAY-joh noh moh-DAI nee toh-REE-koon-deh ee-MAHS.

We are working on coordination issues.

〜ています expresses an action that is currently in progress or an ongoing situation.

〜そうです

実践的で役立ちそうです。

jee-SEN-teh-kee deh yah-koo-dah-chee-SOH dehss.

It seems practical and useful.

〜そうです expresses an impression or prediction based on how something appears.

Japanese Vocabulary

プロダクト戦略 noun
puh-roh-DAHK-toh sen-RYAH-koo product strategy
意思決定 noun
ee-shee-keh-TAY decision-making
業務運営 noun
gyoh-MOO oon-AY operations
研究 noun
ken-KYOO research
実際の働き方 phrase
jee-SAHY noh hah-TAH-kee-KAH-tah the way people actually work
主な専門分野 phrase
oh-moh-NAH sen-MOHN boon-YAH main area of expertise
小規模 adj
shoh-kee-BOH small-scale
戦略 noun
sen-RYAH-koo strategy
組み合わせ noun
koo-mee-ah-wah-SEH combination; mix
特に adv
toh-koo-NEE especially
複雑 adj
foo-koo-ZAHT-soo complicated; complex
名札 noun
nah-foo-DAH name badge

Quiz

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

combination; mix

Show Answer組み合わせ

product strategy

Show Answerプロダクト戦略

main area of expertise

Show Answer主な専門分野

operations

Show Answer業務運営