About This Lesson
Use Responding to a Proposal While Managing Capacity to practice Japanese conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.
Dialogue
A
メッセージを受け取り、提案の詳しい内容をありがたく思いました。
MEH-say-jee o oo-KEH-toh-ree, tay-AHN no kuh-WAH-shee nah-YOH o ah-ree-gah-TAH-koo oh-moh-ee-ma-SHEE-tah. I received your message and appreciated the detail in the proposal.
B
お役に立ててうれしいです。どんなご意見でも歓迎します。
oh-YAH-koo nee tah-TEH-teh oo-ray-SHEE dess. DON-nah goh-EE-ken deh-moh kahn-GAY shee-MAHSS. I am glad it was useful, and I would welcome any feedback.
A
そのアイデアに興味があります。
soh-NOH ah-ee-deh-AH nee kyoh-MEE gah ah-ree-MAHSS. The idea interests me.
A
ただ、今は新しい仕事を引き受ける余裕があまりありません。
tah-DAH, ee-MAH wa ah-rah-TASH-ee shee-GOH-toh o hee-kee-oo-keh-roo yoh-YOO gah ah-MAH-ree ah-ree-mah-SEN. But I do not have much room to take on more right now.
B
それはもっともです。興味と同じくらい、タイミングも大切です。
soh-REH wa MOHT-toh-moh dess. kyoh-MEE toh oh-NOH-jee koo-RAI, TAI-mee-ngoo moh TAI-set-soo dess. That makes sense; timing can matter as much as interest.
A
今のプロジェクトが少し落ち着いた後で、もう一度検討してもよいでしょうか。
ee-MAH noh puh-roh-JEHK-toh gah soo-KOH-shee oh-chee-TSOO-ee-tah ah-TOH deh, moh-EE-chee-doh ken-TOH shee-teh-moh yoh-ee deh-SHOH kah. Could we revisit it after my current project becomes less demanding?
B
後で、プレッシャーをかけないように、軽くリマインドを送ることができます。
ah-TOH deh, puh-RESH-shah o kah-KEH-nai yoh-NOO nee, kah-ROO-koo ree-MAI-ndoh o oh-KOO-roo koh-toh gah deh-KEE-mahss. I can send a gentle reminder later without adding pressure.
A
短くまとめていただければ、私も確認しやすくなります。
tah-KAH-koo moh-tah-MEH-teh ee-tah-dah-KEH-reh-bah, wah-TAH-shee moh kah-koo-NEEN shee-YAH-soo-koo nah-REE-mahss. Keep it brief, and it will be easier for me to review.
B
要点をまとめて、選択肢は残しておきます。
yoh-TEN o moh-tah-MEH-teh, sen-TAH-koo-shee wa noh-KOH-shee-teh oh-KEE-mahss. I will summarize the essentials and leave the options open.Word by Word
メッセージ
「メッセージ」 means the message A received. In 「メッセージを受け取り」, it is the object marked by を; use it for a written or electronic message.
を
「を」 marks 「メッセージ」 as the object of 「受け取り」. A reusable pattern is nounを verb, as in 「メッセージを受け取り」.
受け取り
「受け取り」 means receiving in 「メッセージを受け取り、」 and links this action to the next clause. It is the linking form of 「受け取る」, useful for describing sequential actions.
提案
「提案」 means the proposal being discussed. In 「提案の詳しい内容」, it identifies what the details belong to.
の
「の」 links 「提案」 with 「詳しい内容」, giving the meaning “the detailed content of the proposal.” The reusable pattern is nounの noun.
詳しい
「詳しい」 means detailed here and modifies 「内容」 in 「詳しい内容」. It is useful before a noun when describing information that contains many details.
内容
「内容」 means the content or details of the proposal in 「提案の詳しい内容」. It can refer to what a message, plan, or proposal contains.
ありがたく
「ありがたく」 expresses appreciation for the detailed content in 「ありがたく思いました」. It is the adverbial form of 「ありがたい」 and is used here before 「思いました」 to say that the speaker appreciated something.
思いました
「思いました」 means thought or felt in the appreciative expression 「ありがたく思いました」. It is the polite past form of 「思う」 and presents the appreciation as a completed reaction.
お役に立てて
「お役に立てて」 means “being able to be of help” in 「お役に立ててうれしいです」. 「お」 adds polite respect, 「役」 refers to help or usefulness, 「に」 belongs to the fixed expression, and 「立てて」 completes the expression while linking to 「うれしいです」.
うれしい
「うれしい」 means glad or happy in 「お役に立ててうれしいです」. It describes the speaker’s positive feeling about having been helpful.
です
「です」 makes 「うれしいです」 a polite statement. It is a common polite sentence ending after an adjective.
どんな
「どんな」 means what kind of and, with 「でも」, contributes to the meaning “any kind of” in 「どんなご意見でも」. It comes directly before the noun it describes.
ご意見
「ご意見」 means an opinion or feedback in the polite expression 「どんなご意見でも」. 「ご」 gives the noun 「意見」 a polite form suitable for professional communication.
でも
「でも」 contributes the meaning “even” or “any” after 「どんなご意見」. Together, 「どんなご意見でも」 welcomes feedback of any kind.
歓迎します
「歓迎します」 means welcome in 「どんなご意見でも歓迎します」. It is the polite form of 「歓迎する」 and states that the speaker is open to receiving feedback.
その
「その」 means that and points to the idea already under discussion in 「そのアイデア」. It is placed before the noun it identifies.
アイデア
「アイデア」 means the idea being discussed. In 「そのアイデアに興味があります」, it is the thing that interests the speaker.
に
「に」 marks the target of interest in 「アイデアに興味があります」. A reusable pattern is nounに興味があります, meaning to be interested in something.
興味
「興味」 means interest in 「興味があります」. With a topic marked by に, the expression 「アイデアに興味があります」 says that the speaker is interested in the idea.
が
「が」 marks 「興味」 as the thing that exists in 「興味があります」. This pattern expresses having interest in something rather than using an English-style direct object.
あります
「あります」 politely says that something exists, and in 「興味があります」 the whole expression means “to have interest.” It is the polite form used for the speaker’s current state.
ただ
「ただ」 means but or however and introduces the limitation after expressing interest. It helps connect 「そのアイデアに興味があります」 with the speaker’s lack of capacity.
今
「今」 means now or the current time. In 「今は」, it sets the present situation as the time being discussed.
は
「は」 marks 「今」 as the topic in 「今は」. Here it frames the speaker’s current capacity as the relevant situation.
新しい
「新しい」 means new and modifies 「仕事」 in 「新しい仕事」. It identifies work that has not previously been part of the speaker’s current workload.
仕事
「仕事」 means work or a task in 「新しい仕事を引き受ける」. It is the thing the speaker does not currently have enough room to accept.
引き受ける
「引き受ける」 means take on or accept responsibility for work in 「仕事を引き受ける」. This pattern is useful when discussing accepting a task, assignment, or responsibility.
余裕
「余裕」 means room or capacity in 「余裕があまりありません」. Here it refers to the speaker’s available time or ability to take on more work.
あまり
「あまり」 means not much in 「余裕があまりありません」 because it is used with the negative form ありません. This pattern expresses a small amount or limited degree.
ありません
「ありません」 means do not have or there is not in 「余裕があまりありません」. It is the polite negative form used to say that the speaker lacks sufficient capacity.
それ
「それ」 means that or it and refers to the situation A has just described in 「それはもっともです」. It lets B respond to the preceding statement as a whole.
もっとも
「もっとも」 means reasonable or understandable in 「それはもっともです」. It acknowledges that the other person’s limitation makes sense.
と
「と」 links 「興味」 with 「同じくらい」 in the comparison 「興味と同じくらい」. It marks the reference point used for comparing the importance of timing.
同じ
「同じ」 means same in the expression 「同じくらい」. Together with くらい, it helps express that timing matters to the same degree as interest.
くらい
「くらい」 expresses the degree “as much as” in 「興味と同じくらい」. It completes the comparison of the importance of timing and interest.
タイミング
「タイミング」 means timing in 「タイミングも大切です」. It refers to whether the current moment is suitable for moving forward with the proposal.
も
「も」 means also or too in 「タイミングも大切です」. It adds timing to interest as another important factor.
大切
「大切」 means important in 「タイミングも大切です」. It states that timing has importance alongside interest.
プロジェクト
「プロジェクト」 means the current project in 「今のプロジェクト」. It identifies the work whose demands are currently limiting the speaker’s capacity.
少し
「少し」 means a little and modifies 「落ち着いた」 in 「少し落ち着いた」. It shows that the project needs to become somewhat less demanding, not necessarily completely finished.
落ち着いた
「落ち着いた」 means settled down or become calmer in 「プロジェクトが少し落ち着いた後で」. It is the past form of 「落ち着く」 and describes the change that must happen before reconsideration.
後
「後」 means after or later in 「落ち着いた後で」. It identifies the time following the project becoming calmer.
で
「で」 marks the time expression 「後で」. The pattern 「動詞た後で」 means “after doing something” or after an event has occurred.
もう一度
「もう一度」 means again or one more time in 「もう一度検討」. 「もう」 adds an additional occurrence, while 「一度」 means one time; together they request another review.
検討
「検討」 means consideration or review in 「もう一度検討してもよいでしょうか」. It refers to thinking over the proposal again before deciding.
して
「して」 links 「検討」 to 「もよい」 in 「検討してもよい」. This form helps create the expression asking whether it is acceptable to reconsider something.
よい
「よい」 means acceptable or okay in 「検討してもよいでしょうか」. With ても, it forms a polite request for permission or approval.
でしょう
「でしょう」 softens the question 「検討してもよいでしょうか」 into a polite, tentative request. It makes the wording less direct than a plain question.
か
「か」 marks the end of the question 「検討してもよいでしょうか」. It signals that the speaker is asking for permission or agreement.
プレッシャー
「プレッシャー」 means pressure in 「プレッシャーをかけない」. It refers here to pressure placed on someone through follow-up communication.
かけない
「かけない」 means not apply or not put on in 「プレッシャーをかけない」. It is the negative form of 「かける」 and specifies that the reminder should not pressure the recipient.
よう
「よう」 in 「かけないように」 makes the preceding action the aim or precaution: sending the reminder so as not to put pressure on someone. The full pattern 「ないように」 is used to avoid an unwanted result.
軽く
「軽く」 means lightly or gently in 「軽くリマインドを送る」. It describes a low-pressure way of sending the reminder.
リマインド
「リマインド」 means a reminder in 「リマインドを送る」. It refers to a follow-up message intended to bring the proposal back to the recipient’s attention.
送る
「送る」 means send in 「リマインドを送る」. It is also the action placed before 「こと」 in 「送ることができます」.
こと
「こと」 turns the action 「送る」 into the matter or action of sending in 「送ることができます」. This construction allows the ability to send something to be expressed.
できます
「できます」 means can or be able to in 「送ることができます」. It is the polite form of 「できる」 and expresses the speaker’s ability or willingness to send the reminder.
短く
「短く」 means briefly or in a short form in 「短くまとめて」. It is the adverbial form of 「短い」 and describes how the essentials should be summarized.
まとめて
「まとめて」 means summarize or put together in 「短くまとめていただければ」. It is the linking form of 「まとめる」 and connects the requested action to the polite conditional expression.
いただければ
「いただければ」 politely means if you could or if you would in 「短くまとめていただければ」. It frames the other person’s summarizing as a favor and makes the request indirect.
私
「私」 means I or me in 「私も確認しやすくなります」. It identifies the speaker as the person who will find the summary easier to review.
確認
「確認」 means review or check in 「確認しやすくなります」. It refers to examining the summarized information before responding or deciding.
しやすく
「しやすく」 means easy to do in 「確認しやすくなります」. It describes the review becoming easier for the speaker.
なります
「なります」 means becomes or gets in 「確認しやすくなります」. It is the polite form of 「なる」 and describes a change into an easier state.
要点
「要点」 means the key points or essentials in 「要点をまとめて」. It identifies the most important information to include in the shortened summary.
選択肢
「選択肢」 means options in 「選択肢は残しておきます」. It refers to the possible ways of proceeding that the speaker does not want to close off.
残して
「残して」 means leave or retain in 「選択肢は残しておきます」. It links the action of retaining the options to 「おきます」, which describes keeping that state.
おきます
「おきます」 in 「残しておきます」 means keep or leave in place for later. With the preceding form 「残して」, it emphasizes preserving the options rather than deciding immediately.
Grammar Points
〜てもよいでしょうか
検討してもよいでしょうか
ken-TOH shee-teh-moh yoh-ee deh-SHOH-kahCould we consider it?
A polite way to ask for permission or propose an action, softer than a direct request.
〜しやすくなる
確認しやすくなります
kah-koo-NEEN shee-YAH-soo-koo nah-REE-mahssIt becomes easier to review.
Combines しやすい, “easy to do,” with なる to show that something becomes easier.
Japanese Vocabulary
アイデア
noun
ah-ee-deh-AH
idea
ありがたく思いました
phrase
ah-ree-gah-TAH-koo oh-moh-ee-ma-SHEE-tah
appreciated; was grateful for
うれしい
adj
oo-ray-SHEE
glad; happy
お役に立てて
phrase
oh-YAH-koo nee tah-TEH-teh
to be useful; to be of help
ご意見
noun
goh-EE-ken
opinion; feedback
メッセージ
noun
MEH-say-jee
message
歓迎します
verb
kahn-GAY shee-MAHSS
welcome
興味
noun
kyoh-MEE
interest
受け取り
verb
oo-KEH-toh-ree
receive
詳しい
adj
kuh-WAH-shee
detailed
提案
noun
tay-AHN
proposal
内容
noun
nah-YOH
content; details
Quiz
Spelling
Tap the letters to spell the word.
to be useful; to be of help
Show Answer
お役に立ててappreciated; was grateful for
Show Answer
ありがたく思いましたreceive
Show Answer
受け取りglad; happy