Reducing unnecessary video meetings | Learn Japanese in English

Japanese lesson set in a contemporary Tokyo everyday setting: In a remote work discussion, two adults decide when video meetings are needed and when written updates can replace them..

EN → JA / Level: B2

About This Lesson

Use Reducing unnecessary video meetings to practice Japanese conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

A

できるだけ不要なビデオ会議を減らしたいです。

deh-kee-ROO dah-KEH foo-YOH-nah bee-dee-oh KAI-gee oh heh-rah-shi-TAI dess I want to reduce unnecessary video meetings where possible.
B

わかりますが、反応が見えることで有益になる話し合いもあります。

wah-kah-ree-MAHSS gah, hahn-NOH gah mee-EH-roo koh-toh deh yoo-EH-kee nah-roo hah-nah-shee-AH-ee moh ah-ree-MAHSS I understand, though some discussions benefit from visible reactions.
A

複雑な決定はリアルタイムで話し合う価値がありますが、更新情報はそうでないことが多いです。

foo-koo-ZAH-tsoo nah keh-TEH wa ree-ah-roo TAI-moo deh hah-nah-shee-AH-oo KAH-chee gah ah-ree-MAHSS gah, ohp-dah-teh joh-HOH wa soh deh NAI koh-toh gah OH-ee dess Complex decisions deserve live discussion, but updates often do not.
B

それなら、意思決定の会議と情報共有を分けるべきです。

soh-reh-NAH-rah, ee-shee keh-TEH noh KAI-gee toh joh-HOH KYOH-yoo oh wah-KEH-roo beh-KEE dess Then we should separate decision meetings from information sharing.
A

書面で更新すれば、皆がよりよく考えて返答できます。

shoh-MEN deh koh-SHEEN soo-REH-bah, mee-NAH gah yoh-ree yoh-KOO kahn-GAH-eh-teh hen-TOH deh-kee-MAHSS Written updates would let people respond more thoughtfully.
B

書面での更新は記録も残るので、後で役立ちます。

shoh-MEN deh noh koh-SHEEN wa kee-ROH-koo moh noh-KOH-roo noh deh, ah-TOH deh yah-koo-DAH-chee-MAHSS They also create records, which is useful later.
A

定例会議でその方法を試行できますか。

teh-REH KAI-gee deh soh-noh HOH-hoh oh shee-KOH deh-kee-MAHSS kah Could we pilot that approach with a recurring meeting?
B

それを試して、結果の質を比較できます。

soh-reh oh tah-MEH-shee-teh, keh-KAH noh SHEE-tsoo oh hee-KAH-koo deh-kee-MAHSS We can test it and compare the quality of outcomes.

Word by Word

できるだけ できるだけ means as much as possible in this sentence. In this expression, できる contributes possibility and だけ limits the amount to that extent. A common pattern is できるだけ followed by an action or description.
不要 不要 means unnecessary or not needed in 不要なビデオ会議. It describes meetings that can be omitted without being needed. A common pattern is 不要な followed by a noun.
な な links the noun-like description 不要 to the noun ビデオ会議, making 不要なビデオ会議 mean unnecessary video meetings. This linking form is used before a noun when describing it.
ビデオ ビデオ means video here and identifies the type of meeting in ビデオ会議. It is used before 会議 to specify that the meeting takes place by video. This kind of noun combination is common in Japanese.
会議 会議 means meeting in ビデオ会議. Here it refers to a work meeting that the speakers want to reduce when it is unnecessary. It can be combined with a preceding word to specify the kind of meeting.
を を marks ビデオ会議 as the thing affected by 減らしたい. In ビデオ会議を減らしたいです, it identifies what the speaker wants to reduce. A common pattern is a noun followed by を and an action verb.
減らしたい 減らしたい expresses the speaker’s wish to reduce something. It is formed from 減らす with たい, and the polite ending appears separately in 減らしたいです. A common pattern is a nounを減らしたい.
です です makes 減らしたいです a polite statement. Here it gives the speaker’s wish a polite sentence ending. It commonly follows a description or an expression of intention.
わかります わかります is the polite form of わかる and means I understand here. B uses わかりますが to acknowledge A’s point before adding another consideration. This is useful when politely recognizing someone’s view.
が が in わかりますが links an acknowledgment to a contrasting point, meaning but here. It softens the transition from agreement to a different consideration. A common pattern is a statement followed by が and a contrasting statement.
反応 反応 means reaction in 反応が見える. Here it refers to people’s visible reactions during a discussion. It is useful when talking about how someone responds to an event, comment, or proposal.
見える 見える means be visible or can be seen in 反応が見える. It describes the reactions as naturally visible rather than saying that someone actively looks at them. A common pattern is a noun followed by が見える.
こと こと turns 反応が見える into the fact or circumstance that reactions are visible in 反応が見えることで. This lets that circumstance be connected to the result 有益になる. A common pattern is a clause followed by こと.
で で in 反応が見えることで shows that the circumstance of reactions being visible produces a result. Together with こと, it means through or because of that circumstance here. A common pattern is a clause followed by ことで to give a reason or means.
有益 有益 means beneficial or useful in 有益になる. Here some discussions become beneficial because reactions can be seen. It is useful when describing something that provides value or benefit.
に に in 有益になる marks the resulting state reached with なる. It shows that something becomes beneficial. A common pattern is a description followed by に and なる.
なる なる means become in 有益になる. Here it describes discussions becoming beneficial under a certain condition. A common reusable pattern is Xになる for a change into a state.
話し合い 話し合い means discussion in 話し合いもあります. It refers to a discussion as an activity or topic, especially one where people exchange views. This word is useful when referring to a discussion as something that exists or is needed.
も も adds the meaning also or too in 話し合いもあります. It presents discussions as another type of situation that exists in addition to what was already mentioned. A common pattern is a noun followed by もあります.
あります あります is the polite form of ある and means there are or exist here. In 話し合いもあります, it politely states that some discussions also exist. It is commonly used after a noun when saying that something is present.
複雑 複雑 means complex in 複雑な決定. It describes decisions that involve complicated issues and therefore deserve live discussion. A common pattern is 複雑な followed by a noun.
決定 決定 means decision in 複雑な決定. Here it refers to a decision that may require real-time discussion. The same word appears in 意思決定, which means decision-making in this dialogue.
は は marks 複雑な決定 as the topic in 複雑な決定は. The rest of the sentence comments on what is worthwhile for those decisions. A common pattern is a topic followed by は and a comment.
リアルタイム リアルタイム means real time in リアルタイムで話し合う. Here it describes a discussion held live rather than through a delayed written update. It is useful when emphasizing that communication happens as events unfold.
話し合う 話し合う means discuss in リアルタイムで話し合う. It describes people exchanging views together about a decision. A common pattern is to use it for people discussing an issue or plan.
価値 価値 means value or worth in 話し合う価値があります. In this construction, it indicates that discussing complex decisions is worthwhile. A common pattern is a verb followed by 価値があります to say that an action is worth doing.
更新情報 更新情報 means update information in 更新情報は. It refers to information about the latest status or changes. Here it is contrasted with complex decisions because it often does not need live discussion.
そう そう means so or in that way in そうでない. It refers back to the preceding idea of deserving live discussion. This lets Japanese avoid repeating the whole preceding description in a contrast.
ない ない makes そうでない negative, meaning not so or not having that property. Here it says that updates often do not deserve live discussion. A common pattern is そうでない when referring back to a previous description.
多い 多い means often the case in そうでないことが多いです. With こと, it describes a situation that happens frequently rather than simply counting objects. The reusable pattern ことが多い expresses that something often happens.
それ それ means that in それなら. Here it refers to the point just made about using written updates instead of some live discussions. It is useful for referring to a previously mentioned idea.
なら なら in それなら means then or in that case. It uses the previous point as the basis for the next proposal. A common expression is それなら when responding to information just given.
意思決定 意思決定 means decision-making in 意思決定の会議. It refers to the process or activity of making decisions, rather than to information sharing. Here it identifies the meetings that should be kept separate.
の の connects 意思決定 to 会議 in 意思決定の会議. It shows that the meeting is related to decision-making. A common pattern is AのB, where A modifies or specifies B.
と と connects 意思決定の会議 and 情報共有 in 意思決定の会議と情報共有. Here it means and and joins the two things that should be separated. It is commonly used to connect listed nouns.
情報共有 情報共有 means information sharing in 情報共有を分けるべきです. It refers to sharing updates or information rather than making decisions. Here it is one of the two activities that should be kept separate.
分ける 分ける means separate in 意思決定の会議と情報共有を分けるべきです. It describes organizing decision meetings and information sharing as different activities. A common pattern is AとBを分ける.
べき べき expresses should or ought to in 分けるべきです. It presents separating the two activities as the appropriate action. A common pattern is a verb followed by べきです when giving a recommendation.
書面 書面 means written form in 書面で更新すれば. It shows that the update is provided in writing rather than through a live meeting. A common pattern is 書面で followed by an action.
更新すれば 更新すれば means if one provides an update here. It is the conditional form of 更新する and sets the condition for people being able to respond more thoughtfully. A common pattern is 〜すれば followed by the resulting action or situation.
皆 皆 means everyone in 皆がよりよく考えて. Here it refers to all the people receiving the written updates. It is useful when discussing a group as a whole.
より より adds a comparative meaning of more in よりよく考えて. It makes the thinking more careful or thorough than it would otherwise be. A common pattern is より followed by an adverb or adjective.
よく よく means well or carefully in よりよく考えて. Here it describes the quality of the thinking, not frequency. The expression よく考えて is useful when asking someone to consider something carefully.
考えて 考えて is the て-form of 考える and means thinking or considering here. It links careful consideration to the following ability to respond. The て-form commonly connects one action with a subsequent action or result.
返答 返答 means response or reply in 返答できます. Here it is the response that people can give after considering the written update. It is useful when referring to a formal or direct reply.
できます できます is the polite form of できる and means can or be able to here. In 返答できます, it says that people are able to respond. It is commonly used after an action or activity to express ability or possibility.
記録 記録 means record in 記録も残る. Here it refers to a lasting written record created by the updates. It is useful when discussing information that can be checked later.
残る 残る means remain or be left in 記録も残る. It describes the record continuing to exist after the discussion or update. A common pattern is a record or trace followed by 残る.
ので ので connects 記録も残る to the result 後で役立ちます and gives the reason, because or so. Here the lasting record is the reason it is useful later. It is commonly used to state a reason in a polite, explanatory way.
後 後 means later or afterward in 後で. It places the usefulness of the records at a later time. The expression 後で is commonly used for something done or happening later.
役立ちます 役立ちます is the polite form of 役立つ and means be useful here. It says that the records serve a useful purpose later. This form is useful when explaining the practical benefit of information or an action.
定例会議 定例会議 means recurring or regular meeting in 定例会議で. It refers to a meeting that takes place on a regular schedule. Here it is the setting chosen for piloting the new approach.
その その means that or the mentioned in その方法. It points to the approach just discussed rather than introducing a new one. A common pattern is その followed by a noun referring to something already mentioned.
方法 方法 means method or approach in その方法. Here it refers to separating decision meetings from information sharing and using written updates when suitable. It is useful when discussing how to carry out an idea.
試行 試行 means a pilot or trial in 方法を試行できますか. It presents the approach as something to be tested in practice before wider use. This formal term is useful in work discussions about testing a process.
か か marks the question in 試行できますか. It turns the polite statement into a request asking whether the approach can be piloted. A common pattern is a polite verb ending followed by か.
試して 試して is the て-form of 試す and means trying or testing here. It connects testing the approach with comparing the quality of the outcomes. A common pattern is Aを試して、B to link two actions.
結果 結果 means result or outcome in 結果の質. Here it refers to what comes from using the tested meeting approach. It is useful when evaluating the effect of a process or decision.
質 質 means quality in 結果の質. It identifies the aspect of the outcomes that the speakers plan to compare. A common pattern is Nの質 when discussing the quality of something.
比較 比較 means comparison or comparing in 比較できます. Together with できます, it means can compare. A common pattern is AとBを比較する when comparing two things.

Grammar Points

できるだけ＋動詞

できるだけビデオ会議を減らしたいです。

deh-kee-ROO dah-KEH bee-dee-oh KAI-gee oh heh-rah-shi-TAI dess

I want to reduce video meetings as much as possible.

できるだけ means “as much as possible” and is placed before the verb phrase it modifies.

動詞ます形の語幹＋たいです

ビデオ会議を減らしたいです。

bee-dee-oh KAI-gee oh heh-rah-shi-TAI dess

I want to reduce video meetings.

たいです expresses the speaker’s desire to do something. Attach it to the verb’s ます-stem.

Japanese Vocabulary

できるだけ adv
deh-kee-ROO dah-KEH as much as possible
ビデオ会議 noun
bee-dee-oh KAI-gee video meeting
リアルタイム noun
ree-ah-roo TAI-moo real time
わかる verb
wah-KAH-roo to understand わかります
決定 noun
keh-TEH decision
見える verb
mee-EH-roo to be visible
減らす verb
heh-RAH-soo to reduce 減らしたい
反応 noun
hahn-NOH reaction
不要 adj
foo-YOH unnecessary 不要な
複雑 adj
foo-koo-ZAH-tsoo complex 複雑な
有益 adj
yoo-EH-kee beneficial 有益な
話し合い noun
hah-nah-shee-AH-ee discussion

Quiz

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

to reduce

Show Answer減らしたい

to understand

Show Answerわかります

video meeting

Show Answerビデオ会議

discussion

Show Answer話し合い