About This Lesson
Use Managing an Unsustainable Workload to practice Japanese conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.
Dialogue
A
成果は出せていますが、このペースでは続けられなくなりそうです。
SAY-kah wah dah-SEH-teh-ee-mahs gah, KOH-noh PAY-soo deh-wah tsoo-zoo-keh-rah-reh-nah-koo nah-ree-SOH dehs. I have been productive, but the pace is becoming unsustainable.
B
仕事の成果が落ちる前に話してくれてありがとうございます。
shee-GOH-toh noh SAY-kah gah oh-CHEE-roo my-EH nee hah-NAH-shee-teh koo-reh-teh ah-ree-gah-TOH goh-zah-ee-MAHS. I appreciate you raising it before performance drops.
A
優先事項を減らしてもらえれば、成果を出し続けられます。
yoo-SEN jee-KOH oh heh-RAH-shee-teh moh-rah-eh-reh-bah, SAY-kah oh dah-shee-tsoo-keh-rah-reh-MAHS. I can continue delivering, provided priorities are reduced.
B
緊急の仕事と、主に周囲に見せるための仕事を区別する必要があります。
keen-KYOO noh shee-GOH-toh toh, OH-moh nee SHOO-ee nee mee-SEH-roo tah-meh noh shee-GOH-toh oh koo-BEH-tsoo soo-roo hee-TSOO-yoh gah ah-ree-MAHS. We need to distinguish urgent work from work done mainly for visibility.
A
人目につく仕事の中には、結果を変えないのにエネルギーを使うものがあります。
hee-TOH-meh nee TSOO-koo shee-GOH-toh noh nah-KAH nee wah, KEHK-kah oh kah-eh-NAH-ee noh-nee eh-neh-roo-GHEE oh tsoo-KAH-oo moh-noh gah ah-ree-MAHS. Some visible tasks consume energy without changing results.
B
それなら、その仕事を意識的に減らすか、他の人に任せるべきです。
soh-reh nah-rah, soh-noh shee-GOH-toh oh ee-SHEE-kee-teh-kee nee heh-RAH-soo kah, HOH-kah noh hee-TOH nee nah-MAH-seh-roo beh-kee dehs. Then we should cut or delegate them deliberately.
A
どこで作業を止めるかがもっと明確だと、私も助かります。
DOH-koh deh sah-GYOH oh toh-MEH-roo kah gah MOHT-toh MAY-kah-koo dah toh, wah-TAH-shee moh tah-soo-kah-ree-MAHS. I would also benefit from clearer stopping points.
B
進行中の仕事ごとに、完了の基準を決められます。
shin-KOH-choo noh shee-GOH-toh goh-toh nee, kahn-RYOH noh kee-JOON oh kee-meh-rah-reh-MAHS. I can define completion criteria for each active task.Word by Word
成果
In 成果は出せています, 成果 means the results or achievements being discussed. It is useful when talking about what work produces, and here it is the topic of the work discussion.
は
In 成果は出せています, は marks 成果 as the topic. It sets the results being produced against the later contrast about the unsustainable pace.
出せ
In 成果は出せています, 出せ expresses being able to produce or deliver results. It is the ability-related part of the expression and is connected to the following てています form.
て
In 出せています, て connects 出せ with います to express the speaker’s continuing state of being able to produce results. This connective form is useful when one verb form leads into another expression.
い
In 出せています, い is part of います and helps express the ongoing state of being able to produce results. It appears between the connective て and the polite ending ます.
ます
In 出せています, ます gives the expression a polite tone while completing います. This ending is appropriate in the professional conversation shown here.
が
In 成果は出せていますが, が introduces the contrast between continuing to produce results and the pace becoming unsustainable. It commonly links a positive statement to a qualification or opposing point.
この
In このペース, この means this and points to the pace currently being experienced. It comes directly before the noun it identifies, as in このペース.
ペース
In このペースでは続けられなくなりそうです, ペース means the current speed or rate of work. It is useful for discussing how quickly an activity is progressing.
で
In このペースでは続けられなくなりそうです, で places the situation under the current pace or at that rate. It helps describe the condition in which continuing may become impossible.
続け
In 続けられなくなりそうです, 続け carries the meaning of continuing the activity. It is the continuation part before the ability and negative elements in this expression.
られ
In 続けられなくなりそうです, られ marks the ability-related meaning: being able to continue. Here that ability is later negated, so the speaker may no longer be able to continue at this pace.
なく
In 続けられなくなりそうです, なく carries the negative meaning and connects it to なりそう. It shows that the possibility being described is becoming one of no longer being able to continue.
なり
In 続けられなくなりそうです, なり expresses becoming or changing into a new state. The new state here is the inability to continue.
そう
In 続けられなくなりそうです, そう means that the described change seems likely or is about to happen. It is useful for giving an assessment based on the current situation.
です
In 続けられなくなりそうです, です gives the statement a polite ending. It makes the assessment suitable for this professional discussion.
仕事
In 仕事の成果が落ちる前に, 仕事 means work or the job being discussed. It is linked to 成果 to identify whose results may decline.
の
In 仕事の成果, の links 仕事 with 成果 and shows that the results belong to or are associated with the work. This linking pattern is common when one noun describes another noun.
落ちる
In 仕事の成果が落ちる前に, 落ちる means to drop or decline, referring to work results becoming lower. It is used here before 前に to describe a point in time that should be avoided.
前
In 落ちる前に, 前 means before. It identifies the time before the results decline, and the following に marks that time relationship.
に
In 落ちる前に, に marks the time point expressed by 前. It is useful for saying that something happens before or at a particular time.
話し
In 話してくれてありがとうございます, 話し carries the idea of telling or raising the matter with the other person. It appears at the beginning of the connected expression for thanking someone for speaking up.
くれ
In 話してくれてありがとうございます, くれ shows that the other person did the action as a favor for the speaker. This pattern is useful when thanking someone for doing something helpful.
ありがとうございます
ありがとうございます is the polite expression used to thank the other person for raising the issue. ありがとう supplies the thanks, ござい is the respectful middle element of the set expression, and ます provides the polite ending.
優先事項
In 優先事項を減らしてもらえれば, 優先事項 means the priorities that should receive attention first. It is useful in planning work, especially when deciding which responsibilities remain active.
を
In 優先事項を減らしてもらえれば, を marks 優先事項 as the object affected by 減らす. It shows what is being reduced.
減らし
In 優先事項を減らしてもらえれば, 減らし means reducing the priorities. It is connected to てもらえれば to express the condition that someone reduces them for the speaker.
もらえ
In 減らしてもらえれば, もらえ expresses getting or receiving another person’s action as help. Here the speaker asks for the priorities to be reduced on their behalf.
れば
In 減らしてもらえれば, れば makes the condition meaning if or provided that. The speaker says they can continue delivering when this condition is met.
出し
In 成果を出し続けられます, 出し carries the meaning of producing or delivering results. It is followed by 続け to show that the production of results continues.
緊急
In 緊急の仕事, 緊急 marks the work as urgent and requiring prompt attention. It is placed before の仕事 to identify one category of work.
と
In 緊急の仕事と、主に周囲に見せるための仕事, と connects the two categories that need to be distinguished. It is useful when listing or comparing two items.
主に
In 主に周囲に見せるための仕事, 主に means mainly or chiefly. It modifies the purpose of the work and shows that visibility is its primary purpose.
周囲
In 周囲に見せるための仕事, 周囲 means the people or environment around the speaker. Here it refers to the people who may see the work.
見せる
In 周囲に見せるための仕事, 見せる means to show something to someone. It is used with 周囲に and comes before ため to express the purpose of showing the work.
ため
In 周囲に見せるための仕事, ため expresses purpose: work done in order to show it to people around the speaker. This pattern is useful for explaining why an action or task is done.
区別
In 区別する必要があります, 区別 means a distinction between different categories. Here it identifies the separation between urgent work and work mainly done for visibility.
する
In 区別する必要があります, する combines with 区別 to mean making or drawing a distinction. This noun-plus-する pattern is useful for describing an intentional action.
必要
In 区別する必要があります, 必要 means that something is necessary. It is followed by があります to state that there is a need to distinguish the types of work.
あり
In 区別する必要があります, あり is the existence-related part of あります and supports the meaning that a need exists. This expression is used to state that an action is necessary.
人目につく
人目につく means to be visible or conspicuous to other people, as in 人目につく仕事. 人目 refers to people’s attention, に marks the relation to that attention, and つく expresses coming into it.
中
In 人目につく仕事の中には, 中 means among or within the group of tasks. It places the visible tasks inside the larger set of work being considered.
結果
In 結果を変えないのに, 結果 means the outcome or result of the work. It is the thing that the visible tasks do not change.
変え
In 結果を変えないのに, 変え carries the meaning of changing the result. It is followed by ない to say that the change does not occur.
ない
In 結果を変えないのに, ない makes the statement negative: the tasks do not change the results. It is followed by のに to create a contrast with the energy they consume.
のに
In 結果を変えないのに, のに means although or even though. It contrasts the lack of change in results with the fact that energy is still used.
エネルギー
In エネルギーを使う, エネルギー means the effort or energy spent on the tasks. It is useful for discussing the personal cost of work.
使う
In エネルギーを使う, 使う means to use or consume energy. It describes the resources required by the tasks, even when the results do not change.
もの
In ものがあります, もの refers to individual tasks or items within the group being described. Here it allows the sentence to say that there are some tasks with the stated characteristics.
それ
In それなら, それ refers back to the situation just described: visible tasks consume energy without changing results. It provides a clear reference point for the next response.
なら
In それなら, なら means if that is the case or then. It uses the preceding situation as the basis for the recommendation that follows.
その
In その仕事を意識的に減らすか, その points back to the tasks already discussed. It comes directly before 仕事 to identify which work should be reduced or delegated.
意識的
In 意識的に減らすか, 意識的 means deliberate or conscious. The に form makes it describe how the reduction should be carried out: with a clear decision rather than by accident.
減らす
In その仕事を意識的に減らすか, 減らす means to reduce the amount of that work. It is one of the two alternatives connected by か.
か
In 減らすか、他の人に任せるべきです, か connects the alternatives of reducing the work or delegating it. It is useful for presenting a choice between actions.
他
In 他の人に任せる, 他 means other or different from the current person. It helps identify someone outside the speaker as the possible recipient of the task.
人
In 他の人に任せる, 人 means a person or people. Together with 他の, it refers to another person who may take responsibility for the work.
任せる
In 他の人に任せる, 任せる means to entrust a task or responsibility to someone else. It is useful when discussing delegation and is followed here by the person receiving the task.
べき
In 減らすか、他の人に任せるべきです, べき expresses that the proposed action is the appropriate or advisable thing to do. It is useful for giving a firm recommendation about a responsibility.
どこ
In どこで作業を止めるか, どこ asks where or at what point. Here it identifies the stopping point for the work rather than a physical destination.
作業
In どこで作業を止めるか, 作業 means the work activity or task process being carried out. It is the object that is stopped at a clearly defined point.
止める
In 作業を止めるか, 止める means to stop the work activity. It is used in a question-like embedded expression about deciding where work should end.
もっと
In もっと明確だと, もっと means more or to a greater degree. It modifies 明確 and shows that the stopping points should be clearer than they currently are.
明確
In もっと明確だと, 明確 means clear and definite. Here it describes stopping points that make it easier to know when the work is complete for the day or task.
だ
In もっと明確だと, だ is the plain copula connecting 明確 with the following と condition. It presents the stopping points as being clear.
私
In 私も助かります, 私 means the speaker referring to themself. It identifies whose workload would become easier with clearer stopping points.
も
In 私も助かります, も means also or too. It shows that the speaker would also benefit from the proposed clearer stopping points.
助かり
In 私も助かります, 助かり conveys that the situation would be helpful or relieving for the speaker. It is the helpfulness part of the polite expression 助かります.
進行中
In 進行中の仕事ごとに, 進行中 means in progress or currently active. It identifies tasks that have started and are still being handled.
ごとに
In 進行中の仕事ごとに, ごとに means for each or separately for every item. It shows that completion criteria will be defined individually for each active task.
完了
In 完了の基準, 完了 means completion or the point at which something is finished. It describes what the criteria are intended to determine.
基準
In 完了の基準, 基準 means a standard or criterion used for judgment. Here it refers to the standard for deciding that an active task is complete.
決め
In 完了の基準を決められます, 決め means deciding or setting the criteria. It is followed by られます to express that the speaker can define them.
Grammar Points
〜続けられなくなりそうです
続けられなくなりそうです
tsoo-zoo-keh-rah-reh-nah-koo nah-ree-SOH dehsI seem likely to become unable to continue.
〜られなくなる means becoming unable to do something; 〜そうです expresses an appearance or likelihood.
〜てもらえれば
減らしてもらえれば
heh-RAH-shee-teh moh-rah-eh-reh-bahIf you could reduce them for me
〜てもらう means receiving someone’s action; 〜てもらえれば makes a polite conditional request.
Japanese Vocabulary
ペース
noun
PAY-soo
pace
このペースでは
緊急
adj
keen-KYOO
urgent
緊急の仕事
区別する
verb
koo-BEH-tsoo soo-roo
distinguish; differentiate
仕事を区別する
減らしてもらえれば
phrase
heh-RAH-shee-teh moh-rah-eh-reh-bah
if you reduce them for me
優先事項を減らしてもらえれば
主に
adv
OH-moh nee
mainly
主に周囲に見せるための仕事
周囲
noun
SHOO-ee
people around one; surroundings
周囲に見せる
出し続けられます
phrase
dah-shee-tsoo-keh-rah-reh-MAHS
can continue to produce
成果を出し続けられます
成果
noun
SAY-kah
results; achievements
成果は出せています
成果が落ちる
phrase
SAY-kah gah oh-CHEE-roo
performance declines
仕事の成果が落ちる前に
続けられなくなりそうです
phrase
tsoo-zoo-keh-rah-reh-nah-koo nah-ree-SOH dehs
seem likely to become unable to continue
このペースでは続けられなくなりそうです
優先事項
noun
yoo-SEN jee-KOH
priorities
優先事項を減らしてもらえれば
話してくれてありがとうございます
phrase
hah-NAH-shee-teh koo-reh-teh ah-ree-gah-TOH goh-zah-ee-MAHS
thank you for telling me
話してくれてありがとうございます
Quiz
Spelling
Tap the letters to spell the word.
can continue to produce
Show Answer
出し続けられますperformance declines
Show Answer
成果が落ちるpriorities
Show Answer
優先事項if you reduce them for me