About This Lesson
Use Strengthening an Energy-Use Proposal to practice Japanese conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.
Dialogue
A
オフィスのエネルギー使用を減らすための提案書を作成しました。
oh-FEE-soo no eh-neh-roo-GHEE shee-YOH oh heh-RAH-soo TAH-meh-no teh-ee-AHN-shoh oh sah-koo-SAY shee-mah-SHEE-tah. I drafted a proposal for reducing energy use in the office.
B
その提案には、利点、費用、そして考えられる反対意見を含めるべきです。
soh-noh teh-ee-AHN nee wah, ree-TEN, hee-YOH, soh-SHEE-teh kahn-gah-eh-RAH-reh-roo hahn-TAH-ee ee-KEN oh foo-koo-MEH-roo beh-KEE dess. It should include benefits, costs, and possible objections.
A
利点の項目はできていますが、反対意見の項目にはさらに詳しい説明が必要です。
ree-TEN no koh-MOH-koo wah deh-kee-TEH-ee-mahss gah, hahn-TAH-ee ee-KEN no koh-MOH-koo nee wah sah-rah-NEE koo-wah-SHEE sett-soo-MAY gah hee-tsOO-YOH dess. The benefits section is ready, but the objections section needs more detail.
B
懸念をあらかじめ想定しておくと、提案の信頼性が高まります。
keh-NEN oh ah-rah-kah-JEE-meh soh-TEH shee-TEH oh-koo toh, teh-ee-AHN no sheen-RAH-SAY gah tah-kah-mah-REE-mahss. Anticipating concerns will make the proposal more credible.
A
快適さや設備の信頼性を心配するチームもあるかもしれません。
kah-ee-TEH-kee-sah yah seh-tsoo-BEE no sheen-RAH-SAY oh sheen-PAH-ee soo-roo CHEE-moo moh ah-roo kah-MOH shee-reh-MAH-sen. Some teams may worry about comfort or equipment reliability.
B
では、約束ではなく小規模な試験導入で、その懸念に対応しましょう。
deh-WAH, yah-koo-SOH-koo deh-WAH nah-koo shoh-kee-BOH nah shee-KEN doh-NYOO deh, soh-noh keh-NEN nee tah-ee-OH shee-mah-SHOH. Then address those concerns with pilots rather than promises.
A
小規模な試験を行えば、より広く導入する前に証拠を得られます。
shoh-kee-BOH nah shee-KEN oh oh-koh-NAH-eh-bah, yoh-ree hee-ROH-koo doh-NYOO soo-roo MAH-eh nee SHOH-koh oh eh-RAH-reh-MAHss. A small trial would produce evidence before broader adoption.
B
そうすれば、経営陣から承認を得やすくなります。
soh soo-REH-bah, kay-eh-ee-JEEN kah-rah shoh-NEEN oh eh-YAH-soo-koo nah-ree-MAHss. That would make approval easier for leadership.Word by Word
オフィス
The noun "オフィス" means office and identifies the workplace in this sentence. In "オフィスのエネルギー使用", it is linked to the following noun with の. This is useful when describing a workplace or another location connected to a topic.
の
The particle "の" links "オフィス" to "エネルギー使用", showing that the energy use is associated with the office. The reusable pattern is XのY, meaning Y related to or belonging to X. This is common when specifying a workplace, organization, or topic.
エネルギー
The noun "エネルギー" means energy in the proposal about reducing office energy use. It combines with "使用" in "エネルギー使用" to specify what kind of use is being discussed. This is useful in workplace or environmental discussions.
使用
The noun "使用" means use or usage here, specifically the use of energy. In "エネルギー使用を減らす", it is the object that will be reduced. This formal word is useful in proposals, policies, and discussions about resources or equipment.
を
The particle "を" marks "エネルギー使用" as the object of "減らす" in "エネルギー使用を減らす". It shows what the action directly affects. The reusable pattern is Xを減らす when reducing a particular thing.
減らす
The verb "減らす" means to reduce something, and here the thing reduced is "エネルギー使用". It is used with an object marked by を, as in "エネルギー使用を減らす". This is useful when proposing a reduction in costs, waste, time, or resource use.
ため
The noun-like form "ため" expresses purpose in "減らすための提案書", meaning a proposal intended to reduce energy use. The の after it connects the purpose phrase to "提案書". This pattern is useful when describing something made or used for a specific goal.
提案書
The noun "提案書" means a proposal document, the document being prepared in this dialogue. In "減らすための提案書", the preceding phrase explains its purpose. This word is useful in workplace situations involving plans submitted for discussion or approval.
作成
The noun "作成" refers to creating or drafting a document, as shown in "提案書を作成しました". It focuses on preparing the proposal as a concrete document. This formal word is useful for reports, plans, applications, and other written materials.
しました
The form "しました" politely describes a completed action in "作成しました", so the speaker has already drafted the proposal. It gives the statement a polite past meaning. This form is useful when reporting a finished task in a professional conversation.
その
The determiner "その" refers to the proposal already mentioned, giving "その提案" the meaning of that proposal or the proposal in question. It comes directly before the noun it identifies. This is useful when continuing to discuss a specific item already known to both speakers.
提案
The noun "提案" means proposal, referring here to the plan for reducing energy use. In "その提案には", it is the topic to which the listed contents should be added. This word is useful for plans presented to colleagues, managers, or decision makers.
に
In "その提案には", the particle "に" marks the proposal as the thing to which the listed benefits, costs, and objections belong. Together with は, it frames the proposal as the main topic. The pattern Xには is useful when describing what a document, plan, or place contains or requires.
は
The particle "は" makes "その提案には" the topic of the sentence. It highlights the proposal while the sentence explains what it should include. This is useful when setting a topic before giving information, requirements, or a contrast.
利点
The noun "利点" means benefit or advantage, one of the items that the proposal should include. It appears in a list with costs and possible objections. This formal word is useful when evaluating a plan or explaining why an initiative may be worthwhile.
費用
The noun "費用" means cost or expense, another item required in the proposal. It is listed together with benefits and objections as information that should be considered. This word is useful in budgets, project plans, and workplace decision making.
そして
The conjunction "そして" adds the final listed item, connecting it to the preceding benefits and costs. In this sentence it means and, with a slightly formal flow suitable for a proposal. It is useful when continuing a sequence of related points.
考えられる
The form "考えられる" presents the objections as possibilities that can be considered, in "考えられる反対意見". It modifies "反対意見" and signals that these objections may arise. The pattern 考えられるX is useful when planning for possible issues or outcomes.
反対意見
The noun "反対意見" means an objection or opposing opinion that someone may raise about the proposal. Here it is one of the categories that the document should include. This term is useful when preparing for disagreement in meetings, reviews, or approvals.
含める
The verb "含める" means to include something, and here it refers to including benefits, costs, and possible objections in the proposal. The object is marked by を in "反対意見を含める". This is useful when specifying what a document, plan, or list must contain.
べき
The form "べき" expresses what should be done in "含めるべきです". Here it presents including the listed information as a recommendation or requirement. The pattern Xべきです is useful when politely stating what is appropriate or necessary.
です
The polite ending "です" completes the recommendation in "含めるべきです". It gives the statement a formal and respectful tone rather than changing the main recommendation. This is useful in professional advice, explanations, and meeting discussions.
項目
The noun "項目" means a section or item within a document, as in "利点の項目" and "反対意見の項目". It identifies separate parts of the proposal. This word is useful when discussing the structure of reports, forms, agendas, or plans.
できて
The linked form "できて" describes the benefits section as completed or ready in "できています". It connects that state to "います", which presents it as the current situation. This is useful when reporting that a section, document, or task is already ready.
います
In "できています", the polite form "います" helps describe the section as remaining in a completed or ready state. It refers here to a state rather than to the existence of a person. This pattern is useful when saying that work is currently finished or prepared.
が
The particle "が" creates a contrast in "できていますが", meaning the benefits section is ready, but the objections section still needs more detail. It links the completed first point to the limitation that follows. This is useful when acknowledging one fact before presenting a different one.
さらに
The adverb "さらに" means further or more in "さらに詳しい説明". It increases the degree of detail requested for the objections section. This is useful when asking for additional information, improvement, or explanation.
詳しい
The adjective "詳しい" means detailed in "さらに詳しい説明". It describes the explanation as needing more specific information. This word is useful when requesting a fuller account of a plan, process, problem, or event.
説明
The noun "説明" means explanation or details, and here it is what the objections section needs. In "詳しい説明が必要です", it is marked as necessary. This word is useful when asking someone to clarify a proposal, decision, or procedure.
必要
The word "必要" means necessary or needed in "詳しい説明が必要です". It states that more detailed explanation is required for the objections section. The pattern Xが必要です is useful when identifying something required for a task or decision.
懸念
The noun "懸念" means concern, referring to issues people may have about the proposal. In "懸念をあらかじめ想定しておく", these concerns are considered before they are raised. This formal word is useful in planning, risk discussion, and professional proposals.
あらかじめ
The adverb "あらかじめ" means in advance in "あらかじめ想定しておく". It shows that the concerns are considered before the discussion or implementation. This is useful when preparing responses, materials, or arrangements ahead of time.
想定
The noun "想定" refers here to anticipating or assuming possible concerns before they occur. In "懸念をあらかじめ想定しておく", it is part of a preparation step. This formal word is useful when planning for expected questions, risks, or situations.
して
The linked form "して" connects the act of anticipating concerns with the advance-preparation meaning of "おく" in "想定しておく". The whole expression means to anticipate them beforehand. This linking pattern is useful when one action is followed by another related action or state.
おく
In "想定しておく", the form "おく" adds the idea of doing something beforehand so it is ready for later use. Here the speakers prepare by anticipating concerns before addressing the proposal. This construction is useful for advance preparation in work and daily planning.
と
The particle "と" connects the prepared condition "想定しておく" to its result in "おくと、提案の信頼性が高まります". It gives the meaning when or if that preparation is done, the proposal becomes more credible. This is useful for explaining a predictable result.
信頼性
The noun "信頼性" means credibility or reliability, and here it refers to how trustworthy the proposal appears. In "提案の信頼性が高まります", the proposal's credibility increases when concerns are anticipated. This word is useful when evaluating plans, information, systems, or equipment.
高まります
The polite form "高まります" means increases or becomes higher in "信頼性が高まります". It describes a rise in the proposal's credibility as a result of addressing concerns. The pattern Xが高まります is useful for discussing changes in trust, interest, quality, or effectiveness.
快適さ
The noun "快適さ" means comfort, one aspect that teams may worry about. It is listed with equipment reliability in the discussion of possible objections. This word is useful when evaluating an office environment, service, product, or working condition.
や
The particle "や" lists examples in "快適さや設備", meaning comfort, equipment, and similar concerns. It indicates that the list is not necessarily complete. The pattern AやB is useful when naming several representative items.
設備
The noun "設備" means equipment or facilities, referring here to office systems whose reliability may be questioned. It is one of the possible concerns listed with comfort. This word is useful in workplace, building, maintenance, and technical discussions.
心配
The noun "心配" means worry or concern in "設備の信頼性を心配する". Together with する, it describes teams worrying about equipment reliability. The pattern Xを心配する is useful when identifying the thing that causes concern.
する
In "心配する", the verb "する" turns "心配" into the action or state of worrying about something. The object of that worry is marked by を. This pattern is useful with many noun-based actions and concerns in everyday and workplace speech.
チーム
The noun "チーム" means team, referring to groups in the organization that may have concerns. In "心配するチームもあるかもしれません", it is the group whose possible reaction is being anticipated. This word is useful when discussing departments or working groups.
も
The particle "も" adds the teams to the range of possible concerned parties in "チームもあるかもしれません". It gives the sense that teams may also be among those with concerns. This is useful when adding another person, group, or possibility to an existing discussion.
ある
The verb "ある" expresses the existence of something nonhuman, here the possibility that there are teams with these concerns. In "チームもあるかもしれません", it says that such teams may exist. This is useful when stating that an issue, option, or group is present.
かも
The form "かも" contributes uncertainty in "かもしれません", meaning may or might. It shows that the speaker is presenting possible team concerns rather than a confirmed fact. This is useful when discussing predictions or possibilities cautiously.
しれません
The polite form "しれません" completes "かもしれません", a polite expression of possibility. Here it makes the claim about concerned teams cautious rather than definite. This expression is useful when making a tentative prediction in a professional conversation.
では
The expression "では" means then or in that case and moves the conversation from possible concerns to a proposed response. In "では、約束ではなく", it introduces the next course of action. This is useful when responding to a point and suggesting what to do next.
約束
The noun "約束" means promise, referring here to assurances that are not enough by themselves to address the concerns. It is contrasted with a small-scale trial in "約束ではなく小規模な試験導入". This word is useful when discussing commitments or assurances.
で
In "約束ではなく", the form "で" helps connect the noun "約束" to the negative contrast that follows. It does not mean by or with in this sentence; the whole expression means rather than a promise. This construction is useful when replacing one proposed approach with another.
なく
The linked negative form "なく" appears in "ではなく", meaning not being or rather than. Here it rejects promises as the method and contrasts them with a small-scale trial. This pattern is useful when saying that one option should be replaced by another.
小規模
The word "小規模" means small-scale and describes the limited size of the proposed trial introduction. In "小規模な試験導入", it helps present the trial as a manageable way to gather evidence. This is useful when proposing a limited test before wider use.
な
The linking element "な" allows "小規模" to modify the noun "試験導入" in "小規模な試験導入". It connects the description of scale to the trial introduction as a complete noun phrase. This pattern is useful when a descriptive word comes before a noun.
試験導入
The noun "試験導入" means a pilot introduction or trial implementation, used here as a practical response to concerns. It suggests trying the proposal on a limited scale before relying on broader promises. This term is useful in workplace, technical, and organizational change discussions.
対応
The noun "対応" means a response or way of addressing an issue, and here it refers to addressing the concerns through a pilot. In "懸念に対応しましょう", the concern is marked with に. This formal word is useful when describing how to handle problems, requests, or risks.
しましょう
The form "しましょう" politely proposes a joint action, here addressing the concerns through a small-scale trial. It gives the suggestion a cooperative tone. This is useful when inviting a colleague or group to take the next step together.
試験
The noun "試験" means trial or test in "小規模な試験を行えば". It refers to the limited test whose results can provide evidence before broader adoption. This word is useful when evaluating a method, system, or proposal before full implementation.
行えば
The form "行えば" means if one carries out or conducts, and here it introduces the condition of conducting the trial. In "試験を行えば", it leads to the result that evidence can be obtained. This conditional form is useful when explaining what will happen if an action is taken.
より
The word "より" strengthens the adverb "広く" in "より広く導入する", giving the meaning more broadly or to a greater extent. It shows that the trial comes before a wider level of adoption. This is useful when describing an increase in scope or degree.
広く
The adverbial form "広く" means broadly or widely in "より広く導入する". It describes the scope of the later adoption of the proposal. This word is useful when discussing wider application across teams, offices, or other areas.
導入
The noun "導入" means introduction or adoption, referring here to putting the energy-use proposal into wider use. In "より広く導入する", it describes implementation across a broader scope. This formal word is useful for new systems, methods, policies, or programs.
前
The noun "前" means before in the time expression "導入する前に". It places the evidence-gathering step earlier than broader adoption. The pattern X前に is useful when explaining what must happen before an action.
証拠
The noun "証拠" means evidence, referring to information produced by the small trial. The evidence can support a decision about wider adoption. This word is useful when a proposal needs observable results rather than promises alone.
得られます
The polite form "得られます" means can obtain or can gain in "証拠を得られます". It presents evidence as something that can be obtained by conducting the trial. This is useful when explaining what a process or action makes possible.
そう
The adverb "そう" means that way or doing so in "そうすれば". It refers back to the proposed trial and evidence-gathering approach. This is useful when referring to an action just mentioned instead of repeating it.
すれば
The form "すれば" means if doing so in "そうすれば", introducing the consequence that approval becomes easier. It links the earlier action to its expected result. This conditional pattern is useful when explaining the benefit of a proposed step.
経営陣
The noun "経営陣" means leadership or management, referring to the people who can approve the proposal. In "経営陣から", it is the source from which approval is obtained. This word is useful in workplace discussions about organizational decisions.
から
The particle "から" marks the source in "経営陣から承認を得る", meaning approval is obtained from leadership. It identifies who grants or provides the approval. This is useful when naming the person or group from whom permission or support comes.
承認
The noun "承認" means approval, referring here to formal acceptance of the proposal by leadership. It is the object obtained in "承認を得やすくなります". This formal word is useful for projects, budgets, policies, and workplace decisions.
得やすく
The form "得やすく" means easy to obtain in "承認を得やすくなります". It describes approval as becoming easier to secure after evidence is gathered. This pattern is useful when explaining that a result becomes easier to achieve.
なります
The polite form "なります" means becomes in "得やすくなります". It marks a change to a condition in which approval is easier to obtain. This is useful when describing how a result, situation, or process changes after an action.
Grammar Points
～ておく
反対意見をあらかじめ想定しておきます。
hahn-TAH-ee ee-KEN oh ah-rah-kah-JEE-meh soh-TEH shee-TEH oh-KEE-mahss.We will anticipate opposing opinions in advance.
～ておく expresses doing something beforehand in preparation for a future situation.
～ましょう
小規模な試験導入で対応しましょう。
shoh-kee-BOH nah shee-KEN doh-NYOO deh tah-ee-OH shee-mah-SHOH.Let's address it with a small-scale pilot implementation.
～ましょう is used to suggest an action together, meaning “let's …”.
Japanese Vocabulary
エネルギー使用
noun
eh-neh-roo-GHEE shee-YOH
energy use
含める
verb
foo-koo-MEH-roo
to include
減らす
verb
heh-RAH-soo
to reduce
考えられる
verb
kahn-gah-eh-RAH-reh-roo
possible; conceivable
項目
noun
koh-MOH-koo
section; item
作成しました
verb
sah-koo-SAY shee-mah-SHEE-tah
drafted; created
詳しい説明
noun
koo-wah-SHEE sett-soo-MAY
detailed explanation
提案書
noun
teh-ee-AHN-shoh
proposal document
反対意見
noun
hahn-TAH-ee ee-KEN
objection; opposing opinion
費用
noun
hee-YOH
cost; expense
必要です
phrase
hee-tsOO-YOH dess
is necessary; is needed
利点
noun
ree-TEN
benefit; advantage
Quiz
Spelling
Tap the letters to spell the word.
possible; conceivable
Show Answer
考えられるdrafted; created
Show Answer
作成しましたobjection; opposing opinion
Show Answer
反対意見energy use