Feeling tired at work | Learn Dutch in English

About This Lesson

Use Feeling tired at work to practice Dutch conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

Ik heb vandaag veel werk.

ik hep fahn-DAHKH vayl wehrk. I have a lot of work today.

Je ziet er moe uit, dus neem even pauze.

yuh ZEET uhr moo OWYT, doos NAYM AY-vuhn POW-zuh. You look tired, so take a break.

Ik maak me zorgen, omdat de deadline eraan komt.

ik MAHK muh ZOR-ghuhn, OM-daht duh DEAD-line uh-RAHN komt. I'm worried because the deadline is approaching.

Als je even weggaat, kun je daarna beter werken.

ahls yuh AY-vuhn WEKH-ghaht, kuhn yuh DAHR-nah BAY-tuhr WER-kuhn. Stepping away can help you work better afterward.

Misschien moet ik mijn ogen een minuut laten rusten.

mis-SKHEEN moot ik mine OH-ghuhn uhn mih-NYOOT LAH-tuhn RUHS-tuhn. Maybe I should rest my eyes for a minute.

Drink water en adem een minuut rustig.

drink WAH-tuhr en AH-duhm uhn mih-NYOOT RUHS-tikh. Drink water and breathe slowly for a minute.

Dan kan ik het laatste deel afmaken.

dahn kahn ik ut LAHT-stuh dayl AF-mah-kuh. Then I can finish the last section.

Ik zal het concept nakijken terwijl jij rust.

ik zal ut kon-SEPT NAH-kigh-kuh tuhr-WAYL yay ruhst. I will review the draft while you rest.

Word by Word

Ik “Ik” means “I” and is the subject in “Ik heb vandaag veel werk.” Use it when talking about yourself, especially before an action or something you have.

heb “heb” means “have” in “Ik heb vandaag veel werk.” It is the form of hebben used with “Ik”; the pattern “Ik heb vandaag veel werk” says what the speaker has. Use it when stating what you have.

vandaag “vandaag” means “today” and places “veel werk” on the current day in “Ik heb vandaag veel werk.” Use it to specify that something happens on today’s date.

veel “veel” means “a lot of” or “much” before “werk” in “veel werk.” It indicates a large amount of work. Use “veel” before a noun when describing a large quantity.

werk “werk” means “work” in “Ik heb vandaag veel werk.” Here it refers to the tasks the speaker has to do. Use it when talking about work or tasks, including in the phrase “veel werk”.

Je “Je” means “you” and is the subject in “Je ziet er moe uit.” Use it to address one person in ordinary conversation.

ziet In “Je ziet er moe uit,” “ziet” contributes the meaning “looks” as part of the expression describing someone’s appearance. It is the form of zien used with “je.” Use the full expression when saying how someone appears.

er In “Je ziet er moe uit,” “er” is part of the expression meaning “looks tired”; it does not mean “there” by itself here. It links “ziet” with the description “moe” before “uit.” Use it as part of this appearance construction.

moe “moe” means “tired” in “Je ziet er moe uit” and describes the person’s condition. It appears between “er” and “uit” in the appearance expression. Use it when someone appears tired.

uit In “Je ziet er moe uit,” “uit” completes the expression meaning “looks tired.” It is not being used with its separate meaning “out” here. Use it after the description in this appearance construction.

dus “dus” means “so” or “therefore” and connects the tired appearance with the advice “neem even pauze.” Use it to introduce a conclusion, result, or suggestion based on what was just said.

neem “neem” means “take” in the advice “neem even pauze.” It is the form of nemen used to give a direct instruction to the listener. Use it here to advise someone to take a break.

even “even” means “for a moment” or “briefly” in “neem even pauze.” It limits the break to a short time and makes the advice sound brief. Use it before an action when you mean that it should happen for a short while.

pauze “pauze” means “break” in “neem even pauze.” It refers to a short interruption of work or another activity. Use it when talking about resting from work.

maak In “Ik maak me zorgen,” “maak” is the form of maken used with “Ik.” Together with “me” and “zorgen,” the expression means “I am worried.” Use this full expression to describe your own concern.

me In “Ik maak me zorgen,” “me” refers back to the speaker and is part of the expression meaning “I am worried.” It shows who is experiencing the worry. Use it after “maak” in this expression.

zorgen In “Ik maak me zorgen,” “zorgen” is the concern part of the expression meaning “I am worried.” Its meaning here comes from the complete construction with “maak” and “me.” Use the full phrase when saying that something concerns you.

omdat “omdat” means “because” and introduces the reason for “Ik maak me zorgen”: “de deadline eraan komt.” Use it to connect a statement with the reason for it.

de “de” means “the” before “deadline” in “de deadline.” It marks the deadline as a specific one in this situation. Use it directly before this noun when referring to that specific deadline.

deadline “deadline” means “deadline” in “de deadline eraan komt.” It refers to the time by which the work must be finished. Use it when talking about a required completion time at work or in a project.

eraan In “de deadline eraan komt,” “eraan” is part of the expression describing something as approaching. Together with “komt,” it says that the deadline is coming closer. Use it with “komt” in this expression for an upcoming deadline or event.

komt In “de deadline eraan komt,” “komt” means “comes” and, together with “eraan,” means that the deadline is approaching. It is the form of komen used with “de deadline.” Use it with “eraan” to describe something that is getting closer in time.

Als “Als” means “if” here and introduces the condition “je even weggaat.” It presents stepping away as the condition for working better afterward. Use it at the beginning of a conditional clause.

weggaat “weggaat” means “goes away” or “steps away” in “Als je even weggaat.” It is the form of weggaan used in the condition after “Als.” Together with “even,” it describes briefly leaving the current work area or activity.

kun “kun” means “can” in “kun je daarna beter werken.” It is the form of kunnen used with “je” and expresses possibility or ability. After the introductory condition, it comes before “je” in the main clause.

daarna “daarna” means “afterward” in “kun je daarna beter werken.” It shows that the improved work happens after stepping away. Use it to connect a later action to an earlier one.

beter “beter” means “better” in “beter werken.” It describes improved performance after the break. Use it before or with an action when saying that the action is done more effectively.

werken “werken” means “work” in “kun je daarna beter werken.” It is the infinitive after “kun.” Use it after “kun” when expressing the ability or possibility to work.

Misschien “Misschien” means “maybe” and introduces the uncertain suggestion “Misschien moet ik mijn ogen een minuut laten rusten.” Use it to present a possible action without stating it with certainty.

moet “moet” means “should” in “Misschien moet ik mijn ogen een minuut laten rusten.” It is the form of moeten used with “ik” and expresses what the speaker thinks is necessary or advisable. Use it to say what you should or must do.

mijn “mijn” means “my” before “ogen” in “mijn ogen.” It shows that the eyes belong to the speaker. Use it before a noun when identifying something as yours.

ogen “ogen” means “eyes” in “mijn ogen een minuut laten rusten.” It names the body part that the speaker wants to rest. Use it with “mijn” when talking about the speaker’s eyes.

een In “een minuut,” “een” introduces the duration of one minute. It appears directly before “minuut.” Use it with a time unit when stating a duration of one unit.

minuut “minuut” means “minute” in “een minuut.” It gives the duration for resting the eyes and breathing. Use it after “een” when describing a one-minute period.

laten In “mijn ogen een minuut laten rusten,” “laten” means “let” or “allow” and introduces the action “rusten.” The whole construction means to let the eyes rest. Use “laten” before an infinitive when allowing or causing something to perform that action.

rusten “rusten” means “rest” in “mijn ogen een minuut laten rusten.” It is the infinitive after “laten” and describes what the eyes do. Use it after “laten” when saying that something is allowed to rest.

Drink “Drink” means “drink” in the direct instruction “Drink water.” It is used at the beginning of advice telling someone what to do. Use it to tell someone to drink something.

water “water” means “water” and is the object of “Drink” in “Drink water.” Here it is suggested as a way to support rest and recovery. Use it after “Drink” when giving this instruction.

en “en” means “and” and connects “Drink water” with “adem een minuut rustig.” Use it between two coordinated actions or instructions.

adem “adem” means “breathe” in the instruction “adem een minuut rustig.” It is the form of ademen used to tell the listener what to do. Use it at the beginning of advice about breathing.

rustig “rustig” tells the listener to breathe in a calm, unhurried way in “adem een minuut rustig.” It describes how the breathing should happen. Use it after an action to describe a calm manner of doing it.

Dan “Dan” means “then” in “Dan kan ik het laatste deel afmaken.” It marks the next result or step after resting and breathing. Use it to introduce what happens next in a sequence.

kan “kan” means “can” in “Dan kan ik het laatste deel afmaken.” It is the form of kunnen used with “ik” and expresses the speaker’s ability or possibility after the break. The infinitive “afmaken” follows it.

het “het” means “the” in “het laatste deel.” It marks a specific section, identified here as the last one. Use it directly before this noun phrase.

laatste “laatste” means “last” and describes “deel” in “het laatste deel.” It identifies the final section in the work. Use it before a noun when identifying the final item in a sequence.

deel “deel” means “part” or “section” in “het laatste deel.” Here it refers to one section of the work being completed. Use it when talking about a section or part of a larger piece of work.

afmaken “afmaken” means “finish” or “complete” in “het laatste deel afmaken.” It is the infinitive after “kan” and describes bringing the final section to completion. Use it after “kan” when saying that something can be finished.

zal “zal” means “will” in “Ik zal het concept nakijken.” It is the form of zullen used with “Ik” and expresses the speaker’s planned action or commitment. Use it to say what you will do.

concept “concept” means “draft” in “het concept.” It refers to a preliminary version of a document that can be reviewed. Use it in a work context when talking about a draft.

nakijken “nakijken” means “review” or “check” in “het concept nakijken.” It is the infinitive after “zal” and describes examining the draft. Use it with an object such as “het concept” when saying that you will check or review it.

terwijl “terwijl” means “while” and introduces “terwijl jij rust.” It shows that reviewing the draft and resting happen at the same time. Use it before an action that occurs during another action.

jij “jij” means “you” in “terwijl jij rust.” It identifies the person who is resting during the speaker’s review. Use it as the subject when naming the listener in this clause.

rust “rust” means “rest” in “terwijl jij rust.” It is the form of rusten used with “jij” and describes what the listener is doing. Use it after “jij” when saying that the person is resting.

Grammar Points

Afscheidbare werkwoorden: afmaken / nakijken

afmaken; nakijken

AF-mah-kuh; NAH-kigh-kuh

to finish; to review

These Dutch verbs have a separable prefix. In a main clause, the prefix can move away from the verb.

Dutch Vocabulary

daarna adv

DAHR-nah afterward

Kun je daarna beter werken.

deadline noun

DEAD-line deadline

De deadline eraan komt.

eraan komt verb

uh-RAHN komt is approaching

Omdat de deadline eraan komt.

laten rusten phrase

LAH-tuhn RUHS-tuhn let rest

Mijn ogen een minuut laten rusten.

maak me zorgen phrase

MAHK muh ZOR-ghuhn am worried

Ik maak me zorgen.

moe adj

moo tired

Je ziet er moe uit.

ogen noun

OH-ghuhn eyes

Mijn ogen een minuut laten rusten.

pauze noun

POW-zuh break

Neem even pauze.

vandaag adv

fahn-DAHKH today

Ik heb vandaag veel werk.

veel werk phrase

vayl wehrk a lot of work

Ik heb vandaag veel werk.

weggaat verb

WEKH-ghaht goes away

Als je even weggaat.

werken verb

WER-kuhn to work

Kun je daarna beter werken.

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

I have a lot of work today.

Show Answer

Ik heb vandaag veel werk.

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

deadline

Show Answer

deadline

afterward

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daarna

goes away

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weggaat

today

Show Answer

vandaag