Lesson 14: あの、実は今、別の仕事を頼まれています (Ano, Jitsu wa Ima, Betsu no Shigoto o Tanomarete Imasu)

Declining Requests When Already Busy

English Title: Responding when you’ve been asked to do too many things

🎧 Audio:
Listen to this lesson

Role-play Setup

You are working at your desk when a superior approaches and asks you to complete an urgent task by 4 PM. However, another colleague has already asked you to complete a different urgent task by the same deadline. You need to politely explain your situation and ask which task should be prioritized.

Full Script & Explanation

Scene 1: Being Asked for a Favor

Superior:
ちょっとお願いがあるんだけど、いいかな。
Chotto onegai ga aru n da kedo, ii ka na.
Could I ask you a favor?

Grammar Note: Use this phrase when you want to ask a favor of someone. 「いいかな」 is a phrase suitable for use from superiors to subordinates. To be more polite, use 「少しお願いがあるんですが、いいでしょうか（いいですか）」. The 「ちょっと」in「ちょっとお願いがある」may actually mean that it is a small favor, but in some cases, the favor might be a bigger one than expected. Be sure to ask exactly what is required of you when someone asks you for a favor!

Student:
なんですか。
Nan desu ka.
What is it?

Grammar Note: Use 「なんですか」 only when you have a close relationship with a superior. Using 「でしょうか」 , as in 「なんでしょうか」, gives a softer and more polite impression. To be even more polite, add「はい」 to make 「はい、なんでしょうか」.

Scene 2: The Request

Superior:
この図面で修正が見つかって、直さなければならないんだよ。
Kono zumen de shūsei ga mitsukatte, naosanakereba naranai n da yo.
We found some errors in this diagram. It needs to be fixed.

Grammar Note: The diagram needs to be fixed. The 「だよ」 at the end is suitable for use from superiors to subordinates. Saying 「直さなければならないんです」is a more neutral phrase, so it is acceptable for use even from subordinates to superiors.

Student:
そうですか。
Sō desu ka.
I see.

Grammar Note: The falling intonation here indicates that the speaker is considering the situation.

Superior:
ちょっと修正が多いんだけど、今日の４時までにやってくれるかな。
Chotto shūsei ga ōi n da kedo, kyō no yo-ji made ni yatte kureru ka na.
There are quite a few corrections. Could you have this done by 4?

Grammar Note: The 「～んだけど」in 「ちょっと修正が多いんだけど」is often used when explaining a situation. Although the speaker is asking「やってくれるかな」, the meaning here is closer to an order, 「やってください」. If you won’t be able to do the favor that is asked of you, it’s better to let your superior know at this point in the conversation.

Scene 3: Explaining Your Situation

Student:
あの、実は今、別の仕事を頼まれています。
Ano, jitsu wa ima, betsu no shigoto o tanomarete imasu.
Actually, I was just asked to do something else.

Grammar Note: When explaining your circumstances, you can use the phrase 「あの、実は・・・」. When the listener hears the phrase, it will let them know that you already have something going on. When consulting with someone, or seeking a favor, it’s a good idea to explain your current circumstances. This will help the communication process go more smoothly. In this case, the speaker is about to ask what they should do in this situation, so they are explaining that they have just been asked to do another task. By doing this, the two can decide what course of action to take together.

🔑 KEY PHRASE

あの、実は今、別の仕事を頼まれています。
Ano, jitsu wa ima, betsu no shigoto o tanomarete imasu.
Actually, I was just asked to do something else.

Explanation:
This phrase is essential when you’re already busy but someone asks you to do additional work. It:

  1. Uses「あの」to softly get attention
  2. Uses「実は」to indicate you’re about to explain an important situation
  3. States the fact that you’re already committed to another task

This isn’t refusing the request directly - it’s providing information so that together you can decide priorities. In Japanese workplace culture, it’s better to explain your situation than to simply say “I can’t” or accept more work than you can handle.

Scene 4: Providing Details

Superior:
それはどんな仕事なの。
Sore wa donna shigoto na no.
What were you asked to do?

Grammar Note: The superior wants to help their subordinate decide the level of priority for the tasks that the subordinate is working on. In cases like this, be sure to explain your situation thoroughly.

Student:
和田さんから、今日の4時までにこの図面の直しを頼まれました。
Wada-san kara, kyō no yo-ji made ni kono zumen no naoshi o tanomaremashita.
Wada-san asked me to fix this diagram by 4 today.

Grammar Note: This explanation is good because it covers three main points: who asked you to do what task, by when. If you’d like to use a verb, replacing 「図面の直し」with「図面を直す」, then use 「ように」to make 「図面を直すように」.

Scene 5: Asking for Priority Guidance

Student:
どちらを先にすればよろしいでしょうか。
Dochira o saki ni sureba yoroshii deshō ka.
Which should I do first?

Grammar Note: This is a polite way to ask which task to prioritize. The phrase 「どちらが先ですか」is simple, but may come across as a bit too direct or blunt. Don’t just use this phrase on its own. Use it with 「実は、今、別の仕事を頼まれているんです」to explain your current situation first.

Superior:
そうか。じゃあ、これは別の人に頼んでみるよ。
Sō ka. Jaa, kore wa betsu no hito ni tanonde miru yo.
I see. In that case, I’ll ask someone else.

Grammar Note: In this case, the superior has understood the situation and decided to ask someone else to take care of the task they need taken care of. For a superior talking to a subordinate, this phrase is acceptable. To be more polite, use 「そうですか。では、これは別の人に頼んでみます。」.

Student:
すみません。よろしくお願いします。
Sumimasen. Yoroshiku onegai-shimasu.
Sorry about that. Thank you.

Grammar Note: Saying 「すみません」here instead of simply 「はい、よろしくお願いします」adds the nuance that you are sorry that you couldn’t help them out. It creates a favorable impression.

Vocabulary

修正 (しゅうせい) - shūsei - corrections

In the case of diagrams, you can use the words 「修正」or 「直し」 interchangeably. 「修正」has a slightly more formal nuance. 「直し」 gives the impression that there are not too many corrections to be made, whereas「修正」 may imply a greater number of corrections. However, this can vary case by case, so be sure to ask exactly how much is required of you with 「どのぐらいの量でしょうか」.

Usage examples:

実は (じつは) - jitsu wa - Actually…

This phrase is used before explaining important information to a listener. It’s a useful signal to let the listener know that they are about to hear an explanation. Be sure not to overuse this phrase.

Usage examples:

Cultural Notes

Managing Multiple Requests in Japanese Workplaces

In Japanese work culture, it’s important to:

The phrase「実は」signals that you’re about to explain a difficult situation, preparing the listener to understand your position.

The Art of Saying No Indirectly

Japanese workplace communication often avoids direct refusals. Instead of saying “No, I can’t,” workers explain their situation and ask for guidance. This approach:

Grammar Points

1. ～なければならない - Must, have to

Expresses obligation or necessity.

Formation: [Verb negative form] ければならない

Examples:

Casual spoken form:

2. ～てくれるかな - Could you…? (gentle request with か な)

A gentle, indirect way to ask someone to do something.

Formation: [Verb て-form] + くれるかな

Politeness levels:

3. Passive form for receiving requests - ～れる/られる

Used to express that you were asked to do something.

Formation: [Verb passive form] + います

Examples:

4. ～ば - Conditional “if”

Formation: [Verb ば-form]

Examples:

Tips from this Dialogue

  1. Explain conflicts proactively - Don’t wait until the deadline to say you can’t complete something

  2. Provide specific details - Say who asked you, what the task is, and when it’s due

  3. Ask for guidance on priorities - Let your superior make the decision about what comes first

  4. Show appreciation - Even when you can’t help, thank the person and apologize

  5. Use softening phrases - あの、実は、ちょっと - these make difficult conversations easier

Keigo (Polite Language)

Verb forms used:

Sentence-ending particles:

Kanji

仕 (serve, work)

Readings:

Compounds:

Practice Points

  1. Using 実は to introduce difficult topics
  2. Passive form for received requests
  3. Asking for priority guidance politely
  4. Providing complete information (who, what, when)
  5. Balancing honesty with politeness

Source: NHK WORLD-JAPAN “Easy Japanese for Work” Lesson 14
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/tv/easyjapaneseforwork/skit14.html