Lesson #22: あの、すみません。私からひとつよろしいでしょうか。 (Ano, sumimasen. Watashi kara hitotsu yoroshii deshō ka.)

Identifying your chance to speak at a meeting

English Title: Identifying your chance to speak at a meeting

Role-play Setup

You are in a meeting with your department. The discussion about the next project target is wrapping up. However, you have unrelated but urgent news about a bug found in an upcoming release. You need to find the right moment to interject.

Full Script & Explanation

Agreeing on the Project Target

Superior

次の開発プロジェクトのターゲットはモンゴル語にしようと思うんだけど、どう思う？
Tsugi no kaihatsu purojekuto no tāgetto wa Mongoru-go ni shiyō to omou n dakedo, dō omou?
As our next development project target, I think we should focus on Mongolian. What do you think?

During meetings, the phrase「どう思う？」is used by superiors to invite opinions from others. In response, you should state your opinion. In this case, the superior uses the phrase 「～んだけど」when sharing their opinion, before asking for the opinions of others. 「～んだけど」is used when explaining an opinion or situation, and often prefaces a question. When asking for the opinion of a superior, use「～んですが、いかがでしょうか/どう思われますか」.

Colleague A

いいと思います。
Ii to omoimasu.
I think that’s a good idea.

This is a response indicating agreement to the superior’s proposal. 「～と思います」is a phrase used when sharing opinions. In a meeting, 「いいと思います」is better than「いいですね」as it indicates a more positive response.

Protagonist

私もいいと思います。
Watashi mo ii to omoimasu.
I agree.

This indicates the speaker’s agreement.

Protagonist

モンゴルは地下資源が豊富で、経済成長率も高いですし、将来有望だと思います。
Mongoru wa chika-shigen ga hōfu de, keizai seichō-ritsu mo takai desu shi, shōrai yūbō da to omoimasu.
Mongolia has underground resources and a rising GDP. It has future potential.

This information helps explain why the speaker agreed with the proposal. When listing multiple reasons, you can use 「～し」. You can also use 「～し」after listing just one main reason to indicate that there are multiple other reasons that you agree.

Superior

じゃあ、モンゴル語でいいね。
Jā, Mongoru-go de ii ne.
Then it’s settled.

This confirms that the group has reached a decision. The meaning is the same as「モンゴル語で決まりですね」and「モンゴル語のプロジェクトを進めましょう」. The phrase「じゃあ」is used to show that you’re summing up all the reasons that came before. In more formal situations, use「では」.

Superior

ティムさん、モンゴル語の専門家、知ってる？
Timu-san, Mongoru-go no senmonka, shitteru?
Tim-san, do you know any Mongolian experts?

「知ってる？」is a shortened version of「知っている？（知っていますか）」. In spoken Japanese, the 「い」in「ている」is often dropped. From the context, we can tell that this phrase means「モンゴル語のことがよくわかる人を知っていたら、紹介して欲しい」(If you know someone who speaks Mongolian, please introduce them to me.).

Tim (Colleague A)

知り合いにアジア言語の専門家がいるので、聞いてみます。
Shiriai ni Ajia gengo no senmonka ga iru node, kiite mimasu.
I know an Asian-language expert. I can ask them.

When asked「知ってる？」, the speaker responds with 「（モンゴルの専門家は知らないが、）アジア言語の専門家を知っている」(I don’t know a Mongolian expert, but I do know an Asian-languages expert.). The phrase「聞いてみます」means that the speaker will reach out, but there is no guarantee that things will work out. In cases like this, the phrase 「あたってみます」 can also be used.

Superior

頼んだよ。
Tanonda yo.
Please do.

The phrase「頼んだよ」means that the superior is requesting that a subordinate take care of something. In this case, he’s asking for the expert to be contacted. Superiors often use phrases like this one, as well as 「よろしく頼むよ」「よろしく（ね）」to ask subordinates to do something. This phrase cannot be used by subordinates to superiors. Instead, use 「よろしくお願いします」.

Superior

じゃあ、今日はこれでいいかな？
Jā, kyō wa kore de ii ka na?
Is that all for today?

The speaker is asking if there is anything else that needs to be discussed. The meaning is the same as「これで（以上で）終わっていいですか」.

KEY PHRASE

Protagonist

あの、すみません。私からひとつよろしいでしょうか。
Ano, sumimasen. Watashi kara hitotsu yoroshii deshō ka.
Excuse me. May I say something?

It’s difficult to find opportunities to speak up during meetings, especially when they are about to end. This phrase allows the speaker to raise a topic for discussion. The phrase「あの、すみません。」is used to change the subject. The phrase「よろしいでしょうか」is a more polite version of 「いいですか」. By using the word「ひとつ」, the speaker lets the listeners know that what they have to say won’t take up too much time. When you need others to wait and listen to what you have to say, use this phrase.

Raising the Issue

Protagonist

今週末リリース予定のページに、バグが見つかりました。
Konshūmatsu rirīsu yotei no pēji ni, bagu ga mitsukarimashita.
I found a bug in the page we’re planning to release this weekend.

Even if you are the one who discovered the bug, it’s common to use the passive voice form of「見つける」(to find)、「見つかりました」(to be found). Rather than saying「私はバグを見つけました」(I found a bug.), many Japanese speakers tend to say「バグが見つかりました」(A bug was found.).

Superior

すぐに対応できる？リリースは間に合うの？
Sugu ni taiō dekiru? Rirīsu wa maniau no?
Can you deal with it right away? Will we still be able to release on time?

The company’s biggest goal is to protect the release date they agreed on with the client. So, this is what the speaker is asking first. To be more polite, use「対応できますか」and「間に合いますか」.

Protagonist

どなたかに手伝ってもらえれば、間に合います。
Donata ka ni tetsudatte moraereba, maniaimasu.
If I can get help, we’ll finish on time.

The speaker is listing conditions that need to be met in order to make the release date. When you can’t deal with a problem on your own, it’s important to get help and advice at a time like this. The phrase「どなたかに」is a more polite version of「だれかに」.

Superior

わかった、手配しよう。
Wakatta, tehai shiyō.
Okay. Let’s figure it out.

The verb「手配する」means to find or arrange people or things that can help. In this case, people are needed to help out. The superior will try to help his subordinate find someone.

Protagonist

お願いします。
Onegai shimasu.
Thank you.

Since his superior will find someone to help him out, the speaker is thanking him with 「お願いします」. This creates positive feelings on both ends. To be more polite, use 「お願いいたします」. You can also use「ありがとうございます」.

Vocabulary

プロジェクト (purojekuto) - project
The word プロジェクト is borrowed from English, but is pronounced as “purojekuto.” It’s a word commonly used in the Japanese business world. Projects involve people working on tasks during a set period of time to achieve a goal. In some cases, these may involve people from different parts of the same company working together, or they may involve people from multiple companies working together. Projects can be small or large.
Example: プロジェクトメンバー (project member)
Example: 新規プロジェクト (new project)
Example: SDGsプロジェクト (SDGs - sustainable development goals - project)
Example: 社内でSDGs推進のためのプロジェクトが立ち上がった。(We began a project to promote SDGs within the company.)

ターゲット (tāgetto) - target
The 「ターゲット」from「次の開発プロジェクトのターゲット」is referring to the goal or aim. In this case, it’s Mongolian.
ターゲット is also an English word, but is pronounced “taagetto.” It’s often used in the business world to refer to the target demographic (age, gender, characteristics, etc.) of a certain project or product.
Example: ターゲット層 (target demographic)
Example: この商品のターゲットは10代の若者だ。(The target demographic for this product is young people in their teens.)
Example: 新商品のセールスでは、ターゲット層を決めておくとよい。(You should decide the target demographic for sales of this new product.)

手配 (tehai) - arrange
手配 means to find or arrange people or things. It can be part of a task, or it can be done beforehand in preparation. In this skit, the superior plans to arrange help for his subordinate. But 「手配する」can also be used in reference to making hotel or plane reservations. It’s a word commonly used in the business world.
Example: アルバイトを急いで手配する (finding part-time workers quickly)
Example: 車の手配をする (arranging for a car)
Example: おみやげの手配をする (getting omiyage)

Kanji

着 - arrival, wear, adhere
Reading: ちゃく (chaku)
Example: 到着 (tōchaku - arrival), 接着 (setchaku - adhere/glue), 着く (tsuku - to arrive)

Keigo

来る (kuru) - to come Respectful (for superior/others): いらっしゃる (irassharu) Humble (for oneself): 参る (mairu)