Lesson #36: できる範囲 (Dekiru hani)

Saying how much you can actually do

English Title: Saying how much you can actually do

🎧 Audio:
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Role-play Setup

You’re working at a shipping company. You’ve received a shipment of five crates, and your supervisor asks you to carry all of them. But it seems too heavy for you to manage alone.

Full Script & Explanation

Opening

Jooshi / Superior

ワンさん、これ運んでもらえる？
Wan-san, kore hakonde moraeru?
Uan-san, could you carry these?

「運ぶ」means “to carry” or “to transport.” The superior is asking if Uan-san can carry something. [requesting]

Student

はい。
Hai.
Sure.

Jooshi / Superior

5つあるから、よろしくね。
Itsutsu aru kara, yoroshiku ne.
There are five. Thanks.

The superior is letting the subordinate know how many items need to be carried. 「よろしくね」is a casual way of saying「よろしくお願いします」. [requesting]

Student

分かりました。
Wakarimashita.
Understood.

Assessing the Situation

Student

（独り言）1つが結構重そうだなぁ…。
(Hitorigoto) Hitotsu ga kekkoo omosoo da naa…
(To oneself) Each one looks pretty heavy…

「独り言」means “talking to oneself.” When followed by 「そう」, an i-adjective like「重い」becomes「重そう」. This shows that based on what you can see, something appears to be a certain way. Here, the speaker thinks the crates look heavy. [giving factual information]

Student

あの、すみません。
Ano, sumimasen.
Um, excuse me.

「あの」is used to get someone’s attention before speaking. [attracting attention]

Jooshi / Superior

ん？どうした？
N? Doo shita?
Hm? What is it?

「どうした」is a casual form of「どうしましたか」. Superiors often use casual forms when speaking to subordinates. [asking for information]

KEY PHRASE

Student

一度に運ぶのは、ちょっと…。3つずつなら運べますが。
Ichido ni hakobu no wa, chotto… Mittsu zutsu nara hakobemasu ga.
It’s a bit much to carry all at once… I can carry three at a time, though.

「一度に」means “at once” or “at the same time.” 「ちょっと…」with a trailing off indicates that something is difficult or problematic without stating it directly. This is a polite way to express difficulty in Japanese business culture.

「ずつ」is used to indicate doing things in portions or divisions. For example, 「2つずつ」means “two at a time.” By using「が」at the end, the speaker is softly suggesting an alternative without being too direct. This maintains harmony while being honest about limitations. [offering suggestions]

Jooshi / Superior

あぁ、そっか。じゃあ、それでいいよ。
Aa, so kka. Jaa, sore de ii yo.
Oh, I see. OK, that’s fine.

「そっか」is a very casual form of「そうですか」. 「それでいい」means “that’s acceptable.” The superior is agreeing to the alternative suggestion. [expressing agreement]

Student

すみません。
Sumimasen.
Sorry about that.

The student apologizes for not being able to complete the task as originally requested. This shows humility and professionalism. [offering an apology]

Vocabulary

運ぶ (hakobu) - to carry, to transport
Example: 荷物を運びます。(I’ll carry the luggage.)

一度に (ichido ni) - at once, at the same time
Example: 一度にたくさん食べないでください。(Please don’t eat too much at once.)

ずつ - at a time, each
Example: 一人ずつ順番に入ってください。(Please enter one person at a time, in order.)

重そう (omosoo) - looks heavy
Example: この箱は重そうですね。(This box looks heavy, doesn’t it?)

範囲 (hani) - range, scope, extent
Example: できる範囲でやってください。(Please do it within the scope of what you can.)

限界 (genkai) - limit, boundary
Example: これが私の限界です。(This is my limit.)

Cultural Notes

Expressing Limitations Politely

In Japanese workplace culture, directly saying “I can’t do that” can seem confrontational or negative. Instead, workers use softer expressions:

  1. Trailing off: 「ちょっと…」(It’s a bit…)
  2. Offering alternatives: 「〜なら〜ますが」(If it’s ~, I can ~, but…)
  3. Apologizing: Even when not at fault, saying「すみません」maintains harmony

This approach:

The Importance of Being Realistic

While Japanese work culture values dedication, it also increasingly recognizes the importance of being realistic about one’s capabilities. Attempting to do more than you can handle could lead to:

It’s better to communicate your limitations upfront and find a workable solution.

Grammar Points

Using「〜そう」to Express Appearance

Pattern: [i-adjective stem] + そう / [na-adjective] + そう

This pattern expresses how something appears based on visual observation.

Examples:

Contrast with actual state:

Using「ずつ」for Distribution

「ずつ」indicates equal distribution or portions.

Pattern: [Counter] + ずつ

Examples:

The Pattern「〜なら」for Conditional Offers

「なら」creates a conditional meaning “if it’s ~” or “as long as it’s ~.”

Examples:

Tips from this Dialogue

ちょっと… (chotto) - “a bit…” (implying difficulty)

When「ちょっと」is followed by silence or「…」, it’s an indirect way of expressing that something is difficult or problematic. This is a very Japanese way of declining or expressing difficulty without being too direct.

Examples:

The listener is expected to understand the implication.

どうした (doo shita) - What’s wrong? What happened?

This is a casual way to ask what’s going on. The polite form is「どうしましたか」.

Usage:

Keego (Polite Language)

Levels of Formality for “Can you carry this?”

From casual to formal:

  1. これ運んで。(Very casual - between friends)
  2. これ運んでもらえる？(Casual - superior to subordinate)
  3. これを運んでもらえますか。(Polite)
  4. これをお運びいただけますか。(Very polite)
  5. これをお運びいただけますでしょうか。(Extremely polite)

Kanji

運 - carry, luck, fortune
Reading: はこ (hako), うん (un)
Example: 運ぶ (hakobu - to carry), 運送 (unsoo - transportation)

重 - heavy, important
Reading: おも (omo), じゅう (juu)
Example: 重い (omoi - heavy), 重要 (juuyoo - important)

Source

Based on NHK WORLD-JAPAN’s “Easy Japanese for Work” Lesson #36
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/tv/easyjapaneseforwork/skit36.html