Lesson #38: 私がやっておきますね (Watashi ga yatte okimasu ne)

Taking over someone’s work without hurting their feelings

English Title: Taking over someone’s work without hurting their feelings

Role-play Setup

You’re working at a paper manufacturer. Your coworker is in charge of preparing for today’s client visit, but they’re not feeling well. You want to take over their work so they can rest.

Full Script & Explanation

Morning Greeting

Student

おはようございます。
Ohayoo gozaimasu.
Good morning.

Dooryoo / Coworker

あ、おはようございます。
A, ohayoo gozaimasu.
Oh, good morning.

Student

顔色悪いですね。大丈夫ですか。
Kaoiro warui desu ne. Daijoobu desu ka.
You don’t look well. Are you OK?

「顔色」means “complexion” or “facial color.” 「顔色が悪い」means someone looks pale or unwell. This is a caring way to show concern for a coworker. [expressing concern]

Dooryoo / Coworker

ちょっと頭が痛くて…。でも、今日お客様が来る予定なので、頑張ります。
Chotto atama ga itakute… Demo, kyoo okyakusama ga kuru yotee na node, ganbarimasu.
I have a bit of a headache… But we have a client visiting today, so I’ll do my best.

The coworker explains they have a headache but feels obligated to continue working. 「頑張ります」means “I’ll do my best” or “I’ll hang in there.” [giving factual information]

Offering to Help

Student

お客様への説明なら、前に一緒にやったので、一通り分かります。
Okyakusama e no setsumee nara, mae ni issho ni yatta node, hitotoori wakarimasu.
As for explaining to the client, I worked on it with you before, so I understand it fairly well.

「一通り」means “generally” or “fairly well”—not necessarily perfectly, but well enough to handle the situation. The speaker is showing they have basic competence. [giving factual information]

KEY PHRASE

Student

私がやっておきますね。無理しないでください。
Watashi ga yatte okimasu ne. Muri shinaide kudasai.
I’ll take care of it. Please don’t push yourself.

「私がやっておきますね」is a gentle way of offering to take over work. The「が」emphasizes “I” (I’ll do it). 「ておく」indicates doing something in advance or in preparation. The final「ね」softens the offer and seeks gentle agreement.

「無理しないでください」means “Please don’t push yourself” or “Don’t overdo it.” This shows concern for the coworker’s health. [offering suggestions] [expressing concern]

Dooryoo / Coworker

え、でも…。
E, demo…
But…

The coworker hesitates, perhaps feeling guilty about burdening someone else. [expressing hesitation]

Student

ここは私に任せて、ゆっくり休んでください。
Koko wa watashi ni makasete, yukkuri yasunde kudasai.
Leave this to me and rest up.

「任せて」means “leave it to” or “entrust to.” 「ゆっくり休む」means “to rest leisurely” or “to take it easy.” This reassures the coworker that the situation is under control. [offering suggestions]

Dooryoo / Coworker

すみません。では、お願いします。
Sumimasen. Dewa, onegai-shimasu.
I’m sorry. Then, please.

The coworker apologizes (showing humility) and accepts the help. [expressing gratitude]

Later - With the Superior

Student

課長、今日の打ち合わせは私が対応いたします。
Kachoo, kyoo no uchiawase wa watashi ga taioo itashimasu.
Section Chief, I’ll handle today’s meeting.

「打ち合わせ」means “meeting” or “briefing.” 「対応する」means “to handle” or “to deal with.” The speaker is informing their superior of the change. [giving factual information]

Jooshi / Superior

え？今日は中山さんじゃないの？
E? Kyoo wa Nakayama-san ja nai no?
Huh? Isn’t it Nakayama-san today?

The superior is surprised by the change. [asking for confirmation]

Student

中山さん、体調がすぐれないようなので。
Nakayama-san, taichoo ga sugurenai yoo na node.
Nakayama-san doesn’t seem to be feeling well.

「体調がすぐれない」is a polite way to say someone is not feeling well. It’s more formal than「具合が悪い」. [giving factual information]

Jooshi / Superior

そうなんだ。じゃあ、お願いね。
Soo na n da. Jaa, onegai ne.
Oh, I see. OK, please take care of it.

The superior understands and approves the arrangement. [expressing agreement]

Student

はい。
Hai.
Yes.

Vocabulary

顔色 (kaoiro) - complexion, facial color
Example: 顔色がいいですね。元気そうです。(You have a good complexion. You look healthy.)

頭が痛い (atama ga itai) - to have a headache
Example: 頭が痛いので、薬を飲みました。(I had a headache, so I took medicine.)

一通り (hitotoori) - generally, in outline, fairly well
Example: 仕事の一通りを覚えました。(I’ve learned the basics of the work.)

無理する (muri suru) - to overdo it, to push oneself
Example: 無理しないで、休んでください。(Don’t overdo it—please rest.)

任せる (makaseru) - to entrust, to leave to someone
Example: この仕事は田中さんに任せます。(I’ll leave this work to Tanaka-san.)

打ち合わせ (uchiawase) - meeting, briefing, discussion
Example: 明日打ち合わせがあります。(We have a meeting tomorrow.)

対応する (taioo suru) - to handle, to deal with, to respond
Example: お客様のクレームに対応しました。(I handled the customer’s complaint.)

体調 (taichoo) - physical condition, health
Example: 体調が悪いときは、無理しないでください。(When you’re not feeling well, please don’t push yourself.)

すぐれない (sugurenai) - not feeling well, poor (condition)
Example: 今日は体調がすぐれません。(I’m not feeling well today.)

Cultural Notes

Showing Concern for Coworkers

In Japanese workplace culture, showing concern for coworkers’ health and wellbeing is important for maintaining good relationships and team harmony. Key points:

Notice signs of illness early - Commenting on「顔色」shows attentiveness
Offer help proactively - Don’t wait to be asked
Use gentle language - 「ね」and「〜ておく」soften the offer
Report to superiors - Always inform your boss about coverage arrangements
Don’t make the person feel guilty - Use phrases like「任せて」to show confidence

The Phrase「無理しないで」

This phrase is commonly used in Japanese workplaces and shows genuine concern. It acknowledges that:

Working while sick is admirable but not always wise
The person’s health is more important than immediate work needs
You have confidence they usually work hard (not calling them lazy)

Grammar Points

Using「〜ておく」for Advance Preparation

Pattern: [Verb te-form] + おく

This pattern indicates doing something in preparation for the future or taking care of something.

Examples:

会議の前に資料を読んでおきます。
(I’ll read the materials before the meeting.)
明日のために準備しておいてください。
(Please prepare for tomorrow in advance.)
連絡しておきました。
(I’ve already contacted them / taken care of contacting them.)

In our key phrase「やっておきます」, it means “I’ll take care of it (in advance).”

The Pattern「〜に任せる」

「任せる」means to entrust or leave something to someone.

Pattern: [Person] に任せる

Examples:

部長に任せましょう。
(Let’s leave it to the department manager.)
子どもに任せてみます。
(I’ll try letting my child handle it.)
あなたに任せます。
(I’ll leave it up to you.)

Using「なら」for Conditional Topics

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

Examples:

日本語なら教えられます。
(If it’s Japanese, I can teach it.)
簡単な作業なら手伝えます。
(If it’s simple work, I can help.)
その件なら知っています。
(If it’s about that matter, I know about it.)

Tips from this Dialogue

顔色が悪い (kaoiro ga warui)

Literally “bad facial color,” this is the standard way to say someone looks unwell in Japanese.

Related expressions:

顔色がいい (looks healthy)
顔色が青い (looks pale/ashen)
顔色を伺う (to read someone’s mood/expression)

体調がすぐれない (taichoo ga sugurenai)

This is a formal, indirect way to say someone is not feeling well. It’s more polite than:

具合が悪い (doesn’t feel well - casual)
気分が悪い (feels sick/nauseated)
調子が悪い (not in good condition)

Use「体調がすぐれない」when speaking to superiors about yourself or others.

じゃないの (ja nai no)

This is a casual way to express surprise or seek confirmation. The formal version would be「じゃないんですか」.

Examples:

知らないの？(You don’t know?)
行かないの？(You’re not going?)
違うんじゃないの？(Isn’t it different?)

Keego (Polite Language)

Different Ways to Offer to Take Over Work

From casual to formal:

私がやるよ。(Very casual)
私がやります。(Polite)
私がやっておきます。(Polite + showing preparation)
私が対応いたします。(Business polite)
私が対応させていただきます。(Very humble and polite)

Ways to Say “Please Rest”

休んで。(Casual)
休んでください。(Polite)
ゆっくり休んでください。(Polite + showing care)
お休みください。(Polite with honorific)
ご静養ください。(Very formal - recuperate)

Kanji

顔 - face
Reading: かお (kao), ガン (gan)
Example: 顔色 (kaoiro - complexion), 笑顔 (egao - smiling face)

色 - color
Reading: いろ (iro), シキ (shiki)
Example: 顔色 (kaoiro - complexion), 色々 (iroiro - various)

任 - duty, responsibility, entrust
Reading: まか (maka), ニン (nin)
Example: 任せる (makaseru - to entrust), 責任 (sekinin - responsibility)

調 - tone, tune, investigate
Reading: しら (shira), チョウ (choo)
Example: 体調 (taichoo - physical condition), 調べる (shiraberu - to investigate)

Source

Based on NHK WORLD-JAPAN’s “Easy Japanese for Work” Lesson #38
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/tv/easyjapaneseforwork/skit38.html