Lesson #39: 人員の調整 (Jinin no choosei)

Explaining the need for a staffing adjustment

English Title: Explaining the need for a staffing adjustment

🎧 Audio:
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Role-play Setup

You’re working at a care facility for the elderly. At a meeting, your supervisor asks you to take next Friday off because there are too many staff scheduled for that day.

Full Script & Explanation

The Meeting

Jooshi / Superior

それでは、来週金曜日の勤務についてなんですが。
Soredewa, raishuu kin-yoobi no kinmu ni tsuite nan desu ga.
Now, about working next Friday.

「勤務」means “work” or “duty.” The superior is bringing up the topic of work schedules. [starting a conversation]

Jooshi / Superior

その日は、シフト上、人が余ってしまうんです。
Sono hi wa, shifuto-joo, hito ga amatte shimau n desu.
On that day, according to the shift schedule, we have too many people.

「シフト」comes from English “shift.” 「余る」means “to be left over” or “to have a surplus.” 「人が余る」means there are more staff than needed. [giving factual information]

Jooshi / Superior

ワンさん、悪いんだけど、その日休みにしてもらえないかな。
Wan-san, warui n da kedo, sono hi yasumi ni shite moraenai ka na.
Uan-san, I’m sorry to ask, but could you take that day off?

「悪いんだけど」is a casual apology that softens the request. The superior is asking if the employee can adjust their schedule. [requesting]

Student

あ、はい。大丈夫です。
A, hai. Daijoobu desu.
Oh, yes. That’s fine.

The student quickly agrees to the request. [expressing agreement]

Jooshi / Superior

ありがとう。
Arigatoo.
Thank you.

Later - Talking with a Coworker

Dooryoo / Coworker

ワンさん、来週の金曜日、お休みなんですか。
Wan-san, raishuu no kin-yoobi, oyasumi nan desu ka.
Uan-san, are you off next Friday?

The coworker is confirming the schedule change. [asking for confirmation]

Student

ええ。
Ee.
Yes.

Dooryoo / Coworker

どうしてですか。体調が悪いんですか。
Dooshite desu ka. Taichoo ga warui n desu ka.
Why? Are you not feeling well?

The coworker is concerned, thinking there might be a health issue. [asking for information]

KEY PHRASE

Student

いえいえ、そういうわけではなくて。来週の金曜日は人員が多いので、調整が必要だと言われたんです。
Ieie, soo iu wake dewa nakute. Raishuu no kin-yoobi wa jinin ga ooi node, choosei ga hitsuyoo da to iwareta n desu.
No, no, it’s not that. I was told that there are a lot of staff next Friday, so an adjustment is needed.

「そういうわけではなくて」means “it’s not like that” or “that’s not the reason.” This clarifies a misunderstanding. 「人員」means “staff” or “personnel.” 「調整」means “adjustment” or “coordination.”

The phrase explains that the day off is not due to personal reasons but because of staffing needs. This is a clear, professional explanation. [giving factual information] [explaining a situation]

Dooryoo / Coworker

あぁ、そうなんですね。
Aa, soo na n desu ne.
Oh, I see.

The coworker understands the situation. [expressing understanding]

Student

はい。
Hai.
Yes.

Vocabulary

勤務 (kinmu) - work, duty, service
Example: 明日は勤務日です。(Tomorrow is a workday.)

シフト (shifuto) - shift (work schedule)
Example: シフトを確認してください。(Please check the shift schedule.)

余る (amaru) - to be left over, to have a surplus
Example: 食べ物が余りました。(There’s leftover food.)

人員 (jinin) - staff, personnel, number of people
Example: 人員を増やす必要があります。(We need to increase staff.)

調整 (choosei) - adjustment, coordination
Example: スケジュールの調整をお願いします。(Please adjust the schedule.)

体調 (taichoo) - physical condition, health
Example: 体調が悪いときは休んでください。(Please rest when you’re not feeling well.)

わけ (wake) - reason, meaning, circumstances
Example: そういうわけで遅れました。(That’s why I was late.)

Cultural Notes

Flexibility in Japanese Work Schedules

In Japanese workplaces, especially in service industries like healthcare, employees are often expected to be flexible with their schedules. Key points:

  1. Company needs come first - When asked to adjust your schedule, it’s generally expected you’ll accommodate if possible
  2. Clear communication - Always explain the real reason for schedule changes to avoid misunderstandings
  3. Staffing adjustments - Having too many or too few staff affects efficiency and costs
  4. No personal offense - Being asked to take a day off due to overstaffing is normal business, not a reflection of your performance

Explaining vs. Justifying

When explaining a schedule change to coworkers:

Grammar Points

Using「そういうわけではなくて」to Clarify Misunderstandings

Pattern: そういうわけではなくて

This phrase means “it’s not like that” or “that’s not the reason” and is used to correct a misunderstanding.

Examples:

The Pattern「〜と言われた」for Reporting What You Were Told

Pattern: [Plain form] + と言われた

This passive form means “I was told that ~.”

Examples:

Using「〜んです」for Explanation

Adding「んです」(or「のです」) to the end of a sentence shows you’re providing an explanation or reason.

Examples:

Tips from this Dialogue

人が余る (hito ga amaru)

This phrase specifically means having too many people/staff for the work available. The opposite is:

Related expressions:

シフト (shifuto) - Shift Schedule

In Japanese workplaces, especially retail and service industries, work schedules are called “shifts.”

Common phrases:

悪いんだけど (warui n da kedo)

This casual phrase literally means “it’s bad, but…” and is used to apologize before making a request. More formal versions:

Keego (Polite Language)

Different Ways to Request Schedule Changes

From casual to formal:

  1. 休みにしてもらえない？(Casual)
  2. 休みにしてもらえませんか。(Polite)
  3. 休みにしていただけませんか。(Very polite)
  4. お休みをいただけないでしょうか。(Extremely polite)

Explaining Company Decisions

When explaining management decisions to coworkers:

Kanji

人 - person
Reading: ひと (hito), ジン/ニン (jin/nin)
Example: 人員 (jinin - personnel), 人数 (ninzuu - number of people)

員 - member, staff
Reading: イン (in)
Example: 人員 (jinin - staff), 社員 (shain - company employee)

調 - investigate, tune, adjust
Reading: しら (shira), チョウ (choo)
Example: 調整 (choosei - adjustment), 調べる (shiraberu - to investigate)

整 - arrange, organize, adjust
Reading: セイ (sei)
Example: 調整 (choosei - adjustment), 整理 (seiri - organization)

Source

Based on NHK WORLD-JAPAN’s “Easy Japanese for Work” Lesson #39
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/tv/easyjapaneseforwork/skit39.html