Lesson #41: きょうの仕事も大変でしたね (Kyoo no shigoto mo taihen deshita ne)

Offering words of support for a coworker

English Title: Offering words of support for a coworker

Role-play Setup

You’re working at a paper products company. Your coworker, Tanaka-san, has been suffering from back pain but continues working because she doesn’t want to cause problems for others. Your superior asks you to encourage her to take it easy.

Full Script & Explanation

Observing the Situation

Jooshi / Superior

田中さん、腰が痛そうだね。
Tanaka-san, koshi ga itasoo da ne.
Tanaka-san, your back looks like it hurts.

「腰」means “lower back” or “waist.” Adding「そう」to the i-adjective stem「痛い」creates「痛そう」, meaning “looks painful.” [expressing concern]

Dooryoo / Coworker (Tanaka-san)

あ、はい。でも、大丈夫です。
A, hai. Demo, daijoobu desu.
Oh, yes. But I’m fine.

Tanaka-san downplays her pain, a common response in Japanese work culture to avoid burdening others. [responding]

Jooshi / Superior

そう。無理しないでね。
Soo. Muri shinaide ne.
I see. Don’t push yourself.

「無理しないで」means “don’t overdo it” or “don’t push yourself too hard.” [expressing concern]

Dooryoo / Coworker (Tanaka-san)

はい、ありがとうございます。
Hai, arigatoo gozaimasu.
Yes, thank you.

Discussing with a Colleague

Jooshi / Superior

ワンさん、田中さんのことなんだけど、どうも腰が痛いらしいんだよね。
Wan-san, Tanaka-san no koto nan da kedo, doomo koshi ga itai rashii n da yo ne.
Uan-san, about Tanaka-san—it seems her back really hurts.

「どうも」here means “apparently” or “it seems.” 「らしい」indicates hearsay or appearance. Together they express that something appears to be the case. [giving factual information]

Student

そうなんですか。
Soo nan desu ka.
Is that so?

Jooshi / Superior

でも、みんなに迷惑をかけたくないみたいで。
Demo, minna ni meewaku o kaketakunai mitai de.
But it seems she doesn’t want to cause trouble for everyone.

「迷惑をかける」means “to cause trouble/inconvenience to someone.” This phrase reveals Tanaka-san’s mindset—she’s prioritizing the team over her own health. [giving factual information]

Jooshi / Superior

ワンさんから、あまり無理しないように、言ってあげてくれないかな。
Wan-san kara, amari muri shinai yoo ni, itte agete kurenai ka na.
Could you tell her, from you, not to push herself too much?

「〜から」here means “from (someone).” The superior is asking the student to convey encouragement. 「言ってあげて」means “say (for someone’s benefit).” [requesting]

Student

はい、分かりました。
Hai, wakarimashita.
Yes, understood.

Supporting the Coworker

Student

田中さん、お疲れ様でした。
Tanaka-san, otsukaresama deshita.
Tanaka-san, good work today.

「お疲れ様でした」is a standard phrase to acknowledge someone’s hard work. [greeting people]

Dooryoo / Coworker (Tanaka-san)

あ、お疲れ様です。
A, otsukaresama desu.
Oh, good work.

KEY PHRASE

Student

きょうの仕事も大変でしたね。お互い、無理はしないように気をつけましょう。
Kyoo no shigoto mo taihen deshita ne. Otagai, muri wa shinai yooni ki o tsukemashoo.
It was a tough day of work, huh? Let’s both be careful not to push ourselves too hard.

「も」after「きょうの仕事」implies “today’s work too (like other days).” 「お互い」means “both of us” or “mutually,” creating a sense of shared experience rather than singling out Tanaka-san.

「無理はしないように気をつけましょう」means “let’s be careful not to overdo it.” By using「しましょう」(let’s), the speaker includes themselves, making it feel like mutual encouragement rather than a direct warning. This is a tactful way to show concern. [offering suggestions] [expressing concern]

Dooryoo / Coworker (Tanaka-san)

そうですね。ありがとうございます。
Soo desu ne. Arigatoo gozaimasu.
You’re right. Thank you.

Tanaka-san accepts the encouragement. [expressing gratitude]

Vocabulary

腰 (koshi) - lower back, waist
Example: 腰が痛いです。(My lower back hurts.)

腰痛 (yootsuu) - back pain, lumbago
Example: 腰痛で病院に行きました。(I went to the hospital for back pain.)

痛そう (itasoo) - looks painful
Example: その怪我は痛そうですね。(That injury looks painful.)

迷惑 (meewaku) - trouble, inconvenience, annoyance
Example: 迷惑をかけて申し訳ありません。(I’m sorry for the trouble.)

迷惑をかける (meewaku o kakeru) - to cause trouble
Example: みんなに迷惑をかけたくないです。(I don’t want to cause trouble for everyone.)

お互い (otagai) - mutual, each other, both
Example: お互いに助け合いましょう。(Let’s help each other.)

無理する (muri suru) - to overdo it, to push oneself
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.)

どうも (doomo) - somehow, apparently, very much
Example: どうもありがとうございます。(Thank you very much.)

Cultural Notes

The Challenge of Accepting Help in Japanese Work Culture

Japanese work culture values:

我慢 (gaman) - endurance, perseverance
チームワーク (chiimuwaaku) - teamwork, not burdening others
責任感 (sekininkan) - sense of responsibility

This can lead workers to:

Hide pain or illness
Refuse to take time off
Work through injuries

Supporting Colleagues Tactfully

When encouraging a colleague to take it easy:

Use inclusive language: Say「お互い」(both of us) instead of just addressing them
Make it mutual: Use「しましょう」(let’s) to share the responsibility
Don’t single them out: Avoid making them feel weak or problematic
Acknowledge their dedication: Recognize their hard work first
Be gentle: Use suggestions, not orders

This approach respects their dignity while conveying genuine concern.

Grammar Points

Using「そう」to Express Appearance

Pattern: [i-adjective stem] + そう

This pattern means something “looks” or “seems” a certain way based on observation.

Examples:

おいしそう (looks delicious) - from おいしい
難しそう (looks difficult) - from 難しい
楽しそう (looks fun) - from 楽しい
痛そう (looks painful) - from 痛い

Note: For na-adjectives, use the adjective + そう:

元気そう (looks healthy/energetic)
便利そう (looks convenient)

The Pattern「お互い」for Mutual Action

「お互い」creates a sense of shared experience or mutual action.

Examples:

お互いに頑張りましょう。
(Let’s both do our best.)
お互い様です。
(We’re even. / It’s mutual. - used when thanking each other)
お互いに助け合いましょう。
(Let’s help each other.)

Using「〜ように気をつける」for Careful Action

Pattern: [Verb dictionary form] + ないように気をつける

This means “to be careful not to ~” or “to watch out not to ~.”

Examples:

遅刻しないように気をつけます。
(I’ll be careful not to be late.)
間違えないように気をつけてください。
(Please be careful not to make mistakes.)
風邪をひかないように気をつけましょう。
(Let’s be careful not to catch a cold.)

Tips from this Dialogue

らしい (rashii) - it seems, apparently

「らしい」is used to indicate information based on hearsay or indirect evidence.

Examples:

明日は雨が降るらしいです。
(It seems it will rain tomorrow. - heard from weather report)
田中さんは病気らしい。
(It seems Tanaka-san is sick. - based on what I’ve heard)
あの店はおいしいらしいよ。
(That restaurant is apparently good. - heard from others)

どうも (doomo) - various meanings

In this dialogue,「どうも」means “apparently” or “it seems,” but it has multiple uses:

Appreciation: どうもありがとう (Thank you very much)
Apology: どうもすみません (I’m very sorry)
Somehow: どうもうまくいかない (It somehow doesn’t work out)
Apparently: どうも風邪らしい (It seems to be a cold)

〜てあげる (te ageru) - to do for someone’s benefit

This pattern means doing something for someone else.

Examples:

手伝ってあげます。
(I’ll help you.)
教えてあげましょうか。
(Shall I teach you?)
言ってあげてください。
(Please tell them - for their benefit.)

Caution: Can sound condescending if used inappropriately, especially with superiors.

Keego (Polite Language)

Different Ways to Say “Don’t Push Yourself”

From casual to formal:

無理するな。(Very casual - to close friends)
無理しないで。(Casual)
無理しないでください。(Polite)
無理なさらないでください。(Respectful)
ご無理なさいませんように。(Very formal)

Expressing Concern for Health

大丈夫ですか。(Are you OK? - neutral)
ご体調は大丈夫ですか。(Is your health OK? - polite)
お体の具合はいかがですか。(How is your physical condition? - very polite)
ご無理なさっていませんか。(Are you not overdoing it? - respectful)

Kanji

腰 - waist, lower back
Reading: こし (koshi), ヨウ (yoo)
Example: 腰 (koshi - lower back), 腰痛 (yootsuu - back pain)

痛 - pain, hurt
Reading: いた (ita), ツウ (tsuu)
Example: 痛い (itai - painful), 頭痛 (zutsuu - headache)

迷 - astray, be perplexed
Reading: まよ (mayo), メイ (mei)
Example: 迷惑 (meewaku - trouble), 迷う (mayou - to get lost)

惑 - confused, be puzzled
Reading: ワク (waku)
Example: 迷惑 (meewaku - trouble), 困惑 (konwaku - bewilderment)

互 - mutual, reciprocal
Reading: たが (taga), ゴ (go)
Example: お互い (otagai - each other), 相互 (soogo - mutual)

Source

Based on NHK WORLD-JAPAN’s “Easy Japanese for Work” Lesson #41
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/tv/easyjapaneseforwork/skit41.html