New here? This is lesson 203 of a free 240-lesson Japanese course.
Giving advice in Japanese
Haruka has been reworking a client sketch at Kissa Hotaru, and the rain outside keeps her at the table. Leo usually reaches for an apology when a friend looks worn out.
This time, he offers advice instead. You will practise gentle ways to suggest rest, ask first, or try a different approach without taking over.
By the end of this lesson
Give a friend gentle, practical advice.
- もっと休んだほうがいいですよ。You should rest more.
- 心配しすぎないでください。Don't worry so much.
- まず聞いてみたらいいと思います。I think you should ask first.
- 一度やってみたらどうですか。Why not give it a try?
- あまり無理しないでください。Don't push yourself too hard.
- 私ならこうしますよ。If I were you, I'd do it this way.
Scene — a sketch that will not end
At a small table in Kissa Hotaru, Haruka has her sketchbook open beside a cooling cup. A client sketch has filled the page with erased lines.
Leo has come in from the Yanaka lane. Goro sits in the corner booth with his blend coffee untouched. The old black umbrella stays in its stand.
Learn — friendly suggestions
These six lines help you suggest rest, ease someone's worry, or offer a next step. They keep your advice friendly rather than making it sound like an order.
もっと休んだほうがいいですよ。
You should rest more.
When to use it: Use this when someone is working too long and you want to suggest more rest kindly.
ほうがいい gives advice, while よ makes the suggestion sound engaged rather than flat.
Say it: Hold the long vowel in ほう; it is longer than a single お sound.
心配しすぎないでください。
Don't worry so much.
When to use it: Use this to reassure someone who is worrying too much about a situation.
ないでください asks someone not to do something; しすぎないで targets doing it excessively.
まず聞いてみたらいいと思います。
I think you should ask first.
When to use it: Use this when asking first seems like a sensible next step.
たらいいと思います presents advice as your thought, making it less direct.
一度やってみたらどうですか。
Why not give it a try?
When to use it: Use this to suggest trying an idea once before deciding against it.
たらどうですか frames a suggestion as a question rather than a command.
あまり無理しないでください。
Don't push yourself too hard.
When to use it: Use this when someone seems to be pushing themselves too hard.
しないでください is a polite negative request; あまり makes this warning gentler.
私ならこうしますよ。
If I were you, I'd do it this way.
When to use it: Use this before showing someone what you personally would do.
私なら sets a hypothetical point of view: the suggestion is what you would do.
Story — advice at the kissa
Haruka has been working too long on a client sketch. Leo tries offering practical advice instead of apologizing for her stress.
Highlighted phrases are the new lines. Notice how rest, reassurance, asking first, and a small experiment make the advice easier to hear.
- At Kissa Hotaru, Haruka spreads her sketchbook across the table. Goro sits nearby with his unfinished coffee.
Harukaラフ、今日中に仕上げたいんだ。線が気になって、ずっと直してる。I want to finish the sketch today. I keep fixing the lines that bother me.
Leoちょっと休憩しませんか。Why don't you take a short break?- Harukaでも、クライアントに聞くのも不安なんだ。But I'm nervous about asking the client, too.
- Leoもっと休んだほうがいいですよ。You should rest more.
- Harukaそうだね。反応を気にしすぎてるのかも。You're right. Maybe I'm worrying too much about their reaction.
- Leo心配しすぎないでください。Don't worry so much.
- Harukaまだ先に聞いてないし、別の色の案も考えてるんだ。I haven't asked first yet, and I'm also thinking of a different color.
- Leoまず聞いてみたらいいと思います。I think you should ask first.
- Haruka先に聞いてみるね。色を変えた案も気になってる。I'll ask first. I'm curious about the version with different colors, too.
- Leo一度やってみたらどうですか。Why not give it a try?
- Harukaじゃあ、別の案を一度試してみる。Okay, I'll try a different version once.
- Leoあまり無理しないでください。Don't push yourself too hard.
- Harukaありがとう。少し休んでから質問を送るね。Thanks. I'll rest a little, then send the question.
- Leo私ならこうしますよ。If I were you, I'd do it this way.
- Harukaうん。その順番ならできそう。今日はここで止めるね。Yeah. I think I can do it in that order. I'll stop here for today.
- Haruka closes the sketchbook for a moment. The old umbrella remains untouched in the stand.
Practice — choose a helpful reply
Try eight short tasks using the new advice phrases and two earlier lines. You will listen, fill gaps, build a suggestion, and choose a fitting reply.
Read each situation before you choose.
0 of 10 done
What did you hear?
What did you hear?
Fill the gap
Fill the gap
Don't worry so much.
心配しすぎないで____。
What do you say?
What do you say?
Haruka is nervous about contacting her client. Suggest asking first as your own opinion.
Build the line
Build the line
Why not give it a try?
。
Tap the words in order.
Swap the word
Swap the word
Tell Haruka not to push herself too hard. Fix the first word.
____無理しないでください。
Pick the reply
Haruka says:
Pick the reply
どんなふうに進めるのがいいと思う？
How do you think I should go about it?
And you reply with:
What does it mean?
What does it mean?
一度やってみたらどうですか。
What do you say?
What do you say?
Haruka has been working without a pause. Invite her to take a short break together.
Find the mistake
Find the mistake
What did you hear?
What did you hear?
Say it — try giving advice
You are Leo, talking with Haruka over her client sketch. When the cue is yours, say a gentle suggestion that helps her take one manageable next step.
You can listen first, then record your line. Speaking is for practice, not a pronunciation score.
- Harukaまだ直すところがあるんだよね。There are still things I need to fix.
- Leo (you)Tell her she should rest more.
Tell her she should rest more.
もっと休んだほうがいいですよ。
You should rest more.
0 of 5 said
Recap — what you can say now
| Japanese | English | Play |
|---|---|---|
| もっと休んだほうがいいですよ。 | You should rest more. | |
| 心配しすぎないでください。 | Don't worry so much. | |
| まず聞いてみたらいいと思います。 | I think you should ask first. | |
| 一度やってみたらどうですか。 | Why not give it a try? | |
| あまり無理しないでください。 | Don't push yourself too hard. | |
| 私ならこうしますよ。 | If I were you, I'd do it this way. |
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Keep practicing with Yak Cards
Save these friendly suggestions for a moment when someone needs a hand. Open the Yak Cards for this lesson and practise them on the train.
A short review helps these softer ways to give advice come to mind when a friend needs them.
Open Yak Cards