New here? This is lesson 205 of a free 240-lesson Japanese course.
Making the deadline in Japanese
Mori-san's game project is behind schedule, and the puzzle text still needs a final pass. At the Ueno office, she asks whether Leo can deliver it this week.
Leo thinks Friday is possible, but only if their meeting stays short. He needs to give a realistic answer without sounding careless or overconfident.
Practice asking for a due date, offering a date, and explaining when the schedule feels tight.
These polite work phrases help you negotiate timing clearly, including a one-day extension.
By the end of this lesson
Ask when work is due and discuss whether you can meet the deadline.
- 提出はいつまでですか。When does this need to be in?
- 金曜までには出せます。I can submit it by Friday.
- 少し厳しいです。It's a bit tight.
- 一日延ばせますか。Can we push it back a day?
- ぎりぎりになると思います。I think it'll be down to the wire.
- 今週中は難しいです。This week will be difficult.
Scene — a workday in Ueno
At the Ueno office, Mori-san has the puzzle game's text open on her tablet. A short meeting has already run longer than planned.
Leo checks the delivery notes while a progress sheet sits between them. They need a date for the text and a realistic plan for review.
Learn — talking about due dates
These six lines help you ask for a deadline, offer a date, and explain when the schedule feels tight.
Use them to negotiate a small extension clearly and politely.
提出はいつまでですか。
When does this need to be in?
When to use it: Ask this at work when you need to know the deadline for a submission.
提出 is the item being handed in; は sets it as the topic of your question.
金曜までには出せます。
I can submit it by Friday.
When to use it: Use this when Friday is the latest date you expect to submit the work.
までには marks Friday as a deadline you can meet, with a slight contrast to other possible dates.
少し厳しいです。
It's a bit tight.
When to use it: Say this when a deadline is challenging but you want to express that gently.
少し softens the assessment, so this sounds less blunt than calling the schedule difficult.
一日延ばせますか。
Can we push it back a day?
When to use it: Ask this when you need the other person to consider a one-day extension.
延ばす means to extend a deadline; 一日 tells the other person how much extra time you need.
ぎりぎりになると思います。
I think it'll be down to the wire.
When to use it: Use this when you expect to finish just before the deadline.
と思います presents this as your estimate, rather than a definite promise.
今週中は難しいです。
This week will be difficult.
When to use it: Say this when completing the task within the current week is unlikely.
今週中 means within this week; は makes that time frame the topic of the difficulty.
Story — a tight schedule
Mori-san checks whether Leo can deliver the puzzle text this week. They talk through the deadline, the meeting, and the time needed for review.
Highlighted phrases are the new lines. Turn on Show English if you want a gloss.
- At the Ueno office, Mori-san turns her tablet toward Leo. The meeting agenda is still open.
Mori-san今週中にパズルのテキスト、出せそうですか。Do you think you can submit the puzzle text this week?
Leo提出はいつまでですか。When does this need to be in?- Mori-san金曜までです。It's due by Friday.
- Leo金曜までには出せます。I can submit it by Friday.
- Mori-san進捗が少し遅れています。We're a little behind schedule.
- Leo少し厳しいです。It's a bit tight.
- Mori-san会議は三十分の予定です。The meeting is scheduled for thirty minutes.
- Leoぎりぎりになると思います。I think it'll be down to the wire.
- Leo一日延ばせますか。Can we push it back a day?
- Mori-san会議は短くします。金曜のままでどうですか。I'll keep the meeting short. How about keeping Friday as the deadline?
- Leo会議が短ければ、金曜までには出せます。If the meeting stays short, I can submit it by Friday.
- Mori-san私の確認は来週になります。今週中は難しいです。I'll review it next week. Reviewing it this week will be difficult.
- Leo nods and updates the delivery plan. Mori keeps the tablet open to the meeting agenda.
Practice — make the timing clear
The practice round mixes listening, building, and choosing replies. You will also fill a gap and fix a small particle mistake.
Keep the difference between possible and difficult clear.
0 of 10 done
What did you hear?
What did you hear?
Fill the gap
Fill the gap
I can submit it by Friday.
金曜までに____出せます。
What do you say?
What do you say?
The deadline is possible, but the schedule is tight. Tell Mori-san that it's a bit difficult without saying the whole week is impossible.
Build the line
Build the line
I can submit it by Friday.
。
Tap the words in order.
Pick the reply
Mori-san says:
Pick the reply
締め切りは木曜です。
The deadline is Thursday.
And you reply with:
Swap the word
Swap the word
You expect to finish just before the deadline. Replace the verb to make the sentence say that.
ぎりぎりに____と思います。
What does it mean?
What does it mean?
今週中は難しいです。
Find the mistake
Find the mistake
What did you hear?
What did you hear?
What did you hear?
What did you hear?
Say it — negotiate a deadline
Take Leo's part in a quick office conversation with Mori-san. When the cue is yours, say the line aloud.
Listen first if you want to hear the pace. This is a recording exercise, not a pronunciation score.
- Mori-san今週中に出せそうですか。Do you think you can submit it this week?
- Leo (you)Ask when the submission is due.
Ask when the submission is due.
提出はいつまでですか。
When does this need to be in?
0 of 4 said
Recap — what you can say now
| Japanese | English | Play |
|---|---|---|
| 提出はいつまでですか。 | When does this need to be in? | |
| 金曜までには出せます。 | I can submit it by Friday. | |
| 少し厳しいです。 | It's a bit tight. | |
| 一日延ばせますか。 | Can we push it back a day? | |
| ぎりぎりになると思います。 | I think it'll be down to the wire. | |
| 今週中は難しいです。 | This week will be difficult. |
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Keep practicing with Yak Cards
Save the deadline phrases for your next work conversation. Open the Yak Cards and practise them before the next meeting.
A quick review helps you ask for a deadline and give a realistic answer.
Open Yak Cards