New here? This is lesson 224 of a free 240-lesson Japanese course.
Persuade someone in Japanese
Leo has to defend a release plan in a short meeting at his Ueno game company. Mori-san worries that leaving out an extra level could disappoint players.
He explains why shipping without it can protect the schedule and improve the game already in hand.
You will present benefits, acknowledge a concern, reassure your manager, and ask her to decide.
Notice how polite wording lets Leo make a clear case without turning his recommendation into an order.
By the end of this lesson
Present benefits, respond to a concern, and ask someone to decide.
- 一度、試してみる価値はあると思います。I think it's worth trying once.
- 待つより、今動いたほうがいいです。Better to act now than wait.
- ご心配は、よくわかります。I understand your concern.
- この案には、利点が三つあります。This plan has three advantages.
- 損にはならないはずです。You shouldn't lose anything by it.
- それで、ご判断をお願いできますか。So, could I ask you to decide?
Scene — a release decision
At the Ueno office, Leo and Mori-san review the release plan for their puzzle game. The team is deciding whether to add one more level.
Mori-san worries that leaving it out could disappoint players. Leo wants to explain the advantages of shipping without it.
Learn — make your case
These six lines help you recommend a plan, answer a worry, and ask someone to decide.
Each phrase is direct, but still leaves room for the other person’s judgment.
一度、試してみる価値はあると思います。
I think it's worth trying once.
When to use it: Use this to suggest a trial while making clear that it is your considered view.
と思います presents the recommendation as your view rather than as an unquestionable fact.
Say it: Keep the long vowel in 一度 clear.
待つより、今動いたほうがいいです。
Better to act now than wait.
When to use it: Use this when you want to recommend acting now instead of delaying.
ほうがいい compares two choices and recommends the better one.
Say it: Keep the long vowel in ほう clear.
ご心配は、よくわかります。
I understand your concern.
When to use it: Use this to acknowledge someone’s concern before responding to it.
は sets the concern as the topic; よくわかります acknowledges it directly.
Say it: Give ん in 心配 its own beat.
この案には、利点が三つあります。
This plan has three advantages.
When to use it: Use this to introduce a short list of reasons in favor of a proposal.
三つ counts the advantages, and が marks what the plan has.
Say it: The u in ます is almost silent.
損にはならないはずです。
You shouldn't lose anything by it.
When to use it: Use this to reassure someone that the proposal should not leave them worse off.
は marks a reassuring contrast: the plan should not become a loss.
Say it: Give ん in 損 its own beat.
それで、ご判断をお願いできますか。
So, could I ask you to decide?
When to use it: Use this after giving your reasons when you need the other person to make the decision.
お願いできますか makes the request polite while leaving the decision with the other person.
Say it: Keep the long vowel in 判断 clear.
Story — three reasons at work
At the Ueno office, Leo argues that the puzzle game can ship without one extra level. Mori-san listens and raises a concern.
Highlighted phrases are the new lines. Turn on Show English if you want a gloss.
- Mori-san and Leo sit beside a monitor showing the game.
Mori-san今回の更新方針について、レオさんの考えを聞かせてください。Tell me what you think about this update plan, Leo.
Leo追加レベルを作ると、公開が二週間遅れます。If we make an extra level, the release will be two weeks late.- Mori-sanでも、レベルを増やしたほうが、ユーザーは喜びませんか。But wouldn't players be happier with another level?
- Leoご心配は、よくわかります。I understand your concern.
- Mori-sanはい。品質も気になります。Yes. I'm also concerned about quality.
- Leoこの案には、利点が三つあります。This plan has three advantages.
- Mori-san具体的には、どんな利点ですか。What are the advantages, specifically?
- Leo一つ目は、予定どおり公開できることです。First, we can release it on schedule.
- Mori-sanなるほど。納期を守れますね。I see. We can meet the deadline.
- Leo二つ目は、今あるレベルの調整に時間を使えることです。Second, we can spend time tuning the levels we already have.
- Mori-sanそこは大事ですね。That matters.
- Leo三つ目は、次の更新に新しい内容を回せることです。Third, we can save new content for the next update.
- Mori-san追加レベルがなくても、今あるレベルを調整すれば、遊びやすさは保てそうですね。Even without another level, it seems we can keep the game easy to play by tuning the levels we already have.
- Leo確かにそうです。That's true.
- Mori-san後から追加すると、かえって手間が増える心配もあります。I'm also concerned that adding it later could create more work.
- Leo一度、試してみる価値はあると思います。I think it's worth trying once.
- Mori-san公開を遅らせずに、まず品質を整えるんですね。So we can improve quality first without delaying the release.
- Leo待つより、今動いたほうがいいです。Better to act now than wait.
- Mori-sanそれなら、損にはならないかもしれませんね。In that case, we may not lose anything by it.
- Leo損にはならないはずです。You shouldn't lose anything by it.
- Leoそれで、ご判断をお願いできますか。So, could I ask you to decide?
- Mori-sanそれでは、それでいきましょう。Then let's go with that.
Practice — make the case clearly
Listen, fill gaps, build a line, and choose a suitable reply.
The tasks follow Leo’s work discussion, where a clear reason matters more than a long speech.
0 of 10 done
What did you hear?
What did you hear?
Fill the gap
Fill the gap
I understand your concern.
ご心配____、よくわかります。
Build the line
Build the line
This plan has three advantages.
、。
Tap the words in order.
Pick the reply
Mori-san says:
Pick the reply
追加レベルを入れないと、あとで損をしませんか。
Won't we lose out later if we leave out the extra level?
And you reply with:
What does it mean?
What does it mean?
待つより、今動いたほうがいいです。
What do you say?
What do you say?
Mori-san says the deadline must be protected. Respond with a direct, concise agreement, not another recommendation or a request.
Find the mistake
Find the mistake
What do you say?
What do you say?
Mori-san says meeting the deadline matters. Agree with her point.
Pick the reply
Mori-san says:
Pick the reply
では、今回は追加レベルなしで進めましょう。
Then let's move forward without the extra level this time.
And you reply with:
What did you hear?
What did you hear?
Say it — ask for a decision
You are Leo in the meeting. Respond to Mori-san’s concern, introduce the benefits, and recommend a course of action.
This is recording practice, not a scored speaking check. Take a moment to think before each line.
- Mori-san追加レベルを入れると、公開が遅れそうです。Adding another level may delay the release.
- Leo (you)Acknowledge her concern.
Acknowledge her concern.
ご心配は、よくわかります。
I understand your concern.
0 of 7 said
Recap — what you can say now
| Japanese | English | Play |
|---|---|---|
| 一度、試してみる価値はあると思います。 | I think it's worth trying once. | |
| 待つより、今動いたほうがいいです。 | Better to act now than wait. | |
| ご心配は、よくわかります。 | I understand your concern. | |
| この案には、利点が三つあります。 | This plan has three advantages. | |
| 損にはならないはずです。 | You shouldn't lose anything by it. | |
| それで、ご判断をお願いできますか。 | So, could I ask you to decide? |
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Keep practicing with Yak Cards
Keep these phrases ready for a careful work discussion. Open the Yak Cards for this lesson and review them later.
A brief Yak Cards round can help you make a clear case when a decision matters.
Open Yak Cards