New here? This is lesson 73 of a free 240-lesson Japanese course.
My work schedule in Japanese
Mori-san wants Leo to explain his work hours in plain words. He tells her when he starts, when he finishes, and which day he has off.
You will also learn to say that you are working late, ask permission to leave early, and explain which task you handle.
Goro hears the words for six o'clock and gets up for toast, not to leave. His blend coffee remains unfinished.
By the end of this lesson
Say when you start and finish work, when you are off, and what you handle.
- 仕事は___からです。I start work at ___.
- 仕事は___までです。I finish work at ___.
- 今日は残業します。I'm working late today.
- 水曜日は休みです。I'm off on Wednesday.
- 今日は早退してもいいですか。Can I leave early today?
- これを担当しています。I'm in charge of this.
Scene — hours at the office
At the Ueno office, Mori-san asks Leo to describe his usual work hours in plain words. A task list sits open on her tablet.
Leo explains his schedule and the work he is responsible for. He also asks whether he can leave early today, but a deadline changes that plan.
At Kissa Hotaru, Goro hears Leo mention six o'clock. He stands up for toast, while his blend coffee waits untouched.
Learn — say when you work
These six lines help you describe a normal work schedule and talk about one task you handle.
You can also ask politely to leave early when you need permission.
仕事は___からです。
I start work at ___.
When to use it: Use this to tell a manager what time your workday begins.
から marks the starting point; pair it with a time to say when work begins.
仕事は___までです。
I finish work at ___.
When to use it: Use this to tell someone what time your workday ends.
まで marks the endpoint; pair it with a time to say when work finishes.
今日は残業します。
I'm working late today.
When to use it: Use this to tell someone you will work overtime today.
残業 means overtime; します makes it a polite statement about today's work.
Say it: Keep the long o in ぎょう; do not shorten it.
水曜日は休みです。
I'm off on Wednesday.
When to use it: Use this to say that Wednesday is your day off.
は marks Wednesday as the topic, and 休みです says you are off.
今日は早退してもいいですか。
Can I leave early today?
When to use it: Ask a manager this when you need permission to leave early.
してもいいですか politely asks whether an action is allowed.
これを担当しています。
I'm in charge of this.
When to use it: Use this to explain which task or item you handle.
担当しています describes an ongoing responsibility; を marks the task you handle.
Story — six o'clock means toast
Mori asks Leo for a clear work schedule at the Ueno office. Leo gives his hours, mentions Wednesday off, and asks about leaving early.
Goro hears six o'clock and gets up for toast, not the door. The umbrella stays in its stand.
- Mori opens the day's task list on her tablet.
Mori何時からですか。What time do you start?
Leo仕事は9時からです。I start work at nine.- Mori何時までですか。What time do you finish?
- Leo仕事は6時までです。フルタイムで働いています。I finish work at six. I work full-time.
- Mori水曜日は休みですか。Are you off on Wednesday?
- Leo水曜日は休みです。I'm off on Wednesday.
- Moriこの作業では、どれを担当していますか。Which part of this work are you in charge of?
- Leoこれを担当しています。I'm in charge of this.
- Leo今日は早退してもいいですか。Can I leave early today?
- Mori今日は締め切りがあるので、難しいです。We have a deadline today, so that will be difficult.
- Leoわかりました。今日は残業します。I understand. I'll work late today.
- Later at Kissa Hotaru, Goro hears six o'clock. He stands up for toast, while his blend coffee remains unfinished.
Goro六時ですね。Six o'clock, then.- Goroバタートーストをお願いします。Buttered toast, please.
Practice — make your schedule clear
Try ten short tasks with work hours, days off, and office responsibilities.
You will listen, choose a phrase, fill a particle, build a line, and follow a short exchange.
0 of 10 done
What did you hear?
What did you hear?
What do you say?
What do you say?
Mori asks when your workday ends. Tell her you finish at six.
What does it mean?
What does it mean?
今日は残業します。
Fill the gap
Fill the gap
I'm off on Wednesday.
水曜日____休みです。
What do you say?
What do you say?
You need your manager's permission to leave work early today. Ask politely.
Build the line
Build the line
I'm in charge of this.
。
Tap the words in order.
Pick the reply
Mori says:
Pick the reply
この作業では、どれを担当していますか。
Which part of this work are you in charge of?
And you reply with:
Match the pairs
Japanese
お仕事は何ですか。Drop the English hereフルタイムで働いています。Drop the English here仕事は___からです。Drop the English here仕事は___までです。Drop the English hereEnglish
Put the chat in order
- MoriWhat comes first?
- Leo…
- Mori…
- Leo…
Find the mistake
Find the mistake
Say it — talk through your hours
You are Leo at the Ueno office, explaining your regular hours and responsibilities to Mori-san.
When Mori speaks, answer with the line that fits. Ask politely if you need to leave early.
- Mori何時からですか。What time do you start?
- Leo (you)Tell her you start at nine.
Tell her you start at nine.
仕事は___からです。
I start work at ___.
0 of 5 said
Recap — what you can say now
| Japanese | English | Play |
|---|---|---|
| 仕事は___からです。 | I start work at ___. | |
| 仕事は___までです。 | I finish work at ___. | |
| 今日は残業します。 | I'm working late today. | |
| 水曜日は休みです。 | I'm off on Wednesday. | |
| 今日は早退してもいいですか。 | Can I leave early today? | |
| これを担当しています。 | I'm in charge of this. |
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Keep practicing with Yak Cards
Save these work phrases for your next schedule check. Open the Yak Cards and review them on the train.
A quick review can make it easier to explain your hours at work.
Open Yak Cards