Japanese - Working Toward Goals

___は少しずつ進んでいます。

___ wa sukoshi zutsu susunde imasu.

I'm making progress with ___.

Meaning: I'm making progress with ___.

When to use: Put a noun like 勉強, プロジェクト, or 準備 before は to say that thing is gradually moving forward.

いちばん大変なのは___です。

Ichiban taihen na no wa ___ desu.

The hardest part is ___.

Meaning: The hardest part is ___.

When to use: Use this to describe the biggest difficulty; insert a noun or nominalized verb (〜こと) for actions.

___たいので、これをしています。

___tai node, kore o shite imasu.

I'm doing this because I want to ___.

Meaning: I'm doing this because I want to ___.

When to use: Put the verb stem (ます形の語幹) before たいので to explain motivation. For nouns, say 「___をしたいので」.

Tip: Beginner learners sometimes use the full ます-form (行きますたい) instead of the stem + たい; remember to use the verb stem before たい.

時間はかかるかもしれませんが、___できると思います。

Jikan wa kakaru kamoshiremasen ga, ___ dekiru to omoimasu.

It may take a while, but I think I can ___.

Meaning: It may take a while, but I think I can ___.

When to use: Use this to express cautious optimism about a goal; put a noun or a nominalized verb (like 合格, 完成) where ___ is.

Tip: Don't change the verb to a potential form; use a noun or nominalized phrase (e.g., 合格) rather than making the verb potential.

今、どんな目標に向かってがんばっていますか。

Ima, donna mokuhyō ni mukatte ganbatte imasu ka.

What goals are you working toward?

Meaning: What goals are you working toward?

When to use: A polite way to ask someone about their current goals; 「目標に向かって」 expresses moving toward the goal.

それをどうやって達成するつもりですか。

Sore o dō yatte tassei suru tsumori desu ka.

How are you going to achieve that?

Meaning: How are you going to achieve that?

When to use: Use this polite question to ask someone's plan; 「それを」 refers to the previously mentioned goal.

これから___で、何を達成したいですか。

Kore kara ___ de, nani o tassei shitai desu ka.

What would you like to achieve in the next ___?

Meaning: What would you like to achieve in the next ___?

When to use: Put a period (一年、三か月、半年など) in the blank to ask about goals for that timeframe; で marks the time window.

Tip: Learners sometimes use に instead of で for this phrase — use で to indicate the time period in which you plan to achieve something.

___できるように、小さい目標を立てています。

___ dekiru yō ni, chīsai mokuhyō o tatete imasu.

I'm setting small goals to help me ___.

Meaning: I'm setting small goals to help me ___.

When to use: Use this to explain a practical strategy; insert a noun or nominalized action (早起き, 合格) before できるように.