New here? This is lesson 184 of a free 240-lesson Japanese course.
Listening to a friend in Japanese
Haruka drops into the booth at Kissa Hotaru with her sketchbook shut. A client has sent the same sketch back again, and she looks worn down.
Leo sits across from her. This time he does not fill the quiet with another sorry. He stays, names the feeling, and leaves space.
You will say a situation sounds hard, name frustration, and show you get the feeling.
Then you offer to listen, and you hope things ease soon.
By the end of this lesson
Say you are there and that their feeling makes sense.
- それは本当に大変そうですね。That sounds really hard.
- それはイライラしますよね。That must be frustrating.
- その気持ち、分かります。I know how you feel.
- ___と感じるのもわかります。I can see why you feel ___.
- 話したくなったら、いつでも聞きますよ。If you want to talk, I'm here.
- 早く状況がよくなるといいですね。I hope things get better soon.
Scene — a shut sketchbook
Late afternoon in Yanaka. Haruka slides into a red booth at Kissa Hotaru and keeps her sketchbook closed. Leo sits opposite, bag on the seat.
Masako watches from the counter and does not come over yet. In the next booth, Goro's blend coffee sits unfinished beside thick toast.
Learn — stay with the feeling
These six lines help you stay with a friend who is worn down.
You name the feeling, show it makes sense, and say you will listen.
それは本当に大変そうですね。
That sounds really hard.
When to use it: Use this after a friend describes a hard situation you did not see.
そう says it seems hard from what you heard, unlike a plain 大変ですね.
それはイライラしますよね。
That must be frustrating.
When to use it: Use this when a delay or a repeat request would frustrate anyone.
よね checks that they feel the same way you just named.
その気持ち、分かります。
I know how you feel.
When to use it: Use this to show their feeling already makes sense to you.
Say this after they name a feeling, not before they have spoken.
___と感じるのもわかります。
I can see why you feel ___.
When to use it: Put their feeling in the blank, then say you also get it.
と quotes the feeling; も adds that this feeling makes sense too.
話したくなったら、いつでも聞きますよ。
If you want to talk, I'm here.
When to use it: Offer this when they may want to talk later, not only now.
なったら means if and when they feel like talking.
Say it: Hold the small っ in なったら as a short stop.
早く状況がよくなるといいですね。
I hope things get better soon.
When to use it: Use this to hope things ease, without trying to fix them.
と plus いいですね hopes for a change; it is not a plan.
Story — quiet in the booth
Haruka is worn down by a client sketch. Leo listens in the booth and leaves the quiet alone.
Highlighted phrases are the new lines. Turn on Show English if you want a gloss.
- Haruka keeps the sketchbook shut. Leo waits.
Harukaレオ、今日は、ちょっと聞いてもらえる？Leo, can I talk something through today?
Leoええ、もちろん。何があったんですか。Yeah, of course. What happened?- Harukaクライアントから、また修正が来た。Another revision came in from the client.
- Leoそれは本当に大変そうですね。That sounds really hard.
- Haruka同じところを、三回も直してるの。I'm fixing the same part for the third time.
- Leoそれはイライラしますよね。That must be frustrating.
- Haruka自分の絵なのに、自分のじゃない感じ。It's my drawing, but it doesn't feel like mine.
- Leoその気持ち、分かります。I know how you feel.
- Haruka explains a little more about the client. Leo does not add a sorry.
- Leoそうなんですね。Oh, I see.
- Haruka悔しいし、疲れてる。I'm frustrated, and I'm worn out.
- Leo悔しいと感じるのもわかります。I can see why you feel frustrated.
- Haruka長くなりそうなんだけど。This might take a while.
- Leo話したくなったら、いつでも聞きますよ。If you want to talk, I'm here.
- Masako sets two cups down and leaves them to it. Goro has not touched his coffee.
- Harukaありがとう。少し楽になった。Thanks. I feel a bit lighter.
- Leo早く状況がよくなるといいですね。I hope things get better soon.
- Harukaうん。明日、もう一回出してみる。Yeah. I'll send it once more tomorrow.
Practice — pick a listening line
Eleven short tasks wait in this round. You will listen, fill a gap, build a line, and pick a reply.
Each one is small, so you move on quickly.
0 of 11 done
What did you hear?
What did you hear?
Match the pairs
Japanese
それは本当に大変そうですね。Drop the English hereそれはイライラしますよね。Drop the English hereその気持ち、分かります。Drop the English hereEnglish
What do you say?
What do you say?
A friend says the repeated client notes are making her frustrated. Name that frustration directly.
Fill the gap
Fill the gap
That sounds really hard.
それは本当に大変____ですね。
Pick the reply
Haruka says:
Pick the reply
この気持ち、分かってくれる？
Can you understand how I feel?
And you reply with:
What does it mean?
What does it mean?
話したくなったら、いつでも聞きますよ。
Build the line
Build the line
I hope things get better soon.
。
Tap the words in order.
Swap the word
Swap the word
You want to offer to listen, not ask a question.
話したくなったら、いつでも聞きます____。
What do you say?
What do you say?
Haruka says she feels frustrated. Use 悔しい in the blank to say you understand why she feels that way.
Pick the reply
Haruka says:
Pick the reply
今日は、ちょっと疲れてて。
I'm a bit worn out today.
And you reply with:
What do you say?
What do you say?
Haruka says the same sketch came back for a third revision. Acknowledge that you followed what she said, without advice or another evaluation.
Say it — your turn to listen
You are Leo in the booth. When the cue is yours, tap the microphone and say the line.
Tap play first if you want to hear it. The recording stays on this device.
- Harukaクライアントから、また修正が来た。Another revision came in from the client.
- Leo (you)Tell her that sounds really hard.
Tell her that sounds really hard.
それは本当に大変そうですね。
That sounds really hard.
0 of 5 said
Recap — what you can say now
| Japanese | English | Play |
|---|---|---|
| それは本当に大変そうですね。 | That sounds really hard. | |
| それはイライラしますよね。 | That must be frustrating. | |
| その気持ち、分かります。 | I know how you feel. | |
| ___と感じるのもわかります。 | I can see why you feel ___. | |
| 話したくなったら、いつでも聞きますよ。 | If you want to talk, I'm here. | |
| 早く状況がよくなるといいですね。 | I hope things get better soon. |
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Keep practicing with Yak Cards
Keep these listening lines in your pocket. Open the Yak Cards for this lesson and run them on the train.
A short Yak Cards round after a talk keeps these lines ready.
Open Yak Cards