New here? This is lesson 198 of a free 240-lesson Japanese course.
Moving on in Japanese
A meeting at Leo's Ueno office is meant to be about a small puzzle game. Somehow, a photo of the old umbrella tag has made it into the meeting materials.
Mori-san acknowledges the familiar topic and steers everyone back to the work in front of them.
Learn a few ways to close a discussion, leave a detail for later, and move on to the next item.
These are polite phrases for meetings and other conversations.
By the end of this lesson
Close a topic and move on to the next one.
- 別の話をしましょう。Let's talk about something else.
- それはまた後で話しましょう。We can come back to that later.
- では、次に行きましょう。So, let's move on.
- 今はこのくらいにしましょうか。Shall we leave it there for now?
- それについては、もう十分話したと思います。I think we've covered that.
- とりあえず今はそれでいいことにしましょう。Let's leave it at that for now.
Scene — a tag at the meeting
At Leo's Ueno office, the team is reviewing text for a small puzzle game.
A photo of the old umbrella tag has appeared among the meeting materials, pulling attention away from the game.
Mori-san leads the meeting with short, practical questions. Leo is ready to help close the umbrella discussion and return to the work.
Learn — close the topic
These six phrases help you wrap up a topic without abruptly changing the subject. Some leave a point for later; others make a clear move forward.
Listen for the difference between ending a discussion and moving to the next item.
別の話をしましょう。
Let's talk about something else.
When to use it: Use this to suggest leaving the current topic for another one.
しましょう presents the action as a polite suggestion for the group.
それはまた後で話しましょう。
We can come back to that later.
When to use it: Use this when you want to postpone a point without dismissing it.
また後で keeps the point open for a later conversation.
では、次に行きましょう。
So, let's move on.
When to use it: Use this to guide a group to the next topic or task.
では signals a transition, and 次に points to what comes next.
今はこのくらいにしましょうか。
Shall we leave it there for now?
When to use it: Use this as a gentle suggestion to stop discussing a point for now.
しましょうか softens the suggestion by making it a question.
それについては、もう十分話したと思います。
I think we've covered that.
When to use it: Use this to say a topic has already had enough discussion.
と思います softens your view by presenting it as what you think.
Say it: In 思います, the u in ます is often barely voiced in ordinary speech.
とりあえず今はそれでいいことにしましょう。
Let's leave it at that for now.
When to use it: Use this to accept a temporary decision and move forward.
とりあえず signals that this is a practical choice for the present.
Story — back to the game text
A photo of the umbrella tag has wandered into a meeting about game text. Mori-san brings the team back to the agenda without making a fuss.
Highlighted phrases are the new lines. Turn on Show English if you want a gloss.
- A meeting room in Ueno. A photo of the umbrella tag is tucked into the work materials.
Mori-sanでは、ゲームの文章を確認しましょう。All right, let's review the game text.
Leo翻訳はもうできています。The translation is already done.- Mori-san資料に傘の札の写真が入っていますね。The photo of the umbrella tag is in the materials.
- Leo別の話をしましょう。Let's talk about something else.
- Mori-sanそれについては、もう十分話したと思います。I think we've covered that.
- Mori-san札の話は、あとで続けますか。Shall we continue the tag discussion later?
- Leoこれは後で話します。I'll talk about this later.
- Leoそれはまた後で話しましょう。We can come back to that later.
- Mori-san今はこのくらいにしましょうか。Shall we leave it there for now?
- Leoとりあえず今はそれでいいことにしましょう。Let's leave it at that for now.
- Mori-sanでは、次に行きましょう。So, let's move on.
- Leoはい。ゲームの文章を見ます。Okay. I'll look at the game text.
- Mori-san次に進みましょう。Let's move on.
- Leoはい。Okay.
- Mori-sanゲームの文章を見ていきましょう。Let's go through the game text.
Practice — wrap it up and move on
This round has eleven tasks: listening, building a phrase, filling gaps, choosing replies, and spotting a mistake.
Two meeting phrases from earlier lessons also come back in the story.
0 of 11 done
What did you hear?
What did you hear?
Build the line
Build the line
We can come back to that later.
。
Tap the words in order.
Fill the gap
Fill the gap
So, let's move on.
では、____に行きましょう。
What do you say?
What do you say?
Without proposing a different topic, gently suggest leaving this discussion at its current point for now.
Pick the reply
Mori-san says:
Pick the reply
この件は、もう十分話したと思いますか。
Do you think we've discussed this matter enough?
And you reply with:
Find the mistake
Find the mistake
What does it mean?
What does it mean?
それについては、もう十分話したと思います。
Match the pairs
Japanese
別の話をしましょう。Drop the English hereそれはまた後で話しましょう。Drop the English hereでは、次に行きましょう。Drop the English hereEnglish
What do you say?
What do you say?
You have been assigned to explain this specific item yourself at the next meeting. State that you will discuss it later; do not suggest that the group revisit it.
Build the line
Build the line
Let's move on.
。
Tap the words in order.
What do you say?
What do you say?
The team has made a temporary decision and agreed to accept it for now. Confirm that you will treat it as settled at this point.
Say it — your turn to move on
You are Leo in the Ueno meeting. When the cue is yours, say a polite phrase that helps the group finish one topic and continue.
Tap play first if you want to hear each line. The recording stays on this device.
- Mori-sanその件は、もう十分話しましたね。We've covered that matter enough.
- Leo (you)Agree that the topic has had enough discussion.
Agree that the topic has had enough discussion.
それについては、もう十分話したと思います。
I think we've covered that.
0 of 3 said
Recap — what you can say now
| Japanese | English | Play |
|---|---|---|
| 別の話をしましょう。 | Let's talk about something else. | |
| それはまた後で話しましょう。 | We can come back to that later. | |
| では、次に行きましょう。 | So, let's move on. | |
| 今はこのくらいにしましょうか。 | Shall we leave it there for now? | |
| それについては、もう十分話したと思います。 | I think we've covered that. | |
| とりあえず今はそれでいいことにしましょう。 | Let's leave it at that for now. |
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Keep practicing with Yak Cards
Keep these meeting phrases ready for the next time a discussion needs a neat ending. Open the Yak Cards for this lesson and review them on the train.
A quick review helps you close a topic politely and keep a meeting moving.
Open Yak Cards