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N2 · Upper intermediateMedium passagePassage #621
2

私わたしはどちらかと言いえば根ねが楽らく天てん的てきだが、昔むかしは営えい業ぎょうの強きょう烈れつなノルマ（注1）に苦くるしんだこともある。そういう日ひ々びの中なかから①いつしか身みにつけたことのひとつが「幸しあわせ感かんのハードル（注2）を低ひくくする」だった。

たとえば、あと一歩いっぽのところで契けい約やくが結むすべなかった日ひ、会かい社しゃに戻もどってしょげかえる（注3）代かわりに「あの社しゃ長ちょうと一いち時じ間かんも話はなせるところまできた」と自じ分ぶんの成せい果かを見みつけて評ひょう価かする。そうやって一いち日にちを締しめくくれば（注4）、明あ日したへの活かつ力りょくも湧わいてきた。

仕し事ごとそのものも、「仕し事ごとは趣しゅ味みや遊あそびとはちがう。仕し事ごとはお金かねをもらうのだから、楽たのしくないことがあっても当あたり前まえ」と思おもってやってきた。②そこを基き準じゅんにすれば、少しょう々しょうのことは当とう然ぜんのこととして受うけ入いれられるし、何なにかいいことがあったときは「お金かねをもらいながらこんな気き持もちを味あじわえるなんて」と幸しあわせ感かんも倍ばい増ぞうする。

どうせ人じん生せいの一定いっていの時じ間かんを仕し事ごとに費ついやすのなら、その時じ間かんが楽たのしいと思おもえるほうがいいに決きまっている。それに楽たのしいと思おもってすることは、何なんとかスムーズに運はこび成せい果かもあがるものだ。こうして好こう循じゅん環かんが生うまれてくる。

人ひとは楽たのしいから笑え顔がおになるのだが、「まず笑え顔がおをつくると、それによって楽たのしい気き持もちが湧わいてくる」という研究結果けんきゅうけっかがあるという。これにならえば、充じゅう実じつ感かんを得えられる仕し事ごとを手てにするには、楽たのしめる仕し事ごとを探さがすのも大だい事じだが、小ちいさなことでも楽たのしめるようになることも意い外がいにあなどれない（注5）ポイントだ。

（高たか城ぎ幸こう司じ『上じょう司しにつける薬くすり！－マネジメント入にゅう門もん』による）

（注ちゅう1）強きょう烈れつなノルマ：厳きびしい条じょう件けんで課かされる仕し事ごと

（注ちゅう2）ハードル：ここでは、基き準じゅん

（注ちゅう3）しょげかえる：ひどくがっかりする

（注ちゅう4）締しめくくる：終おえる

（注ちゅう5）あなどれない：軽けい視しできない

Questions

0/3 answered
  1. 1①いつしか身につけたことのひとつの例として近いものはどれか。
  2. 2②そことは何か。
  3. 3この文章で筆者の言いたいことは何か。

Study this passage

Vocabulary7 words
  • 活力かつりょく
    • ·vitality; energy; dynamism
    N2
  • 湧くわくAs it appears here: 湧いて
    • ·to well (up); to gush out (of water); to spring out; to surge
    • ·to appear (esp. suddenly) (sweat, tears, etc.); to sweat; to cry
    • ·to feel emotions (e.g. joy, bravery, etc.); to spring up (e.g. an idea, emotions, clouds); to well up; to arise
    • ·to hatch; to breed; to propagate; to be infested (esp. of parasitic insects, etc.)
    N2
  • 当たり前あたりまえ
    • ·natural; reasonable; obvious
    • ·usual; common; ordinary; commonplace; the norm
    N2
  • 基準きじゅん
    • ·standard; criterion; norm; benchmark; measure; gauge; basis
    N2
  • 一定いってい
    • ·to fix; to settle; to standardize; to regularize
    • ·constant; definite; uniform; defined; certain; prescribed
    N2
  • こうして
    • ·thus; in this way
    N2
  • ならうAs it appears here: ならえば
    • ·to imitate; to follow; to copy; to emulate
    N2
Other levels91 words
  • 私わたし
    • ·I; me
    N5
  • どちら
    • ·which way; which direction; where
    • ·which one (esp. of two alternatives)
    • ·who
    N5
  • 言ういうAs it appears here: 言えば
    • ·to say; to utter; to declare
    • ·to name; to call
    • ·to go (e.g. "the alarm went ping"); to make a noise
    N5
  • ある
    • ·to be; to exist; to live
    • ·to have
    • ·to be located
    • ·to be equipped with
    • ·to happen; to come about
    • ·to exist (in a completed state); to be (something unchanged in its current state)
    N5
  • 中なか
    • ·inside; interior
    • ·among; within
    • ·middle; center; centre
    • ·during; while; middle; midst; amid
    • ·interval; gap
    • ·mean; average
    • ·second (of three, e.g. sons, volumes); middle
    • ·medium grade; medium quality
    • ·red-light district
    N5
  • つけるAs it appears here: つけた
    • ·to attach; to join; to connect; to add; to append; to affix; to stick; to glue; to fasten; to sew on; to apply (ointment); to put against
    • ·to furnish (a house with)
    • ·to wear; to put on
    • ·to keep a diary; to make an entry
    • ·to appraise; to set (a price)
    • ·to allot; to budget; to assign
    • ·to bring alongside
    • ·to place (under guard or doctor)
    • ·to follow (someone); to shadow; to tail; to stalk
    • ·to load; to give (courage to)
    • ·to keep (an eye on)
    • ·to establish (relations or understanding)
    • ·to turn on (a light)
    • ·to produce flowers (of a plant); to produce fruit
    • ·to attach; to play an attachment
    • ·to do intensely; to do fiercely; to do strongly
    • ·to be used to (doing); to be accustomed to
    N5
  • ひとつ
    • ·one
    • ·for one thing
    • ·only
    • ·(not) even
    • ·just (e.g. "just try it")
    • ·some kind of; one type of
    N5
  • 低いひくいAs it appears here: 低く
    • ·low (rank, degree, value, content, quality, etc.)
    • ·low (position); close to the ground
    • ·short (height)
    • ·deep (voice); in a low key; low (volume)
    N5
  • する
    • ·to do; to carry out; to perform
    • ·to cause to become; to make (into); to turn (into)
    • ·to serve as; to act as; to work as
    • ·to wear (clothes, a facial expression, etc.)
    • ·to judge as being; to view as being; to think of as; to treat as; to use as
    • ·to decide on; to choose
    • ·to be sensed (of a smell, noise, etc.)
    • ·to be (in a state, condition, etc.)
    • ·to be worth; to cost
    • ·to pass (of time); to elapse
    • ·to place, or raise, person A to a post or status B
    • ·to transform A to B; to make A into B; to exchange A for B
    • ·to make use of A for B; to view A as B; to handle A as if it were B
    • ·to feel A about B
    • ·verbalizing suffix (applies to nouns noted in this dictionary with the part of speech "vs")
    • ·creates a humble verb (after a noun prefixed with "o" or "go")
    • ·to be just about to; to be just starting to; to try to; to attempt to
    N5
  • あと
    • ·behind; rear
    • ·after; later
    • ·remainder; the rest
    • ·more (e.g. five more minutes); left
    • ·also; in addition
    • ·descendant; successor; heir
    • ·after one's death
    • ·past; previous
    N5
  • ところ
    • ·place; spot; scene; site
    • ·address
    • ·district; area; locality
    • ·one's house
    • ·point; aspect; side; facet
    • ·passage (in text); part
    • ·space; room
    • ·thing; matter
    • ·whereupon; as a result
    • ·about to; on the verge of
    • ·was just doing; was in the process of doing; have just done; just finished doing
    • ·approximately; around; about
    N5
  • 会社かいしゃ
    • ·company; corporation; firm
    • ·one's workplace
    N5
  • あの
    • ·that; those; the
    N5
  • くるAs it appears here: きた
    • ·to come (spatially or temporally); to approach; to arrive
    • ·to come back; to do ... and come back
    • ·to come to be; to become; to get; to grow; to continue
    • ·to come from; to be caused by; to derive from
    • ·to come to (e.g. "when it comes to spinach ...")
    N5
  • 自分じぶん
    • ·myself; yourself; oneself; himself; herself
    • ·I; me
    • ·you
    N5
  • 一日いちにち
    • ·one day
    • ·all day (long); the whole day; from morning till night
    • ·first day of the month
    N5
  • 明日あした
    • ·tomorrow
    • ·near future
    N5
  • 仕事しごと
    • ·work; job; labor; labour; business; task; assignment; occupation; employment
    • ·work
    N5
  • ちがう
    • ·to differ (from); to be different; to be distinct; to be unlike; to vary; to disagree (with)
    • ·to be wrong; to be incorrect; to be mistaken
    • ·to become abnormal; to go wrong
    • ·isn't it?; wasn't it?
    N5
  • お金おかね
    • ·money
    N5
  • 楽しいたのしいAs it appears here: 楽しくない
    • ·enjoyable; fun; pleasant; happy; delightful
    N5
  • あるAs it appears here: あって
    • ·to be; to exist; to live
    • ·to have
    • ·to be located
    • ·to be equipped with
    • ·to happen; to come about
    • ·to exist (in a completed state); to be (something unchanged in its current state)
    N5
  • そこ
    • ·there (place relatively near listener)
    • ·there (place just mentioned); that place
    • ·then (of some incident just spoken of); that (of point just raised)
    • ·you
    N5
  • するAs it appears here: すれば
    • ·to do; to carry out; to perform
    • ·to cause to become; to make (into); to turn (into)
    • ·to serve as; to act as; to work as
    • ·to wear (clothes, a facial expression, etc.)
    • ·to judge as being; to view as being; to think of as; to treat as; to use as
    • ·to decide on; to choose
    • ·to be sensed (of a smell, noise, etc.)
    • ·to be (in a state, condition, etc.)
    • ·to be worth; to cost
    • ·to pass (of time); to elapse
    • ·to place, or raise, person A to a post or status B
    • ·to transform A to B; to make A into B; to exchange A for B
    • ·to make use of A for B; to view A as B; to handle A as if it were B
    • ·to feel A about B
    • ·verbalizing suffix (applies to nouns noted in this dictionary with the part of speech "vs")
    • ·creates a humble verb (after a noun prefixed with "o" or "go")
    • ·to be just about to; to be just starting to; to try to; to attempt to
    N5
  • あるAs it appears here: あった
    • ·to be; to exist; to live
    • ·to have
    • ·to be located
    • ·to be equipped with
    • ·to happen; to come about
    • ·to exist (in a completed state); to be (something unchanged in its current state)
    N5
  • 時間じかん
    • ·time
    • ·hour
    • ·period; class; lesson
    N5
  • その
    • ·that; the
    • ·part (as in "part two")
    • ·um ...; er ...; uh ...
    N5
  • 楽しいたのしい
    • ·enjoyable; fun; pleasant; happy; delightful
    N5
  • それ
    • ·that; it
    • ·then; that point (in time); that time
    • ·there
    • ·you
    N5
  • もの
    • ·thing; object; article; stuff; substance
    • ·one's things; possessions; property; belongings
    • ·things; something; anything; everything; nothing
    • ·quality
    • ·reason; the way of things
    • ·used to emphasize emotion, judgment, etc.; used to indicate a common occurrence in the past (after a verb in past tense); used to indicate a general tendency; used to indicate something that should happen
    • ·item classified as ...; item related to ...; work in the genre of ...
    • ·cause of ...; cause for ...
    • ·somehow; somewhat; for some reason
    • ·really; truly
    N5
  • 生まれるうまれるAs it appears here: 生まれて
    • ·to be born
    N5
  • 人ひと
    • ·person; someone; somebody
    • ·human beings; mankind; man; people; humans
    • ·human (Homo sapiens)
    • ·(other) people; others
    • ·character; personality; nature
    • ·capable person; competent person; suitable person; right person
    • ·adult; grown-up
    • ·I; me; one
    N5
  • なる
    • ·to become; to get; to grow; to turn; to reach; to attain
    • ·to result in; to turn out; to end up; to prove (to be)
    • ·to consist of; to be composed of; to be made up of
    • ·to be completed; to be realized; to succeed; to be attained; to be accomplished
    • ·to change (into); to turn (into); to transform
    • ·to come (to do); to begin (to do); to grow (to do)
    • ·to come to; to amount to; to add up to; to make
    • ·to play (the part of); to act as
    • ·to be used for; to be useful for; to serve as
    • ·to be promoted
    • ·to do ...
    N5
  • つくる
    • ·to make; to produce; to manufacture; to build; to construct
    • ·to prepare (food); to brew (alcohol)
    • ·to raise; to grow; to cultivate; to train
    • ·to till
    • ·to draw up (a document); to make out; to prepare; to write
    • ·to create (an artistic work, etc.); to compose
    • ·to coin (a phrase); to organize; to organise; to establish; to found
    • ·to have (a child)
    • ·to make up (one's face, etc.)
    • ·to fabricate (an excuse, etc.)
    • ·to give a (false) appearance; to feign (a smile, etc.); to put on a show of emotion
    • ·to form (a line, etc.)
    • ·to set (a record)
    • ·to commit (a sin, etc.)
    N5
  • いう
    • ·to say; to utter; to declare
    • ·to name; to call
    • ·to go (e.g. "the alarm went ping"); to make a noise
    N5
  • これ
    • ·this; this one
    • ·this person
    • ·now; this point (in time)
    • ·here
    • ·used to stress the subject of a sentence
    • ·I; me
    N5
  • 楽しめるたのしめる
    • ·enjoyable; fun; pleasant; happy; delightful
    N5
  • 小さなちいさな
    • ·small; little; tiny
    N5
  • つける
    • ·to attach; to join; to connect; to add; to append; to affix; to stick; to glue; to fasten; to sew on; to apply (ointment); to put against
    • ·to furnish (a house with)
    • ·to wear; to put on
    • ·to keep a diary; to make an entry
    • ·to appraise; to set (a price)
    • ·to allot; to budget; to assign
    • ·to bring alongside
    • ·to place (under guard or doctor)
    • ·to follow (someone); to shadow; to tail; to stalk
    • ·to load; to give (courage to)
    • ·to keep (an eye on)
    • ·to establish (relations or understanding)
    • ·to turn on (a light)
    • ·to produce flowers (of a plant); to produce fruit
    • ·to attach; to play an attachment
    • ·to do intensely; to do fiercely; to do strongly
    • ·to be used to (doing); to be accustomed to
    N5
  • 薬くすり
    • ·medicine; pharmaceuticals; (legal) drugs; pill; ointment; salve
    • ·efficacious chemical (gunpowder, pesticide, etc.)
    • ·(pottery) glaze
    • ·(illegal) drug; narcotic
    • ·small bribe
    N5
  • ここ
    • ·here; this place
    • ·this point; here; now
    • ·these past ... (e.g. three years); these last ...
    • ·the next ... (e.g. few days); these next ...
    N5
  • できるAs it appears here: できない
    • ·to be able to do; to be possible; to be permitted (to do)
    • ·to be good at; to do well; to be proficient (in); to be capable
    • ·to come into existence; to form; to appear; to come up (of a matter); to be born; to make (a friend); to get (a girlfriend, free time, etc.)
    • ·to be made; to be built; to be constructed; to be formed; to be established; to be set up
    • ·to be finished; to be completed; to be done; to be ready
    • ·to grow (of a crop); to be produced
    • ·to be mature and well-balanced; to be of fine character
    • ·to be by nature; to be born ...
    • ·to become (sexually) involved (with); to become intimate (with); to take up (with someone)
    • ·to get pregnant
    N5
  • 昔むかし
    • ·the old days; the past; former times; a long time ago
    • ·the past ten years; the past decade
    N4
  • たとえば
    • ·for example; for instance; e.g.
    N4
  • 日ひ
    • ·day; days
    • ·sun; sunshine; sunlight
    • ·(the) day; daytime; daylight
    • ·date; deadline
    • ·(past) days; time (e.g. of one's childhood)
    • ·case (esp. unfortunate); event
    N4
  • 戻るもどるAs it appears here: 戻って
    • ·to turn back (e.g. half-way)
    • ·to return; to go back
    • ·to recover (e.g. something lost); to be returned
    • ·to rebound; to spring back
    N4
  • 社長しゃちょう
    • ·company president; manager; director
    N4
  • 見つけるみつけるAs it appears here: 見つけて
    • ·to find; to discover; to come across; to spot; to catch (someone doing)
    • ·to be used to seeing; to be familiar with
    N4
  • 趣味しゅみ
    • ·hobby; pastime
    • ·tastes; preference; liking
    N4
  • 遊びあそび
    • ·play; playing; game
    • ·pleasure; amusement; pastime; recreation; diversion
    • ·play (in a mechanism, e.g. a steering wheel)
    • ·flexibility (in a performance, art, etc.); freedom
    • ·flyleaf
    N4
  • 思うおもうAs it appears here: 思って
    • ·to think; to consider; to believe; to reckon
    • ·to think (of doing); to plan (to do)
    • ·to judge; to assess; to regard
    • ·to imagine; to suppose; to dream
    • ·to expect; to look forward to
    • ·to feel; to be (in a state of mind); to desire; to want
    • ·to care (deeply) for; to yearn for; to worry about; to love
    • ·to recall; to remember
    N4
  • 気持ちきもち
    • ·feeling; sensation; mood; state of mind
    • ·preparedness; readiness; attitude
    • ·thought; sentiment; consideration; solicitude; gratitude
    • ·slightly; a bit; a little
    N4
  • 運ぶはこぶAs it appears here: 運び
    • ·to carry; to transport; to move; to convey
    • ·to come; to go
    • ·to use (a brush, chopsticks, etc.); to move
    • ·to carry out; to proceed with; to arrange
    • ·to go (well, etc.); to proceed; to progress
    N4
  • 探すさがす
    • ·to search for; to look for; to hunt for; to seek
    • ·to search (a house, pocket, etc.); to search through; to rummage in (e.g. a drawer); to fish around
    N4
  • 大事だいじ
    • ·important; serious; crucial
    • ·valuable; precious
    • ·serious matter; major incident; matter of grave concern; crisis
    • ·great undertaking; great enterprise; great thing
    • ·safe; OK
    N4
  • 厳しいきびしい
    • ·severe; strict; rigid; unsparing; relentless
    • ·hard (to do); difficult; tricky
    • ·intense (e.g. cold); harsh (weather); inclement
    N4
  • ひどいAs it appears here: ひどく
    • ·cruel; heartless; hard; harsh; severe
    • ·violent; intense; strong; heavy; extreme
    • ·very bad; terrible; awful
    • ·excessive; exorbitant; unreasonable; outrageous; unfair; unjust
    N4
  • 根ね
    • ·root (of a plant)
    • ·root (of a tooth, hair, etc.); center (of a pimple, etc.)
    • ·root (of all evil, etc.); source; origin; cause; basis
    • ·one's true nature
    • ·(fishing) reef
    N3
  • 営業えいぎょう
    • ·business; trade; operations
    • ·sales
    N3
  • 苦しむくるしむAs it appears here: 苦しんだ
    • ·to suffer; to groan; to be worried
    N3
  • こと
    • ·thing; matter
    • ·incident; occurrence; event; something serious; trouble; crisis
    • ·circumstances; situation; state of affairs
    • ·work; business; affair
    • ·after an inflectable word, creates a noun phrase indicating something the speaker does not feel close to
    • ·nominalizing suffix
    • ·pretending to ...; playing make-believe ...
    • ·alias; also known as; otherwise known as; or
    • ·necessity; need
    • ·you should ...; I advise that you ...; it's important to ...
    N3
  • 身み
    • ·one's body; one's person
    • ·oneself; one's appearance
    • ·one's place (in society, etc.); one's position
    • ·main part; meat (as opposed to bone, skin, etc.); wood (as opposed to bark); blade (as opposed to its handle); container (as opposed to its lid)
    N3
  • 幸せしあわせ
    • ·happiness; good fortune; luck; blessing
    N3
  • 契約けいやく
    • ·contract; compact; agreement
    N3
  • 評価ひょうか
    • ·valuation; appraisal; evaluation; assessment; estimation; rating; judging
    • ·appreciation; recognition; acknowledgement; rating highly; praising
    N3
  • もらう
    • ·to receive; to take; to accept
    • ·to get someone to do something
    • ·to have in one's pocket (a fight, match)
    • ·to contract (a disease); to catch; to be affected
    N3
  • 少々しょうしょう
    • ·a little; a bit; a small amount; a few; a pinch; some
    • ·a little while; a short time; a moment; a minute; a second
    N3
  • 何かなにか
    • ·something; some; any
    • ·somehow; for some reason
    • ·(so) what (are you trying to say)?; what (do you mean)?
    N3
  • とき
    • ·time; hour; moment
    • ·occasion; case
    • ·chance; opportunity; season
    • ·the times; the age; the day
    • ·tense
    N3
  • もらうAs it appears here: もらい
    • ·to receive; to take; to accept
    • ·to get someone to do something
    • ·to have in one's pocket (a fight, match)
    • ·to contract (a disease); to catch; to be affected
    N3
  • 人生じんせい
    • ·(one's) life
    N3
  • ほう
    • ·direction; way; side; area (in a particular direction)
    • ·side (of an argument, etc.); one's part
    • ·type; category
    • ·field (of study, etc.)
    • ·indicates one side of a comparison
    • ·way; method; manner; means
    • ·length (of each side of a square)
    N3
  • 何とかなんとか
    • ·something; something or other; so-and-so
    • ·somehow (handling, dealing with something); anyhow; one way or another
    N3
  • 笑顔えがお
    • ·smiling face; smile
    N3
  • まず
    • ·first (of all); firstly; to begin with; before anything else
    • ·probably; most likely; almost certainly; virtually
    • ·more or less (satisfactory); on the whole; reasonably
    • ·anyway; at any rate; for now (at least); for the time being
    N3
  • 得るえるAs it appears here: 得られる
    • ·to be able to ...; can ...
    • ·to get; to acquire; to obtain; to procure; to earn; to win; to gain; to secure; to attain
    N3
  • よう
    • ·appearing ...; looking ...
    • ·way to ...; method of ...ing
    • ·form; style; design
    • ·like; similar to
    • ·thing (thought or spoken)
    N3
  • 意外いがい
    • ·unexpected; surprising; unanticipated; strange; unforeseen
    N3
  • 注ちゅう
    • ·annotation; explanatory note; comment
    N3
  • 条件じょうけん
    • ·condition; term; requirement; qualification; prerequisite
    N3
  • 終えるおえる
    • ·to finish; to get through with; to complete; to bring (something) to an end
    • ·to graduate
    • ·to come to an end; to end
    • ·to finish doing ...; to be done doing ...
    N3
  • 強烈きょうれつ
    • ·strong; intense; severe
    N1
  • 日々ひび
    • ·daily; everyday
    • ·days (e.g. of one's youth)
    • ·every day; day after day; day by day; from day to day
    N1
  • 成果せいか
    • ·(good) result; outcome; fruits (of one's labors); product; accomplishment
    N1
  • やるAs it appears here: やって
    • ·to do; to undertake; to perform; to play (a game); to study
    • ·to send; to dispatch; to despatch
    • ·to put; to move; to turn (one's head, glance, etc.)
    • ·to give (esp. to someone of equal or lower status); to let have; to present; to bestow; to confer
    • ·to make (a vehicle) go faster
    • ·to run (a business); to keep; to be engaged in; to practice (law, medicine, etc.); to practise
    • ·to have (food, drink, etc.); to eat; to drink; to smoke
    • ·to hold (a performance); to perform; to show
    • ·to ease (one's mind)
    • ·to harm; to injure; to kill
    • ·to have sex; to fuck; to bang
    • ·to live; to get by; to get along
    • ·to do ... completely
    • ·to do ... broadly; to do ... to a great distance
    • ·to do ... for (someone of equal or lower status); to do ... to
    • ·to make active efforts to ...
    • ·to suffer from (an illness); to experience (a medical condition); to be afflicted with
    N1
  • 受け入れるうけいれるAs it appears here: 受け入れられる
    • ·to accept; to receive; to agree
    N1
  • 味わえるあじわえる
    • ·flavour; flavor; taste
    • ·charm; appeal; interest; meaning; significance
    N1
  • 費やすついやす
    • ·to spend; to expend; to consume
    • ·to waste; to squander; to throw away
    • ·to devote
    N1
  • 決まるきまるAs it appears here: 決まって
    • ·to be decided; to be settled; to be fixed; to be arranged
    • ·to be unchanging; to be the same (as always); to be fixed; to be set
    • ·to be a fixed rule; to be destined; to be a convention; to be a custom; to be common knowledge
    • ·to be well executed (of a manoeuvre in a sport, game, etc.); to go well; to succeed; to connect (of a punch)
    • ·to look good (of clothing); to look sharp; to be stylish; to suit one; to be held in place (of a hairdo)
    • ·to be struck and held (of a pose in kabuki)
    • ·to get high (on drugs)
    N1
  • あがる
    • ·to rise; to go up; to come up; to ascend; to be raised
    • ·to enter (esp. from outdoors); to come in; to go in
    • ·to enter (a school); to advance to the next grade
    • ·to get out (of water); to come ashore; to be washed ashore
    • ·to float atop the water; to surface from the sea (e.g. of a corpse); to rise to the surface
    • ·to increase; to be raised (e.g. of a salary); to rise
    • ·to improve; to make progress
    • ·to be promoted; to advance
    • ·to be made (of profit, etc.)
    • ·to occur (esp. of a favourable result)
    • ·to be adequate (to cover expenses, etc.)
    • ·to be finished; to be done; to be over
    • ·to stop (of rain); to clear up (of weather)
    • ·to stop (working properly); to cut out; to give out; to die
    • ·to win (in a card game, etc.)
    • ·to be spoken loudly; to be raised loudly (of a voice)
    • ·to get nervous; to get stage fright
    • ·to be offered (to the gods, etc.)
    • ·to go; to visit
    • ·to eat; to drink
    • ·to serve (in one's master's home)
    • ·to enter a red light district; to amuse oneself in a red light district; to visit a brothel
    • ·to arise vigorously (e.g. of voices in excitement); to become excited; to be in uproar (e.g. of a crowd)
    • ·to be complete; to finish
    • ·adds the connotation of an action happening strongly or violently
    • ·above; north of
    N1
  • 上司じょうし
    • ·(one's) superior; (one's) boss; the higher-ups
    N1
Grammar2 patterns

Example sentences are translated by AI.

  • どうせN2

    Adverb that frames an outcome as inevitable or already settled, coloring the clause with resignation — "anyway", "in any case", "no matter what".

    どうせ人生の一定の時間を仕事に費やすのなら、その時間が楽しいと思えるほうがいいに決まっている。

    If we are going to spend a certain portion of our lives working anyway, it is obviously better if we can enjoy that time.

  • に決まっているN2

    Expresses the speaker's firm conviction that something must be so — 'surely', 'no doubt', 'bound to be'.

    どうせ人生の一定の時間を仕事に費やすのなら、その時間が楽しいと思えるほうがいいに決まっている。

    If we are going to spend a certain portion of our lives working anyway, it is obviously better if we can enjoy that time.

Other levels18 patterns
  • と言えば（といえば）N3

    Raises a topic prompted by what was just mentioned — "speaking of", "when it comes to".

    私はどちらかと言えば根が楽天的だが、昔は営業の強烈なノルマに苦しんだこともある。

    By nature I am fairly optimistic, but in the past I also suffered under extremely demanding sales quotas.

  • 例えば（たとえば）N3

    Introduces an illustrative instance, 'for example / for instance'.

    たとえば、あと一歩のところで契約が結べなかった日、会社に戻ってしょげかえる代わりに「あの社長と一時間も話せるところまできた」と自分の成果を見つけて評価する。

    For example, on a day when a contract fell through at the very last step, instead of returning to the office dejected, I would find something I had achieved and give myself credit for it: “I got far enough to talk with that company president for a whole hour.”

  • 代わりに（かわりに）N3

    Expresses doing one thing in place of, or in exchange for, another, 'instead of / in return for'.

    たとえば、あと一歩のところで契約が結べなかった日、会社に戻ってしょげかえる代わりに「あの社長と一時間も話せるところまできた」と自分の成果を見つけて評価する。

    For example, on a day when a contract fell through at the very last step, instead of returning to the office dejected, I would find something I had achieved and give myself credit for it: “I got far enough to talk with that company president for a whole hour.”

  • ことがあるN32 times in this passage

    After a plain verb, 'there are times when...'; after a past-tense verb (〜たことがある), 'have (ever) done, have the experience of'.

    仕事はお金をもらうのだから、楽しくないことがあっても当たり前」と思ってやってきた。

    Since you are paid to work, it is only natural that some parts of it will not be enjoyable.”

  • としてN3

    Marks the role, capacity, or status in which someone or something acts — "as (a doctor / a rule / etc.)".

    ②そこを基準にすれば、少々のことは当然のこととして受け入れられるし、何かいいことがあったときは「お金をもらいながらこんな気持ちを味わえるなんて」と幸せ感も倍増する。

    If ② that is your baseline, you can accept minor difficulties as a matter of course, and when something good happens, your sense of happiness doubles as you think, “I’m getting paid and I even get to feel this good.”

  • なんか/なんて/などN3

    A particle that cites an example or downplays/dismisses it — "things like / such as / (of all things)".

    ②そこを基準にすれば、少々のことは当然のこととして受け入れられるし、何かいいことがあったときは「お金をもらいながらこんな気持ちを味わえるなんて」と幸せ感も倍増する。

    If ② that is your baseline, you can accept minor difficulties as a matter of course, and when something good happens, your sense of happiness doubles as you think, “I’m getting paid and I even get to feel this good.”

  • によって/によるN32 times in this passage

    Marks means, cause, passive agent, or a factor something depends on; 'by (means of)', 'due to', 'depending on'.

    人は楽しいから笑顔になるのだが、「まず笑顔をつくると、それによって楽しい気持ちが湧いてくる」という研究結果があるという。

    People smile because they feel happy, but there is reportedly research showing that “if you smile first, that smile itself can bring about a happy feeling.”

  • というN32 times in this passage

    Quotative marker plus 'say' that introduces a name, definition, or reported content — 'called', 'known as', 'that (one) says'.

    人は楽しいから笑顔になるのだが、「まず笑顔をつくると、それによって楽しい気持ちが湧いてくる」という研究結果があるという。

    People smile because they feel happy, but there is reportedly research showing that “if you smile first, that smile itself can bring about a happy feeling.”

  • 〜てくるN43 times in this passage

    Verb te-form plus 来る, marking motion toward the speaker or the gradual onset of a state — 'come to do' / 'start to / become'.

    そうやって一日を締めくくれば、明日への活力も湧いてきた。

    Ending the day that way gave me renewed energy for tomorrow.

  • てもN4

    Concessive — 'even if / even though …'; the main clause holds regardless of the te-clause.

    仕事はお金をもらうのだから、楽しくないことがあっても当たり前」と思ってやってきた。

    Since you are paid to work, it is only natural that some parts of it will not be enjoyable.”

  • と思う（とおもう）N42 times in this passage

    Quotative plus 'think', stating the speaker's opinion or guess — 'I think that'.

    仕事はお金をもらうのだから、楽しくないことがあっても当たり前」と思ってやってきた。

    Since you are paid to work, it is only natural that some parts of it will not be enjoyable.”

  • ときN4

    Marks the time at which something happens — "when X, Y."

    ②そこを基準にすれば、少々のことは当然のこととして受け入れられるし、何かいいことがあったときは「お金をもらいながらこんな気持ちを味わえるなんて」と幸せ感も倍増する。

    If ② that is your baseline, you can accept minor difficulties as a matter of course, and when something good happens, your sense of happiness doubles as you think, “I’m getting paid and I even get to feel this good.”

  • ながらN4

    Attaches to a verb stem to show two actions by the same subject happening at once — 'while (doing) / as'.

    ②そこを基準にすれば、少々のことは当然のこととして受け入れられるし、何かいいことがあったときは「お金をもらいながらこんな気持ちを味わえるなんて」と幸せ感も倍増する。

    If ② that is your baseline, you can accept minor difficulties as a matter of course, and when something good happens, your sense of happiness doubles as you think, “I’m getting paid and I even get to feel this good.”

  • ようになるN4

    Expresses a gradual change reaching a new state or acquired ability, "come to / become able to".

    これにならえば、充実感を得られる仕事を手にするには、楽しめる仕事を探すのも大事だが、小さなことでも楽しめるようになることも意外にあなどれないポイントだ。

    Following this idea, to obtain work that gives you a sense of fulfillment, it is important to look for work you can enjoy, but learning to enjoy even small things is also a surprisingly important point that should not be underestimated.

  • までN5

    Particle marking the spatial, temporal, or extent limit of an action — "until / up to / as far as."

    たとえば、あと一歩のところで契約が結べなかった日、会社に戻ってしょげかえる代わりに「あの社長と一時間も話せるところまできた」と自分の成果を見つけて評価する。

    For example, on a day when a contract fell through at the very last step, instead of returning to the office dejected, I would find something I had achieved and give myself credit for it: “I got far enough to talk with that company president for a whole hour.”

  • にするN52 times in this passage

    To decide on or turn something into a given state or choice, 'to make it ~ / to go with ~.'

    ②そこを基準にすれば、少々のことは当然のこととして受け入れられるし、何かいいことがあったときは「お金をもらいながらこんな気持ちを味わえるなんて」と幸せ感も倍増する。

    If ② that is your baseline, you can accept minor difficulties as a matter of course, and when something good happens, your sense of happiness doubles as you think, “I’m getting paid and I even get to feel this good.”

  • ほうがいいN5

    Advises that one course of action is preferable — "had better / it's better to".

    どうせ人生の一定の時間を仕事に費やすのなら、その時間が楽しいと思えるほうがいいに決まっている。

    If we are going to spend a certain portion of our lives working anyway, it is obviously better if we can enjoy that time.

  • がありますN5

    States the existence or possession of an inanimate thing, "there is / to have".

    人は楽しいから笑顔になるのだが、「まず笑顔をつくると、それによって楽しい気持ちが湧いてくる」という研究結果があるという。

    People smile because they feel happy, but there is reportedly research showing that “if you smile first, that smile itself can bring about a happy feeling.”

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