Japanese from zero · N2 Lesson 11
First day at the office
〜の 下で ・ 〜に 沿って ・ 〜につき ・ 直ちに ・ 〜たまえ
In this lesson, you will learn to say whose lead you work under with 〜の 下で, to follow a manual or a plan with 〜に 沿って, to read the reason on a notice with 〜につき, to understand 直ちに, the formal 'at once' of office rules, and to recognize 〜たまえ, the order an older manager gives. It is August, and Lisa starts a two-week internship in the trade department of Ai's company, where Mr. Mori is now her manager.
By the end you will be able to say
森部長の 下で 二週間 働きます。I will work under Mr. Mori for two weeks.
仕事は マニュアルに 沿って します。I do the work by following the manual.
会議中につき、入室禁止です。A meeting is in progress, so entry is not allowed.
問題が あれば、直ちに 報告します。If there is a problem, I report it at once.
部長は 『まあ、座りたまえ』と 言いました。The manager said, 'Well, have a seat.'
The grammar in this lesson
- 〜の 下で (もとで) — under (someone's lead) — A person + の 下で, with 下 read もと, says whose lead you work or learn under.
- 〜に 沿って — in line with; along — Noun + に 沿って says an action follows a plan, a manual or a policy, or goes along a road or a river; before a noun it is に 沿った.
- 〜につき — because of (on notices); per — Noun + につき gives the reason on a sign or a notice (会議中につき), or means 'per' after a number of people or things (一人につき).
- 直ちに — at once (formal) — 直ちに means 'at once' in rules, orders and announcements; in everyday talk, people say すぐ.
- 〜たまえ — do ... (an older man's order) — The ます stem + たまえ is an order from an older man to someone below him: 座りたまえ (have a seat).