Getting work done
Collocations, Stage 4chunk 21 of 25Work & school
The work itself: using your head, delivering results, taking notes, ideas coming to you, stamping papers.
- atama o tsukauuse your head; make you think
- kekka o dasuget results, deliver results
- memo o torutake notes, write it down
- aidea ga ukabuan idea comes to mind
- hanko o osustamp your seal
Mix-ups kekka o dasu (you deliver results) is not kekka ga deru (results come out); ideas come to you with ga ukabu, while notes are taken with o toru.
atama o tsukau
polite atama o tsukaimasuuse your head; make you think
頭を使う あたまをつかう 頭を使います
verbtsukau 使うusetypical 3% of atama
Said as a blunt scolding (chotto wa atama tsukae yo, use your head for once) and about brain-heavy games and work: atama tsukau shigoto. Casual speech often drops o.
kono geemu, kekkou atama tsukau ne.
This game really makes you think.
このゲーム、結構頭使うね。
kono geemu wa kekkou atama o tsukaimasu ne.
This game really makes you think.
このゲームは結構頭を使いますね。
Not ki o tsukau, which means being considerate.
Same verb: karada (body: physical work)Main list: tsukau (Stage 3)
kekka o dasu
polite kekka o dashimasuget results, deliver results
結果を出す けっかをだす 結果を出します
verbdasu 出すput out, take out, send out; here: producetypical 6% of kekka
trap 'Get results' tempts kekka o morau. Results you achieve are put out: kekka o dasu. Results being announced is kekka ga deru, and kekka o morau only fits being handed a results sheet.
Said about performance at work, in sport or in study, often as a must: kekka dasanai to (I need to show results). Casual speech drops o.
kotoshi wa zettai kekka dasu.
This year I'm going to get results, no matter what.
今年は絶対結果出す。
kotoshi wa zettai kekka o dashimasu.
This year I'm going to get results, no matter what.
今年は絶対結果を出します。
Learn it beside kekka ga deru: kekka deta (they're out) vs kekka dashita (I delivered).
Same verb: seika (achievements), kiroku (record: kiroku o dasu = set a record), sukoa (score)Learn alongside: shiken o ukeru, ten o toru, kekka ga deru, shiken ni ukaru, shiken ni ochiruMain list: dasu (Stage 4), deru (Stage 1), morau (Stage 2), zettai (Stage 3)
memo o toru
polite memo o torimasutake notes, write it down
メモを取る メモをとる メモを取ります
verbtoru 取るtake; take down (a record)typical 6% of memo
Said in class, meetings and on the phone: chotto matte, memo toru kara. Casual speech drops o, and memo suru means the same and is at least as common.
chotto matte, memo toru kara.
Hang on, let me write that down.
ちょっと待って、メモ取るから。
chotto matte kudasai, ima memo o torimasu node.
Just a moment, let me write that down.
ちょっと待ってください、今メモを取りますので。
A note left for someone is memo o nokosu.
Same verb: nooto (notes), kiroku (record), kopii (copy)Main list: toru (Stage 4), chotto matte (Stage 3), -kara (Stage 1), -node (Stage 1), ima (Stage 1)
aidea ga ukabu
polite aidea ga ukabimasuan idea comes to mind
アイデアが浮かぶ アイデアがうかぶ アイデアが浮かびます
verbukabu 浮かぶfloat; come to mind
trap 'I've got an idea!' is ii kangae ga aru! (or ii aidea aru!, omoitsuita!). ukabu is for ideas coming, or not coming, to mind: nanimo ukabanai.
Mostly in the negative, while brainstorming or choosing a gift: nanimo ukabanai (nothing comes to mind). When one arrives, ii aidea ukanda! Casual speech drops ga.
zenzen ii aidea ukabanai.
I can't come up with any good ideas.
全然いいアイデア浮かばない。
zenzen ii aidea ga ukabimasen.
I can't come up with any good ideas.
全然いいアイデアが浮かびません。
omoitsuku is the active twin: ii koto omoitsuita!
Same verb: kangae (thought), kotoba (words), kao (face: picture someone)Main list: zenzen (Stage 4), ii (Stage 1), -nai (Stage 1)
hanko o osu
polite hanko o oshimasustamp your seal
ハンコを押す ハンコをおす ハンコを押します
verbosu 押すpush, press
trap 'Stamp' leads to sutanpu, which means a rubber stamp for fun or a chat sticker. A personal seal is a hanko (formally inkan), and you press it: hanko o osu.
Heard at the bank, the city office, at work and for deliveries: koko ni hanko oshite kudasai. Casual speech drops o; for deliveries a signature usually works too: sain de ii desu ka?
koko ni hanko oshite ne.
Stamp your seal here, okay?
ここにハンコ押してね。
koko ni hanko o oshite kudasai.
Please stamp your seal here.
ここにハンコを押してください。
Banks and contracts want the registered inkan; deliveries usually accept a sain (signature).
Same verb: inkan (seal, formal word), sutanpu (rubber stamp)Main list: koko (Stage 1), -te ne (Stage 3)