Reading Passage
็ฐไธญใใใฏใๆ่ฟใๆฐใใไผ็คพใธ่ปข่ทใใพใใใไปฅๅใฎไผ็คพใงใฏใๆฎๆฅญใๅธธๆ ๅใใฆใใใ็ต้ปใงๅธฐๅฎ ใใใใจใ็ใใใใใพใใใงใใใใใใใไปใฎไผ็คพใฏใๅใๆนๆน้ฉใใซ็ฉๆฅต็ใซๅใ็ตใใงใใพใใ
ไผ็คพใฎๆน้ใซใใใ้ฑใซไฝๅบฆใๅจๅฎ ๅคๅใๅฏ่ฝใงใใใพใใๅคๅๆ้ใๆ่ปใงใ่ชๅใฎ้ฝๅใซๅใใใฆไปไบใๅงใใใ็ตใใใใใใใใใจใใงใใพใใใใฎๅถๅบฆใฎใใใใงใ็ฐไธญใใใฏๆใซๅญไพใ้ใ่ฟใใใใใๅคใฏๅฎถๆใจ้ใๆ้ใๅขใใพใใใไปฅๅใฏ็ฒๅดใง่ถฃๅณใซๆ้ใไฝฟใใใจใใงใใชใใฃใใฎใงใใใไปใฏๅฟ่บซใจใใซๅ ๅฎใใๆฏๆฅใ้ใฃใฆใใพใใ
ใใกใใใๅจๅฎ ๅคๅใซใฏ่ชๅทฑ็ฎก็ใไธๅฏๆฌ ใงใใ็ฐไธญใใใฏใไปไบใฎๅน็ใไธใใใใใซใ้ไธญใงใใ็ฐๅขใๆดใใใใๅฎๆ็ใซไผๆฉใๅใฃใใใใใใๅฟใใใฆใใพใใใใฎ็ตๆใๆฎๆฅญใใใใซๅฎๆใงไปไบใ็ตใใใใจใใงใใ็็ฃๆงใไปฅๅใใๅไธใใพใใใ
ใใฎใใใชใๅใๆนๆน้ฉใใฏใๅพๆฅญๅกใฎๆบ่ถณๅบฆใ้ซใใใ ใใงใชใใไผๆฅญใฎ้ญ ๅใ้ซใใๅช็งใชไบบๆใฎ็ขบไฟใซใใคใชใใฃใฆใใพใใใใฎๅคๅใฏใ็ฐไธญใใใ ใใงใชใใๅคใใฎไบบใ ใซใจใฃใฆใไปไบใจ็ง็ๆดปใฎใใฉใณในใๅใใใจใๅฏ่ฝใซใใพใใใใใฎ็ตๆใๆฏๆฅใใใๅๅใใซ้ใใใจๅฎๆใใไบบใๅขใใฆใใพใใใพใใซใๆ็ถๅฏ่ฝใช็คพไผใ็ฏใไธใง้ๅธธใซ้่ฆใชไธๆญฉใ ใจ่จใใใงใใใใ
Vocabulary List
่ปข่ท (tenshoku) โ job change
ๆฎๆฅญ (zangyล) โ overtime work
ๅธธๆ ๅ (jลtaika) โ becoming common practice, normalized
ๅใๆนๆน้ฉ (hatarakikata-kaikaku) โ Work Style Reform
็ฉๆฅต็ (sekkyokuteki) โ actively, positively
ๅจๅฎ ๅคๅ (zaitaku-kinmu) โ telework, remote work
ๆ่ป (jลซnan) โ flexible
ๅถๅบฆ (seido) โ system, institution
่ชๅทฑ็ฎก็ (jiko-kanri) โ self-management
ไธๅฏๆฌ (fukaketsu) โ indispensable, essential
ๅน็ (kลritsu) โ efficiency
็็ฃๆง (seisansei) โ productivity
ๅไธ (kลjล) โ improvement, advancement
ๆบ่ถณๅบฆ (manzokudo) โ satisfaction level
ๆ็ถๅฏ่ฝ (jizoku-kanล) โ sustainable
English Translation
Mr. Tanaka recently changed jobs to a new company. At his previous company, overtime work was the norm, and going home by the last train was not uncommon. However, his current company is actively engaged in "Work Style Reform."
Due to the company's policy, telework is possible several times a week. Additionally, working hours are flexible, allowing him to start and finish work according to his own convenience. Thanks to this system, Mr. Tanaka now has more time to pick up and drop off his children in the morning, and spend evenings with his family. Previously, he was too exhausted to even engage in hobbies. But now, he feels thoroughly fulfilled, both mentally and physically.
Of course, self-management is essential for telework. Mr. Tanaka makes an effort to create a focused environment and take regular breaks to increase work efficiency. As a result, he can finish work on time without overtime, and his productivity has also improved compared to before.
Such 'Work Style Reform' benefits companies by not only boosting employee satisfaction but also enhancing their appeal, thus helping to attract and retain talented individuals. For many people, not just Mr. Tanaka, this change has made it possible to achieve a better balance between work and private life. As a result, more individuals are experiencing a more positive outlook on their daily lives. This truly represents a crucial step towards building a sustainable society.
Comprehension Questions
็ฐไธญใใใฎไปฅๅใฎไผ็คพใจไปใฎไผ็คพใฎๅใๆนใซใฏใใฉใฎใใใช้ใใใใใพใใใใ
What were the differences in work style between Mr. Tanaka's previous company and his current company?
ไปใฎไผ็คพใงๅฐๅ ฅใใใฆใใใๅใๆนๆน้ฉใใฎๅ ทไฝ็ใชๅ ๅฎนใไบใคๆใใฆใใ ใใใ
Please list two specific details of the "Work Style Reform" implemented at his current company.
ๅจๅฎ ๅคๅใ่กใไธใงใ็ฐไธญใใใๅฟใใใฆใใใใจใฏไฝใงใใใ
What does Mr. Tanaka make an effort to do when working from home?
ใๅใๆนๆน้ฉใใฏใๅพๆฅญๅกใ ใใงใชใใไผ็คพใซใจใฃใฆใใฉใฎใใใชๅฉ็นใใใใพใใใ
What are the benefits of "Work Style Reform" not only for employees but also for the company?
็ฐไธญใใใฏใใๅใๆนๆน้ฉใใฎ็ตๆใๆฏๆฅใฎ็ๆดปใซใใใฆใฉใฎใใใชๅคๅใๅฎๆใใฆใใพใใใ
As a result of "Work Style Reform," what changes does Mr. Tanaka feel in his daily life?
Answers
ไปฅๅใฎไผ็คพใงใฏๆฎๆฅญใๅธธๆ ๅใใ็ต้ปใงใฎๅธฐๅฎ ใ็ใใใใใพใใใงใใใใใใใไปใฎไผ็คพใฏใๅใๆนๆน้ฉใใซ็ฉๆฅต็ใซๅใ็ตใใงใใใๅจๅฎ ๅคๅใๆ่ปใชๅคๅๆ้ใๅฐๅ ฅใใฆใใพใใ
At his previous company, overtime work was normalized and going home by the last train was not uncommon. In contrast, his current company is actively pursuing 'Work Style Reform' by implementing telework and flexible working hours.
้ฑใซไฝๅบฆใๅจๅฎ ๅคๅใๅฏ่ฝใชใใจใจใๅคๅๆ้ใๆ่ปใงใใใใจใงใใ
Telework is possible several times a week, and working hours are flexible.
ไปไบใฎๅน็ใไธใใใใใซใ้ไธญใงใใ็ฐๅขใๆดใใใใๅฎๆ็ใซไผๆฉใๅใฃใใใใใใๅฟใใใฆใใพใใ
He makes an effort to create a focused environment and take regular breaks to increase work efficiency.
ไผๆฅญใฎ้ญ ๅใ้ซใใๅช็งใชไบบๆใฎ็ขบไฟใซใใคใชใใใพใใ
It enhances the company's appeal and leads to securing excellent talent.
ไปไบใจ็ง็ๆดปใฎใใฉใณในใๅใใใใใซใชใฃใใใจใงใๆฏๆฅใๅๅใใซ้ใใใใใซใชใฃใใจๅฎๆใใฆใใพใใ
He feels that he can now live each day more positively, as he has achieved a better work-life balance.
Grammar Points Used
ใใ้ใใฆ๏ผใใจใใใฆ๏ผ: "through; via"
ใใๆ้ใฎ้ใใฃใจใใใใใฏไฝใใไปฒไปใปๆๆฎตใจใใฆใ็ฉไบใ่ตทใใๆงๅญใ่กจใใพใใ
Indicates that something happens consistently throughout a period, or by means of something acting as an intermediary.
Example from passage: ็ฐไธญใใใฏใใฎๅถๅบฆใ้ใใฆใๆใฏๅญไพใฎ้ใ่ฟใใใใๅคใฏๅฎถๆใจ้ใๆ้ใๅขใใพใใใ
Other example: ็งใใกใฏ็ๅญฆใ้ใใฆใ็ฐๆๅใธใฎ็่งฃใๆทฑใใพใใใ (We deepened our understanding of different cultures through studying abroad.)
ใใฐใใใ: "not only... but also; as well as"
ๅใซ่ฟฐในใใใจใ ใใงใชใใใใใซ็จๅบฆใ้ฒใใ ็ถๆณใ็ตๆใ็ใใใใจใ่กจใใพใใ้ฉใใๆๅคใชๆฐๆใกใ่พผใใฆไฝฟใใใใใจใใใใพใใ
Not only expresses the preceding content, but also indicates that an even further or more advanced situation or result occurs. It can convey a sense of surprise or unexpectedness.
Example from passage: ใใฎใใใชใๅใๆนๆน้ฉใใฏใๅพๆฅญๅกใฎๆบ่ถณๅบฆใ้ซใใใฐใใใใไผๆฅญใฎ้ญ ๅใ้ซใใๅช็งใชไบบๆใฎ็ขบไฟใซใใคใชใใฃใฆใใพใใ
Other example: ใใฎๆ็ใฏ็พๅณใใใฐใใใใไฝใซใใใใ (That dish is not only delicious but also good for your health.)
ใใใซ: "without doing (something)"
ๅ่ฉใฎๅฆๅฎๅฝขใใใชใใงใใจๅใๆๅณใงใใใใใ็กฌใ่กจ็พใงใใๅใฎๅไฝใ่กใใใซๆฌกใฎๅไฝใใใใใจใ่กจใใพใใ
Equivalent to the negative verb form 'ใใชใใง', but slightly more formal. It indicates performing a subsequent action without doing the preceding one.
Example from passage: ใใฎ็ตๆใๆฎๆฅญใใใใซๅฎๆใงไปไบใ็ตใใใใจใใงใใ็็ฃๆงใไปฅๅใใๅไธใใพใใใ
Other example: ๆ้ฃใ้ฃในใใซๅญฆๆ กใธ่กใใพใใใ (I went to school without eating breakfast.)
ใใใๅฟใใใ๏ผใใใใใใใใ๏ผ: "to try to do; to make an effort to do"
็ฎๆจใจใใ็ถๆ ใ่กๅใ้ๆใใใใใซใๆ่ญ็ใซๅชๅใใใใจใ็คบใใพใใ
Indicates consciously making an effort to achieve a desired state or action.
Example from passage: ็ฐไธญใใใฏใไปไบใฎๅน็ใไธใใใใใซใ้ไธญใงใใ็ฐๅขใๆดใใใใๅฎๆ็ใซไผๆฉใๅใฃใใใใใใๅฟใใใฆใใพใใ
Other example: ๆฏๆฅ้ๅใใใใๅฟใใใฆใใพใใ (I try to exercise every day.)
ใใจ่จใใใงใใใ๏ผใจใใใใงใใใ๏ผ: "it can be said that; it is probably true that"
ใใไบๆใซๅฏพใใฆใๆ นๆ ใ็ถๆณใใๅคๆญใใฆใ็ขบใใซใใใ ใจ่จใใใ ใใใจใใๆจๆธฌใๆ่ฆใ่ฟฐในใ้ใซไฝฟใใใพใใ
Used to express a conclusion, inference, or opinion that can reasonably be made about something based on evidence or circumstances.
Example from passage: ใใใฏใๆ็ถๅฏ่ฝใช็คพไผใ็ฏใไธใง้ๅธธใซ้่ฆใชๅคๅใ ใจ่จใใใงใใใใ
Other example: ๅฝผใฎ่กๅใ่ฆใใจใๅฝผใฏๆฌๅฝใซๅชใใไบบใ ใจ่จใใใงใใใใ (Looking at his actions, it can be said that he is truly a kind person.)
ใไธ(ใง)๏ผใใใง๏ผ: "in the course of; when (doing something); for (doing something)"
ใใ่ก็บใ็ถๆณใฎไธญใงใใใใใฏใใฎๅๆใจใใฆใใจใใๆๅณใงไฝฟใใใพใใไธปใซใใใใไธใง้่ฆใ ใใฎใใใชๅฝขใงไฝฟใใใใใจใๅคใใงใใ
Used to mean 'in the course of doing something,' 'when doing something,' or 'as a prerequisite for something.' It is often seen in phrases like 'important for doing X' or 'in the context of Y'.
Example from passage: ใใใฏใๆ็ถๅฏ่ฝใช็คพไผใ็ฏใไธใง้ๅธธใซ้่ฆใชๅคๅใ ใจ่จใใใงใใใใ
Other example: ๆฐใใไปไบใๅงใใไธใงใๅฅๅบท็ฎก็ใฏใจใฆใๅคงๅใงใใ (Managing your health is very important when starting a new job.)
ใใใจใ็ใใใชใ๏ผใใจใใใใใใใชใ๏ผ: "it is not uncommon to do X; it is not rare to do X"
ใใ็ถๆณใ่กๅใ้ ป็นใซ่ตทใใใๆฑบใใฆ็นๅฅใชใใจใงใฏใชใใใจใใ็ถๆ ใ่กจใใพใใๅฎ้ใซใใใใใใจใ ใจใใใใฅใขใณในใใใใพใใ
Indicates that a certain situation or action occurs frequently and is not at all unusual or special; it's quite common.
Example from passage: ็ต้ปใงๅธฐๅฎ ใใใใจใ็ใใใใใพใใใงใใใ
Other example: ๆ่ฟใฏใ่ฅ่ ใๆตทๅคใงไปไบใๆขใใใจใ็ใใใใใพใใใ (Nowadays, it's not uncommon for young people to look for jobs overseas.)