Japanese Learning

Japanese Reading Practice: A Message About Swapping a Work Shift

Read a fictional exchange between two coworkers. Work out which person will cover each day after the proposed swap is accepted.

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Reading time 3 min
Author LavaJapanese

Read a fictional exchange between two coworkers. Work out which person will cover each day after the proposed swap is accepted.

Read the text

田中:金曜日は病院に行くので、働けません。私の代わりに金曜日に働けますか。

山田:はい。金曜日は大丈夫です。その代わり、私の土曜日の仕事をお願いします。

田中:わかりました。では、私は土曜日、山田さんは金曜日ですね。

山田:はい。店長にも伝えましょう。

How to read this text

Keep a separate line for each person. The first message describes Tanaka’s problem, but the final confirmation gives the agreed arrangement. After the swap, Tanaka works Saturday and Yamada Friday.

The final suggestion to tell the manager does not establish that approval has already been given. Answer the reading question from the agreement between the two coworkers; real shift changes must follow the actual workplace’s procedure. The text gives no diagnosis or medical advice and does not describe a real employer.

English translation — check after your first reading

Tanaka: I have to go to the hospital on Friday, so I cannot work. Could you work on Friday in my place? Yamada: Yes, Friday is fine. In exchange, please take my Saturday work. Tanaka: Understood. So I will work Saturday, and you Friday. Yamada: Yes. Let’s tell the manager too.

Examples to read before you practise

Japanese

Reading / English

代わりに

かわりに — in place of

働ける

はたらける — can work

仕事

しごと — work

店長

てんちょう — shop manager

伝える

つたえる — tell / convey

病院

びょういん — hospital

The notice or message above is fictional and was written for this exercise. Answer from this text; do not assume that a real service follows these hours or rules.

Try six questions

Use the interactive practice below. Type only the requested expression. Kanji and kana alternatives are accepted where listed in the answer key. Completing a question records a result; opening the answer key does not.

  1. What day will Tanaka work after the swap?

  2. What day will Yamada work after the swap?

  3. Where is Tanaka going on Friday?

  4. Who else should be told? Copy the role.

  5. 働く → dictionary potential

  6. Has the text explicitly said the manager approved? Type はい or いいえ.

Answer key and explanations

  1. 土曜日 / どようび — Tanaka confirms Saturday.

  2. 金曜日 / きんようび — Yamada agrees to cover Friday.

  3. 病院 / びょういん — The reason mentions a hospital visit.

  4. 店長 / てんちょう — The last line mentions the manager.

  5. 働ける / はたらける — く changes to け plus る.

  6. いいえ — It says to tell the manager, not that approval has been received.

Keep learning

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Answer the six practice questions. Mistakes are saved for later review.

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History and self-check answers

The answers below are for self-study and do not record a score. Mixed practice uses topics you have practised.

Recorded questions in this set: 0

Correct on first attempt: 0

Sources

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