Departments
Lesson 1
Part 2
Page 1, 2
THE DESIRES OF THE GROUP SPIRIT GENERATION
団塊世代の希望
iii.
The suffix –後（ご）means “after”:
卒業後の生活はみなが考えているより難しいです。
Life after graduation is more difficult than everyone thinks.
当社からご連絡後２週間以内に情報を郵便で送って下さい。
Please send the information by mail within two weeks of being contacted by our company.
死後体験 （しご たいけん）experience after death; experience in the afterlife
iv.
ゆとりがある = has flexibility. The word ゆとり itself means “leeway / flexibility /latitude.” The phrase in the main reading passage: 時間にゆとりがある仕事（じかん に ゆとり が ある しごと）refers to “work with flexible hours.”
Note that ゆとり can be used both figuratively and literally. For example:
最近、問題はいろいろ抱えていて、心はゆとりがない。
I have had a lot of problems recently, such that my mind has been overburdened.
ケーブルに多少のゆとりを取って置いて下さい。
Please allow a bit of slack in the cable.
田中さんはゆとりのある生活をしています。
Mr. Tanaka leads a comfortable life.
Grammar Notes: Relative Clauses
Relative clauses are perhaps even more prevalent in Japanese than they are in English. A relative clause is a clause that gives important information about a person or an object identified in the sentence. An example from the main excerpt of this sentence would be:
定年後も仕事をしたい人 people who want to work after retirement
Mastery of relative clauses is essential for those who wish to become competent speakers of Japanese, as relative clauses are key ingredients in complex sentences. Relative clauses are perhaps best learned by example. In the following sentences, the relative clauses are underlined:
日本語ができるアメリカ人は日本の企業に就職できる。
Americans who can speak Japanese are able to find employment in Japanese companies.
子供のいる従業員は、本人の希望により、勤務時間を短縮することができます。
Employees who have children can reduce their work hours if they wish.
More Lesson Vocabulary:
- 就職する （しゅうしょく する） to seek employment; to find a job
- 従業員 (じゅうぎょういん) employees
- 本人 （ほんにん） the person himself/herself
- 勤務時間 （きんむ じかん） work hours
- 希望 （きぼう） hopes; wishes
- 短縮する （たんしゅく する） to shorten