The coronavirus situation in Japan has improved thanks to good vaccination rates. Thus, the government finally ended the state of emergency—great news for restaurants, businesses, and those looking forward to going out and about again. But for company employees who got to taste remote work, this could mean the end of working from home in Japan. Especially sad since Japan’s work culture is notoriously rough.
At their recent online company meeting, this @aki8ma_3 learned he would be required to come back to the office from January, and the company is planning to organize a year-end party. If some enjoy drinking with colleagues, other dread these often “mandatory” work parties called 忘年会 (bonenkai).
Aki8ma_3 didn’t take the news well—sharing their feelings using their take on the “this is fine” meme.
This is not fine
オンライン会議で「今月末で在宅勤務の終了」と「忘年会の開催」を同時に告げられた日の私です。
“Me [on] the day I was told in an online meeting that remote work would end this month and that I would have a year-end party at the same time.”
Expressing ‘at the same time’
The JLPT N2 key phrase “同時に” expresses at the same time as; while; simultaneously. You can combine 同時に in various ways with verbs, nouns and adjectives. Here are some quick examples:
- うと同時に: To laugh and cry at the same time.
- きなものであると同時になものでもある: Something you both like and hate.
- はするためのものであると同時にがしていくための: “Work is not only a way to make a living but also a way to change oneself.”
- ほぼ同時に: “Almost at the same time.”
- みんなで同時にしてはいけない: “Don’t speak all at once.”
Vocabulary
忘年会 bounenkai Year-end party オンライン会議 onrain kaigi Online meeting 今月末 kongetsumatsu End of this month 在宅勤務 zaitakukinmu Work from home 終了 shuuryou Termination 開催 kaisai Opening 告げらる tsugerareru Be informed 日 hi Day 私 watashi I, me
