B1-04 / CEFR B1 / EPISODE 04

I Wish I Had Studied

Expressing regret and offering help now

SceneThe night before a big exam. Tina's notes are everywhere. Frank has come over with coffee.

Frank and Tina studying with books and notebooks. — Select the illustration to view it at full size in a new tab.

Narrator

The night before a big exam. Tina's notes are everywhere. Frank has come over with coffee.

大事な試験の前夜。ティナのノートがそこら中に散らばっている。フランクがコーヒーを持って来ている。

Tina01

I wish I'd started studying back in September!

9月から勉強を始めていればよかった！

Frank02

Yeah, I know the feeling. But beating yourself up tonight won't help.

その気持ちはわかる。でも今夜、自分を責めても助けにはならないよ。

Tina03

If I'd started then, I'd actually be ready now.

あのとき始めていたら、今ごろちゃんと準備できてたのに。

Frank04

So what kept you from it, back then?

それで、あのときは何が邪魔したの？

Tina05

Parties. They felt really important at the time.

パーティーよ。当時はすごく大事に思えたの。

Frank06

I wish we'd made a plan earlier. Together.

もっと早く一緒に計画を立てればよかったね。

Tina07

I kept trying to handle it all alone. Pretty dumb, huh.

全部一人で何とかしようとしてたの。バカだったよね。

Frank08

If you'd asked, I would have helped. You know that.

頼んでくれたら、手伝ったよ。わかってるだろ。

Tina09

I wish I had your discipline.

あなたみたいな自制心があればなあ。

Frank10

Careful what you wish for. I once read a whole dictionary because nobody told me to stop.

それは考えものだよ。僕なんて、誰も止めてくれなかったせいで、辞書を丸ごと読んだことがある。

Tina11

If only the test were next month instead.

試験が来月だったらよかったのに。

Frank12

It's tomorrow. But I'm here to help tonight. So — where do we start?

試験は明日だよ。でも今夜は僕が手伝う。さあ、どこから始める？

Tina13

...Chapter one. And don't let me reach for my phone.

……第一章から。あと、私がスマホに手を伸ばしたら止めて。

WORDS & CONTEXT

Words & context

“I know the feeling.”

I know the feeling. expresses empathy based on a similar experience. It is close to I know how you feel., but lighter and more conversational. Frank comforts Tina about her regrets on the eve of the exam.

“But beating yourself up tonight won't help.”

Beat oneself up informally means to blame or criticize yourself harshly, rather than literally hit yourself. Frank encourages Tina by pointing out that blaming herself for starting late will not help tonight.

“Careful what you wish for.”

(Be) careful what you wish for. warns that getting a wish may have drawbacks. When Tina wants Frank's discipline, he humorously describes reading an entire dictionary without anyone stopping him, showing the downside of excessive discipline.

“And don't let me reach for my phone.”

Reach for something means to extend your hand toward it. Here it describes automatically reaching for a phone while studying. Don't let me … asks someone to prevent you from doing something; Tina recognizes her weak resolve.

Browse all 60 B1 episodes