“Where were we?”の意味と使い方 Bizmatesビジネス英会話 Tip 246

Where were we? ってどういう意味？

Where were we? は日本語で言う「何の話でしたっけ？」や「どこまで話しましたっけ？」という意味です。会話の中で話題が切り替わっていくうちに、元々何の話をしていたのかわからなくなってしまった時に口にするフレーズです。

Where was I? も同様の意味になります。

Where were we? ってどういう場面で使うの？

たとえば、以下の会話のように、途中で何の話をしていたのかわからなくなってしまった時に Where were we? と言えば、相手が助けてくれます。

You: So I had to have a meeting with Sato-san before Golden Week. By the way, I went snorkeling during Golden Week.
Hika: Oh, where did you go?
You: I went to Izu with my friends. It was really fun. … Anyway, um… Where were we?
Hika: You were talking about your meeting with Sato-san.
You: Oh, that’s right. So in the meeting, we talked about…

You: …ということで、ゴールデンウィークに入る前に佐藤さんと打ち合わせしたんですよ。あ、そうそう。ゴールデンウィークはシュノーケリングに行ってきたんです。
Hika: どこに行ってきたんですか？
You: 友人と伊豆に行きました。本当に楽しかったです。…えーと…どこまで話しましたっけ？
Hika: 佐藤さんとの打ち合わせについてです。
You: ああ、そうそう。佐藤さんと話した内容なんですが …

Where were we? の自然な使い方を動画で学ぶ

こちらの動画で、発音や、会話の中での自然な使い方をBizmatesのプレゼンター Hikaが解説します。

【CC】ボタンを押すと字幕機能がご利用可能です。英語学習に是非お役立てください！

Hello and welcome to this Bizmates Words

and Phrases video series and today's

phrase is "where were we?"

Now it looks like a question -- it is a

question, but it's more of a phrase and

it looks simple but trust me this is not

simple. Out of the thousands of students

that I've taught, very, very few were able

to use this you know at the right time

the right way, okay? And we are going to

learn this today. Alright, so here's the

situation -- where were we?

Now let's imagine that I'm talking to my

colleague Taro. Taro's talking I'm

listening. He's talking and then I have a

question and I ask him, I say: So OK,

OK. So, it's optional? And he answers,

he says: Oh yes, exactly. It's optional...

and then he tries to continue talking, but he

can't remember and he's he says: I can't

remember what I said, what I was talking

about. Uh, uh, uh... and there's a little bit of

dead time. This is okay, but a really

natural way to say this or to express

this is like this... so we're talking and

then I asked him a question: OK, OK.

So it's optional? And he says: Yes, exactly.

Um... now, where were we?

Very natural! Right there. That's the

timing you want, okay? So when you can't

remember what you were talking about, you

could say "where were we?" and

that's kind of hard to say.. where were we?

There are three Ws, so you could say

"where was I?" is okay. OK, let's look at

pronunciation so it's
Yes, exactly.

Now, where were we? And you have that

confused look. Now, where were we?

Okay you try.

Good confused look. OK with my question:

OK, OK. So it's optional?

Oh, no you were telling

me about the features of the... like this.

Very natural. OK so for homework, I want

you to remember this. So you're talking

and someone asks you a question, you know

OK, OK. It's optional? And you answer,

and if you can't remember what you were

talking about, you just say this:

Yes, exactly. Now, where were we?

OK, please remember that and we'll see

you next time. Thank you.