(うみ)

sea, ocean

(ぷらすちっく)

plastic

(ごみ)

trash, garbage

(へらす)

to reduce; to decrease

(とりくみ)

efforts, initiatives

(ながれこむ)

to flow into, to pour in

(せかい)

world

(おおきな)

big (attrib.)

(もんだい)

problem

(なみ)

wave

(にっこう)

sunlight

(こまかい)

fine / small

(われる)

to crack / split

(まいくろぷらすちっく)

microplastic

(よぶ)

to call

(ちいさな)

small / little

(さかな)

fish

(とり)

bird

(たべる)

to eat

(わかる)

to understand, be clear

(にほん)

Japan

(すすむ)

to advance, to progress

(みせ)

shop, store

(れじぶくろ)

plastic shopping bag (at the checkout)

(ゆうりょう)

paid, charged (not free)

(じぶん)

oneself

(ばっぐ)

bag

(もつ)

to have; to hold

(かいもの)

shopping

(ひと)

person / people

(ふえる)

to increase; to grow

(すとろー)

(drinking) straw

(かみ)

paper

(き)

tree / wood

(つくる)

to make

(かいしゃ)

company

(でる)

to come out; to occur

(かいがん)

Seashore; coast; beach

(じゅうみん)

resident

(ぼらんてぃあ)

volunteer

(あつまる)

to gather; to come together

(ひろう)

to pick up

(かつどう)

activity, action

(つづける)

to continue

(せんもんか)

expert, specialist

(ひとりひとり)

each person, one by one

(つかう)

to use

(りょう)

Quantity; amount; volume

(すこしずつ)

little by little

(たいせつ)

important

by means of / through

Expresses the means by which something is achieved — through sport, everyone can live together.

passive form

Passive voice. 愛される means 'to be loved', describing the kind of store the worker aspires to create.

completely / finish ~ing (often regretful)

Expresses completion, often with regret or unexpectedness. Here the rice sold out quickly.

is doing, has been doing (ongoing state/action)

Expresses a continuing action or resulting state. Formed with て-form + いる. Can describe an action in progress or a state resulting from a past change.

in order to, for the purpose of

Expresses purpose. Formed with verb dictionary form + ための + noun, or noun + のための + noun. Modifies the following noun to indicate its purpose.

after doing ...

Expresses a sequence where one action is completed before the next begins. Formed with て-form + から. Emphasizes completion of the first action.

and then ~ (te-form linking actions)

The te-form links two actions in sequence without ending the sentence. 歩いてまく means "walk and (then) spray", and 写真を撮って、…調べる means "take photos and then check".

come toward (action approaching)

Indicates motion toward the speaker or a location. Here it describes rocks flying toward people.

it is important that ~

Used to express importance of an action. Here cooperation between Japan and China is described as important.

is saying that ..., is talking about ...

Quotation と + 話している. Used to report what someone is saying in speech. Similar to と言っている but slightly more formal.

海のプラスチックごみを減らす取り組み

Efforts to reduce plastic trash in the ocean

海に流れ込むプラスチックごみが、世界で大きな問題になっています。

Plastic trash flowing into the ocean has become a major problem around the world.

ごみは波や日光によって細かく割れ、「マイクロプラスチック」と呼ばれる小さなかけらになります。

Waves and sunlight break the trash into tiny pieces called "microplastics."

魚や鳥がこれを食べてしまうことも分かっています。

It is also known that fish and birds end up eating them.

日本でも、ごみを減らすための取り組みが進んでいます。

In Japan too, efforts to reduce trash are making progress.

店でレジ袋が有料になってから、自分のバッグを持って買い物をする人が増えました。

Since stores began charging for plastic bags, more people bring their own bags when shopping.

また、ストローやスプーンを紙や木で作る会社も出てきています。

Also, companies that make straws and spoons out of paper or wood have been appearing.

海岸では、住民やボランティアが集まって、ごみを拾う活動を続けています。

On the coasts, residents and volunteers gather and continue their activities picking up trash.

専門家は「一人一人がプラスチックを使う量を少しずつ減らすことが大切だ」と話しています。

Experts say, "It is important for each person to gradually reduce the amount of plastic they use."