Japanese with Manga

Scheduled to work outside at night with 〜ことになっている

Grammar Explanation: Past decision still in effect with 〜ことになっている

Manga panel from シャドーハウス showing example of Scheduled to work outside at night with 〜ことになっている.
シャドーハウス » Volume 2 » Page 66

Kate says she wants to study together with Emiriko before bedtime.

エミリコ:
「あっ…　ごめんなさい。実(じつ)は外(そと)の仕事(しごと)を深夜(しんや)にもすることになって…」
“Ah, I'm sorry. The truth is, I'm scheduled to do late-night work outside...”
Literal: “Ah... I'm sorry. Actually, it has become the thing that I also do outside work late at night...”
「また別(べつ)の機会(きかい)にお願(ねが)いします！」
“Please ask again another time!”

Key Points

1することになって points to an assigned plan
  • 外(そと)の仕事(しごと)を深夜(しんや)にもすることになって means Emiriko has been scheduled to work outside late at night too.
  • The sentence trails off because this explains why she cannot study now.
2実は introduces the real reason
  • 実(じつ)は signals that she is revealing the actual scheduling conflict.
  • It softens the refusal before she apologizes.
3また別の機会に politely postpones
  • また別(べつ)の機会(きかい)に means “another time”.
  • お願いします keeps the refusal deferential toward Kate.

See Also

シャドーハウス © its respective creators. It is used here for educational commentary.