Shinjin-wa shinjin-nari-ni ganbareba, sore-de ii-n-da-yo. (If the newcomer does their best like a newcomer should, that's OK.)

Situation 1: Ms. Omori, who is a new employee, looks glum. Mr. Sere asks why, and she answers.

大森： この仕事をするように言われたんですけど、新人の私には無理じゃないかと思って。

セレ： 新人は新人なりにがんばれば、それでいいんだよ。

Ōmori: Kono shigoto-o suru yō-ni iwareta-n-desu-kedo, shinjin-no watashi-ni-wa muri-ja nai-ka-to omotte.

Sere: Shinjin-wa shinjin-nari-ni ganbareba, sore-de ii-n- da-yo.

Omori: I was told to do this work, but I'm afraid that it's impossible for me, being a newcomer.

Sere: If a newcomer does their best like a newcomer should, that's OK.

Today we will introduce the proper use of なりに, which attaches to a noun or verb. X(=noun) なりに means "the style that is proper to X." In Situation 1, no one expects the new recruit, Ms. Omori, to be a great worker yet, but that it is fine provided that she works earnestly to the best of her ability. Xなりに often conveys the speaker's positive feeling toward X, with the speaker asserting that X made an effort in their own way, even though the result may not be perfect. Therefore, Xなりに is not used when X has sufficient ability, such as when talking to an expert. Examples: 私(わたし)なりにがんばってみます (I'll give it my best); 金持(かねも)ちは金持ちなりに悩(なや)みがある (Rich folk have their own worries). When a noun comes after なり, N1なりのN2 is used, as in: 子(こ)どもは子どもなりのやり方(かた)で問題(もんだい)を解決(かいけつ)しようとしているんだろう (I guess kids try to solve problems in their own way).

Situation 2: Mrs. Okubo is chatting with her cousin Tomoko, whose son Kenta has started to live alone.

大久保： 健太くん、一人暮らしを始めたんでしょう？食事はだいじょうぶ？

とも子： まあ、それなりに何とか自分で作っているみたいよ。

Ōkubo: Kenta-kun, hitorigurashi-o hajimeta-n-deshō? Shokuji-wa daijōbu?

Tomoko: Mā, sore-nari-ni nantoka jibun-de tsukutte-iru mitai-yo.

Okubo: Kenta started living on his own, right? Is he eating OK?

Tomoko: Well, it looks like he's cooking half-decent food for himself.

それなりに means that someone or something has its own proper way. それなり implies that someone or something has a limit or fault, but the speaker has positive feelings toward it. 給料(きゅうりょう)は多(おお)くないが、贅沢(ぜいたく)をしなければそれなりに暮(く)らしていける (My salary is not high, but I can get along fine in my own way if I don't live in luxury). When a noun comes after それなり, それなりのX(noun) is used, as in 大学(だいがく)をやめたのはそれなりの理由(りゆう)があったのだろう (I think that he had his own reasons for quitting university).

Bonus Dialogue: Ms. Gray is listening to her colleague Ms. Tamachi's problem. In the middle of the conversation, Mr. Mita talks to them.

田町： 私(わたし)は私なりのやり方(かた)で企画書(きかくしょ)を書(か)いたんだけど、なかなかうまくいかないの。課長(かちょう)にやり直(なお)すように言(い)われちゃったんだ。

グレイ： 課長は課長なりに田町(たまち)さんを育(そだ)てようとしていると思(おも)うなあ。

田町： そうかなあ。私が落(お)ち込(こ)んでいたら、三田(みた)さんが「失恋(しつれん)でもしたの？」なんて言うの。ほんとにわかってないんだから。

グレイ： 三田さんは三田さんなりに心配(しんぱい)して言っているんだから、そんなに怒(おこ)らないで。

三田： [とおりかかる] 田町さん、またいい人(ひと)が見(み)つかるよ。田町さんも、それなりにかわいいところがあるんだから。

田町： まったく！ぜんぜんわかっていなんだから！

グレイ： 三田さんもそれなりに気(き)を使(つか)っているんでしょうけど、なかなか気持(きも)ちが通(つう)じないね。

Tamachi: I made the best business proposal I could, but it didn't turn out well, and the boss told me to write it again.

Gray: I think our boss is trying to develop you in his own way.

Tamachi: I guess so. But when I was down, Mr. Mita asked me, "Did you get dumped?" He doesn't understand at all!

Gray: Mr. Mita worries about you in his own way. Don't let it rile you up so much.

Mita: [Passes by them] Ms. Tamachi, you'll find a good person again. You're cute, in your own way.

Tamachi: Argh! You really don't understand at all!

Gray: He is concerned about you in his own way, but he has trouble getting his feelings across.