Email phrases
Learn these as blocks and reuse them.
Meeting vocabulary
Words on every agenda.
Reading between the lines
Directness is avoided in business. These phrases often mean “no” or “not now”.
We will consider it
That is a little difficult
Let me check
On the phone
Answer with the company name; use もしもし only on personal calls.
StaffHai, Sakura Shōji de gozaimasu. · “Sakura Trading, good morning.”でございます: formal です.
はいhaiyesさくら商事Sakura ShōjiSakura Tradingでございますde gozaimasuthis is
CallerTōkyō Shōji no Sumisu to mōshimasu. · “This is Smith from Tokyo Trading.”Company, then name, humble 申します.
東京商事Tōkyō ShōjiTokyo TradingのnoofスミスSumisuSmithとto(quote)申しますmōshimasuam called
StaffItsumo osewa ni natte orimasu. · “Thank you for your continued business.”Both sides say it.
いつもitsumoalwaysお世話になっておりますosewa ni natte orimasuthank you for your support
StaffOsore irimasu ga, mō ichido onamae o onegai dekimasu ka. · “Sorry, could I have your name again?”The polite way to ask for a repeat.
恐れ入りますがosore irimasu gaI’m sorry to ask, butもう一度mō ichidoonce moreお名前onamaeyour nameをo(object)お願いできますかonegai dekimasu kacould I ask for?
Business apologies
Apology levels at work, from small slips to formal written apologies.
| Phrase | Meaning | When |
|---|---|---|
| sumimasen | sorry | small slips |
| mōshiwake arimasen | I’m very sorry | standard at work |
| mōshiwake gozaimasen | I sincerely apologise | to clients |
| taihen shitsurei itashimashita | I was very rude | after an error |
| fukaku owabi mōshiagemasu | we deeply apologise | formal written |
Speaking in a meeting
Phrases for giving opinions, agreeing and disagreeing politely.
Arranging a meeting
A short exchange fixing a time.
ARaishū no gotsugō wa ikaga deshō ka. · “How is your schedule next week?”ご都合: polite “convenience”.
来週raishūnext weekのno’sご都合gotsugōyour availabilityはwa(topic)いかがでしょうかikaga deshō kahow is it?
BKayōbi no gogo nara aite orimasu. · “Tuesday afternoon works for me.”
火曜日kayōbiTuesdayのno’s午後gogoafternoonならnaraif空いておりますaite orimasuam free (humble)
ADe wa, ni-ji de ikaga deshō ka. · “Shall we say two o’clock?”
ではde wathen二時ni-jitwoでdeatいかがでしょうかikaga deshō kahow about?
BShōchi itashimashita. · “Certainly, two o’clock.”承知しました: business “understood”.
承知いたしましたshōchi itashimashitaunderstood (humble)
Check yourself
Try each one, then open the answer to check and hear it.
- Open a business email.
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Itsumo osewa ni natte orimasu. - “Understood” to a client.
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Shōchi itashimashita. - I sincerely apologise. (to a client)
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Mōshiwake gozaimasen. - Please check the attachment.
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Tenpu fairu o gokakunin kudasai. - How is your schedule next week?
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Raishū no gotsugō wa ikaga deshō ka.
ほうれんそう: report, inform, consult
A famous workplace principle, a pun on ほうれん草 (spinach): 報告 (report results), 連絡 (keep people informed), 相談 (consult before deciding). New employees are taught it on day one.