Japanese Business Conversation Cheat Sheet: 100 Workplace Phrases

Key takeaways

• Japanese business phrases work by channel and rank: the same request needs softer wording for a client than for a peer, so every phrase below comes with a safe-usage note.
• This cheat sheet delivers 100 workplace phrases organized into ten categories: greetings, self-introductions, requests, apologies, confirmations, meeting control, opinions, disagreement, follow-ups, and email closings.
• Start with the five categories that carry most workplace conversations: greetings, requests, apologies, confirmations, and follow-ups.
• The biggest risks are translating English directly, defaulting to casual forms, and over-stacking keigo until the sentence breaks.
• Politeness level is invisible in a textbook but obvious to a native colleague, so practicing meeting and email role-plays with a business Japanese tutor is the fastest way to make these phrases reliable.

Japanese business conversation runs on a different system than the textbook Japanese most learners start with. The vocabulary is rarely the problem. The problem is choosing a phrase that matches the relationship, the seniority of the person you are speaking to, and the channel you are using, whether that is email, a phone call, or a face-to-face meeting.

This cheat sheet gives you the workplace phrases that actually appear in Japanese offices, with English meanings, kana, and a safe-usage note on each one so you do not accidentally sound too casual with a client or too stiff with a teammate.

italki has connected learners with tutors since 2007, and its 30,000+ teachers across 150+ languages include working professionals who can correct your politeness level in real time, which is the one thing a phrasebook cannot do.

Business Japanese is context-sensitive, and a wrong politeness level can cost you with a client or a senior colleague. Practice email and meeting role-plays with a tutor who corrects your wording and tone. Practice business Japanese with a tutor

Which Japanese business phrases should you learn first?

Learn the polite set-phrases that open and close interactions first: greetings, self-introductions, soft requests, apologies, and follow-up language. These appear in almost every email and meeting, and getting them wrong is the fastest way to sound out of place in a Japanese office.

A phrase can be grammatically perfect and still feel wrong. お世話になっております (osewa ni natte orimasu) literally means something like “you are taking care of me,” but in practice it is the default opener for almost any business email or call, even with people you have never met. Skipping it and writing こんにちは reads like a student email, not a professional one.

Use	Japanese	English	Safe context
Greeting	お世話になっております	Thank you for your continued support	Default email, call, and client opener
Introduction	___と申します	My name is ___	Formal self-introduction, more humble than ___です
Request	ご確認いただけますでしょうか	Could you please check this?	Asking a client or senior to review a document
Apology	申し訳ございません	I sincerely apologize	Formal apology to anyone above peer level
Confirmation	承知しました	Understood / I will take care of it	Accepting a task from a senior or client
Follow-up	後ほどメールで共有いたします	I will share it by email later	Closing a discussion with a next step
Closing	よろしくお願いいたします	Thank you in advance	End of nearly every business email or request

One useful contrast: 承知しました (shouchi shimashita) and かしこまりました (kashikomarimashita) both mean you accept a task, but かしこまりました is more deferential and common in customer-facing roles, while 了解しました (ryoukai shimashita) is too casual to use with a client or boss. If you already know your greetings from study, the Japanese greetings guide shows how the casual forms differ from these business versions.

How formal should Japanese workplace language be?

Default to teineigo, the standard polite -masu form, until you understand the relationship and the company culture. Japanese workplaces run on relative rank, so the safest move as a learner is to stay polite and let a colleague signal when casual speech is acceptable.

The risk is not being too formal. It is dropping into plain forms or English-style directness with someone who outranks you. A direct command like 見てください (mite kudasai, “look at this”) is grammatically polite but feels blunt to a client. The softened ご確認いただけますでしょうか reframes the same request as a humble favor, which is what business Japanese expects.

Situation	Safer phrase	Avoid	Why
First email	お世話になっております	こんにちは only	The standard opener signals you know business etiquette
Asking for a review	ご確認いただけますでしょうか	見てください	The humble request form protects the relationship
Asking someone to wait	少々お待ちいただけますでしょうか	待って	A bare command sounds abrupt to a senior or client
Apologizing	申し訳ございません	ごめん	Casual apology is far too light for a business mistake

Notice the pattern: the safe versions are longer because they add humility through verbs like いただく (to humbly receive) and question endings like でしょうか that turn a command into a request.

The deeper system here is keigo, Japanese honorifics speech, which is conventionally grouped into three registers: respectful language (sonkeigo), humble language (kenjougo), and polite language (teineigo), as set out in the Wikipedia overview of Japanese honorific speech. You do not need to master all of it to function.

What meeting phrases help you participate?

Prepare phrases for four meeting moments: opening, checking understanding, giving an opinion, and confirming next steps. Most learners freeze in Japanese meetings not because they lack vocabulary, but because they have no ready phrase to interrupt politely or signal that they disagree.

Here are the phrases that let you actually take part rather than just listen:

• 本日の議題は___です。 (Honjitsu no gidai wa ___ desu.) “Today’s agenda is ___.” Use this to open the meeting if you are leading.
• 確認させてください。 (Kakunin sasete kudasai.) “Let me confirm.” A safe way to pause and check before agreeing to anything.
• 私の理解では___です。 (Watashi no rikai dewa ___ desu.) “My understanding is ___.” Softer than stating a flat fact, which leaves room to be corrected.
• 一点質問がございます。 (Itten shitsumon ga gozaimasu.) “I have one question.” The gozaimasu form keeps it polite when you interrupt.
• 恐れ入りますが、___について確認したいです。 (Osore irimasu ga, ___ ni tsuite kakunin shitai desu.) “Excuse me, but I would like to confirm about ___.” The osore irimasu opener softens an interruption to a senior.
• 次のステップは___でよろしいでしょうか。 (Tsugi no suteppu wa ___ de yoroshii deshou ka.) “Is the next step ___?” Confirms the action item before the meeting ends.

Disagreement is where directness backfires most. Instead of いいえ、違います (“no, that’s wrong”), Japanese meeting language softens disagreement: おっしゃることは分かりますが、別の見方もあるかと思います (ossharu koto wa wakarimasu ga, betsu no mikata mo aru ka to omoimasu), meaning “I understand what you are saying, but I think there may be another way of looking at it.”

Which phrases run a Japanese business email?

A Japanese business email follows a fixed skeleton: opener, body request, deadline, and closing. Filling each slot with the right set-phrase matters more than producing original sentences, because Japanese business email is built on shared formulas.

Here is the order and the phrases for each slot:

• Opener: お世話になっております。 Always start here for an existing contact. For a first-time contact, use 初めてご連絡いたします (hajimete go-renraku itashimasu), “I am contacting you for the first time.”
• Self-reference: ___株式会社の___と申します。 (___ kabushikigaisha no ___ to moushimasu.) “I am ___ from ___ Corporation.”
• Request: ___をお願いできますでしょうか。 (___ o onegai dekimasu deshou ka.) “Could I ask you to ___?”
• Deadline: お手数ですが、___までにご返信いただけますと幸いです。 (Otesuu desu ga, ___ made ni go-henshin itadakemasu to saiwai desu.) “I am sorry for the trouble, but I would be grateful for a reply by ___.”
• Closing: 何卒よろしくお願いいたします。 (Nanitozo yoroshiku onegai itashimasu.) “Thank you very much in advance.” The nanitozo raises the politeness above the everyday よろしくお願いします.

The phrase お手数ですが (otesuu desu ga, “sorry to trouble you”) is worth memorizing on its own. Japanese business writing softens almost every request by first apologizing for the imposition, then asking. Skipping that cushion makes a perfectly grammatical email feel demanding. Build a full email by filling each slot above in order, and read it back to check that every request still carries its cushioning phrase before you send.

What mistakes make Japanese business conversation risky?

The three highest-risk mistakes are translating English structure directly, defaulting to casual forms, and over-stacking keigo until the sentence becomes wrong. Each one is invisible to the speaker and obvious to a Japanese colleague.

Mistake	Risky version	Better version	Why
Too casual	これ見て	こちらをご確認いただけますでしょうか	A business request needs distance and a humble verb
Direct refusal	できません	申し訳ございませんが、難しい状況です	Softening a “no” protects the working relationship
No confirmation	わかりました	承知しました。後ほど共有いたします	Adds acceptance plus a clear next step
Over-stacking keigo	ご拝見させていただきます	拝見します	Doubling humble forms is a real grammar error, not extra polite

The over-keigo trap deserves attention because it comes from trying too hard. 拝見します (haiken shimasu) is already the humble form of “to look.” Adding ご and させていただく on top, as in ご拝見させていただきます, stacks the same kind of honorific twice. Japan’s Agency for Cultural Affairs treats this “double honorific” (二重敬語, nijuu keigo) as an easily-mistaken form that is generally not appropriate, and native speakers notice it. Clear, correct polite forms always beat over-decorated ones.

Direct refusals are the other landmine. Japanese business culture rarely says a flat できません (“I can’t”). The softer 難しい状況です (“it is a difficult situation”) signals no while leaving the relationship intact, and your listener will understand it as a refusal.

The full 100-phrase cheat sheet, by category

Here is the full bank, organized into ten categories so each phrase is tied to the exact moment it belongs to. Every entry lists the Japanese, its reading, the natural English meaning, and the safest context. Default to these polite and humble forms with clients, seniors, and first-time contacts; relax only when a colleague signals it is fine.

Greetings and openers (1-10)

#	Japanese	Reading	English	Safe context
1	お世話になっております	osewa ni natte orimasu	Thank you for your continued support	Default email and call opener for an existing contact
2	いつもお世話になっております	itsumo osewa ni natte orimasu	Thank you as always for your support	Warmer opener for a regular contact
3	初めてご連絡いたします	hajimete go-renraku itashimasu	I am contacting you for the first time	First email to a new contact
4	お忙しいところ恐れ入ります	oisogashii tokoro osore irimasu	I am sorry to bother you while you are busy	Cushion before a request to anyone senior
5	おはようございます	ohayou gozaimasu	Good morning	Standard morning greeting in the office
6	お疲れ様です	otsukaresama desu	Thank you for your hard work	All-purpose greeting to colleagues during the day
7	お疲れ様でした	otsukaresama deshita	Thank you for your hard work (today)	Said when leaving or ending a task
8	ご無沙汰しております	gobusata shite orimasu	It has been a while since I last contacted you	Reopening contact after a long gap
9	本日はお時間をいただきありがとうございます	honjitsu wa o-jikan o itadaki arigatou gozaimasu	Thank you for your time today	Opening a scheduled meeting or call
10	失礼いたします	shitsurei itashimasu	Excuse me / pardon the intrusion	Entering a room or starting a phone call

Self-introductions (11-20)

#	Japanese	Reading	English	Safe context
11	___と申します	___ to moushimasu	My name is ___	Humble self-introduction, more formal than ___です
12	___株式会社の___と申します	___ kabushikigaisha no ___ to moushimasu	I am ___ from ___ Corporation	Naming your company and yourself to a new contact
13	営業部の___と申します	eigyoubu no ___ to moushimasu	I am ___ from the sales department	Adding your department in a larger company
14	___の後任を務めております	___ no kounin o tsutomete orimasu	I am the successor to ___	Taking over a colleague’s account
15	本日よりお世話になります	honjitsu yori osewa ni narimasu	I will be in your care starting today	First day with a new team or client
16	どうぞよろしくお願いいたします	douzo yoroshiku onegai itashimasu	I look forward to working with you	Closing a self-introduction
17	担当させていただきます___です	tantou sasete itadakimasu ___ desu	I am ___ and I will be in charge	Telling a client you are their point of contact
18	名刺を頂戴できますでしょうか	meishi o choudai dekimasu deshou ka	May I have your business card?	Exchanging cards at a first meeting
19	お会いできて光栄です	o-ai dekite kouei desu	It is an honor to meet you	Greeting a senior client or executive
20	ご紹介にあずかりました___です	go-shoukai ni azukarimashita ___ desu	I am ___, the one who was introduced to you	After a third party introduces you

Requests (21-32)

#	Japanese	Reading	English	Safe context
21	ご確認いただけますでしょうか	go-kakunin itadakemasu deshou ka	Could you please check this?	Asking a client or senior to review
22	___をお願いできますでしょうか	___ o onegai dekimasu deshou ka	Could I ask you to ___?	General polite request
23	お手数ですが、___をお願いいたします	otesuu desu ga, ___ o onegai itashimasu	Sorry for the trouble, but please ___	Softening a request with an apology first
24	恐れ入りますが、___いただけますか	osore irimasu ga, ___ itadakemasu ka	I am sorry, but could you ___?	Polite request to a senior or client
25	少々お待ちいただけますでしょうか	shoushou omachi itadakemasu deshou ka	Could you wait a moment?	Asking someone to hold on a call
26	ご教示いただけますでしょうか	go-kyouji itadakemasu deshou ka	Could you please advise me?	Asking a senior to explain or instruct
27	ご検討いただけますと幸いです	go-kentou itadakemasu to saiwai desu	I would be grateful if you would consider it	Proposing something to a client
28	ご対応いただけますでしょうか	go-taiou itadakemasu deshou ka	Could you please handle this?	Asking a counterpart to take action
29	お時間をいただけますでしょうか	o-jikan o itadakemasu deshou ka	Could you spare me some time?	Requesting a meeting or call
30	ご一読いただけますでしょうか	go-ichidoku itadakemasu deshou ka	Could you please give this a read?	Asking someone to look over a document
31	お力添えいただけますと幸いです	o-chikarazoe itadakemasu to saiwai desu	I would appreciate your assistance	Asking for help on a project
32	ご返信いただけますと幸いです	go-henshin itadakemasu to saiwai desu	I would be grateful for your reply	Closing an email that needs a response

Apologies (33-42)

#	Japanese	Reading	English	Safe context
33	申し訳ございません	moushiwake gozaimasen	I sincerely apologize	Formal apology to anyone above peer level
34	大変申し訳ございませんでした	taihen moushiwake gozaimasen deshita	I am terribly sorry (for what happened)	Apologizing for a completed mistake
35	ご迷惑をおかけして申し訳ございません	go-meiwaku o o-kake shite moushiwake gozaimasen	I am sorry for the inconvenience caused	Apologizing for trouble you caused
36	ご返信が遅くなり申し訳ございません	go-henshin ga osoku nari moushiwake gozaimasen	I am sorry for the late reply	Opening a delayed email response
37	こちらの不手際でございます	kochira no futegiwa de gozaimasu	This was our oversight	Taking responsibility for an error
38	以後気をつけます	igo ki o tsukemasu	I will be careful from now on	Closing an apology with a commitment
39	恐縮ですが	kyoushuku desu ga	I am much obliged, but / I am sorry to ask, but	Cushioning a request or correction
40	説明不足で失礼いたしました	setsumei busoku de shitsurei itashimashita	I apologize for my insufficient explanation	When a misunderstanding was your fault
41	お詫び申し上げます	owabi moushiagemasu	I offer my sincere apologies	Formal written apology to a client
42	ご容赦いただけますと幸いです	go-yousha itadakemasu to saiwai desu	I hope you can forgive / excuse this	Asking forbearance for a limitation

Confirmations and acknowledgments (43-52)

#	Japanese	Reading	English	Safe context
43	承知しました	shouchi shimashita	Understood / I will take care of it	Accepting a task from a senior or client
44	承知いたしました	shouchi itashimashita	Understood (more humble)	Accepting an instruction from a client
45	かしこまりました	kashikomarimashita	Certainly / understood	Customer-facing acceptance, very deferential
46	承りました	uketamawarimashita	I have received / noted your request	Confirming you took down an order or message
47	確認いたしました	kakunin itashimashita	I have confirmed it	Reporting that you checked something
48	問題ございません	mondai gozaimasen	There is no problem	Politely confirming you agree or approve
49	了解いたしました	ryoukai itashimashita	Understood	Acceptable among peers; avoid with clients and bosses
50	かしこまりました、確認いたします	kashikomarimashita, kakunin itashimasu	Certainly, I will check on it	Accepting and promising to verify
51	差し支えございません	sashitsukae gozaimasen	That poses no problem for me	Confirming availability or consent formally
52	そのように対応いたします	sono you ni taiou itashimasu	I will handle it that way	Confirming you will act on an instruction

Meeting control (53-62)

#	Japanese	Reading	English	Safe context
53	本日の議題は___です	honjitsu no gidai wa ___ desu	Today’s agenda is ___	Opening a meeting you are leading
54	確認させてください	kakunin sasete kudasai	Let me confirm	Pausing to check before agreeing
55	一点質問がございます	itten shitsumon ga gozaimasu	I have one question	Interrupting politely to ask
56	恐れ入りますが、___について確認したいです	osore irimasu ga, ___ ni tsuite kakunin shitai desu	Excuse me, but I would like to confirm about ___	Softening an interruption to a senior
57	次のステップは___でよろしいでしょうか	tsugi no suteppu wa ___ de yoroshii deshou ka	Is the next step ___?	Confirming the action item before closing
58	少しお時間をいただけますか	sukoshi o-jikan o itadakemasu ka	May I have a moment?	Asking for the floor to speak
59	補足させていただきます	hosoku sasete itadakimasu	Allow me to add a point	Adding information without taking over
60	もう一度ご説明いただけますか	mou ichido go-setsumei itadakemasu ka	Could you explain that once more?	Asking for a repeat without losing face
61	議事録は後ほど共有いたします	gijiroku wa nochihodo kyouyuu itashimasu	I will share the minutes later	Closing a meeting you ran
62	そろそろお時間ですので	sorosoro o-jikan desu node	As we are nearly out of time	Politely steering a meeting to a close

Opinions and suggestions (63-72)

#	Japanese	Reading	English	Safe context
63	私の理解では___です	watashi no rikai dewa ___ desu	My understanding is ___	Stating a view that leaves room to be corrected
64	個人的には___と考えております	kojinteki ni wa ___ to kangaete orimasu	Personally, I think ___	Offering an opinion humbly
65	___はいかがでしょうか	___ wa ikaga deshou ka	How about ___?	Proposing an idea softly
66	一つご提案がございます	hitotsu go-teian ga gozaimasu	I have one suggestion	Introducing a proposal in a meeting
67	___という方向はいかがでしょうか	___ to iu houkou wa ikaga deshou ka	How about going in the direction of ___?	Steering a discussion gently
68	もしよろしければ___	moshi yoroshikereba ___	If it is alright with you, ___	Prefacing a suggestion to a senior
69	念のため申し上げますと	nen no tame moushiagemasu to	Just to be safe, let me mention that	Adding a caution without sounding pushy
70	差し出がましいようですが	sashidegamashii you desu ga	This may be presumptuous of me, but	Offering advice above your station carefully
71	検討の余地があるかと存じます	kentou no yochi ga aru ka to zonjimasu	I believe there may be room to consider this	Suggesting a rethink politely
72	ご参考までに	go-sankou made ni	For your reference	Sharing information without pressing it

Disagreement and pushback (73-82)

#	Japanese	Reading	English	Safe context
73	おっしゃることは分かりますが	ossharu koto wa wakarimasu ga	I understand what you are saying, but	Opening a polite disagreement
74	別の見方もあるかと思います	betsu no mikata mo aru ka to omoimasu	I think there may be another way of seeing it	Offering a counter-view without saying “no”
75	難しい状況です	muzukashii joukyou desu	It is a difficult situation	Signaling “no” while keeping the relationship
76	検討させていただけますか	kentou sasete itadakemasu ka	May I take some time to consider it?	Buying time instead of refusing outright
77	少し懸念がございます	sukoshi kenen ga gozaimasu	I have a slight concern	Raising a problem gently
78	そちらは厳しいかもしれません	sochira wa kibishii kamoshiremasen	That may be difficult to do	Soft refusal of a request
79	確認の上、改めてご連絡いたします	kakunin no ue, aratamete go-renraku itashimasu	I will check and get back to you	Avoiding an on-the-spot commitment
80	持ち帰って検討いたします	mochikaette kentou itashimasu	I will take this back and consider it	Deferring a decision politely
81	お気持ちは理解いたします	o-kimochi wa rikai itashimasu	I understand how you feel	Acknowledging before pushing back
82	一度社内で確認いたします	ichido shanai de kakunin itashimasu	I will check internally first	Declining to decide alone

Follow-ups and next steps (83-92)

#	Japanese	Reading	English	Safe context
83	後ほどメールで共有いたします	nochihodo meeru de kyouyuu itashimasu	I will share it by email later	Closing a discussion with a next step
84	追ってご連絡いたします	otte go-renraku itashimasu	I will contact you shortly	Promising a follow-up message
85	進捗があり次第ご報告いたします	shinchoku ga ari shidai go-houkoku itashimasu	I will report as soon as there is progress	Keeping a client updated
86	引き続きよろしくお願いいたします	hikitsuzuki yoroshiku onegai itashimasu	Thank you for your continued support	Closing a follow-up email
87	ご不明な点がございましたらお知らせください	go-fumei na ten ga gozaimashitara o-shirase kudasai	Please let me know if anything is unclear	Inviting questions at the end of an email
88	念のため再送いたします	nen no tame saisou itashimasu	I am resending this just in case	Following up on an unanswered email
89	その後いかがでしょうか	sonogo ikaga deshou ka	How are things going since then?	Politely chasing a pending item
90	ご確認のほどよろしくお願いいたします	go-kakunin no hodo yoroshiku onegai itashimasu	I appreciate your checking on this	Asking for a review as a closing line
91	取り急ぎご連絡まで	toriisogi go-renraku made	This is just a quick note for now	A brief, urgent follow-up message
92	改めて日程を調整いたします	aratamete nittei o chousei itashimasu	I will arrange the schedule again	Following up after a missed meeting

Email closings (93-100)

#	Japanese	Reading	English	Safe context
93	よろしくお願いいたします	yoroshiku onegai itashimasu	Thank you in advance	Standard close for most business emails
94	何卒よろしくお願いいたします	nanitozo yoroshiku onegai itashimasu	Thank you very much in advance	Raising the politeness on a request email
95	何卒よろしくお願い申し上げます	nanitozo yoroshiku onegai moushiagemasu	I sincerely ask for your kind support	Most formal close, for clients and executives
96	ご検討のほどよろしくお願いいたします	go-kentou no hodo yoroshiku onegai itashimasu	Thank you for considering this	Closing a proposal email
97	お手数をおかけしますがよろしくお願いいたします	otesuu o o-kake shimasu ga yoroshiku onegai itashimasu	Sorry for the trouble, and thank you	Closing an email that asks for work
98	取り急ぎお礼まで	toriisogi o-rei made	A quick note of thanks for now	Short thank-you reply
99	今後ともよろしくお願いいたします	kongo tomo yoroshiku onegai itashimasu	I look forward to working with you going forward	Closing with a new or ongoing contact
100	ご自愛ください	go-jiai kudasai	Please take care of yourself	Warm closing line, often seasonal

If you want the cultural backdrop behind why hierarchy shapes all of this, the Japanese culture guide explains the seniority norms that drive workplace language.

How can a tutor help with Japanese business phrases?

A Japanese tutor fixes the one thing a cheat sheet cannot: politeness level. A phrase like 了解しました can read as fine or as rude depending on who you say it to, and only a person who knows the workplace can tell you which.

On italki, you can work with a Japanese tutor on email role-plays, meeting openings, client calls, or interview practice. The most useful approach is to bring one scenario, not a vague goal. Saying “I need to ask a client for missing information politely” lets the tutor correct your wording, your cushioning phrases, and your follow-up in a single focused session.

Bring three things to make the lesson efficient: a one-sentence goal, three to five sentences you drafted from this cheat sheet, and one correction request such as “tell me which line sounds too casual.” That turns a lesson into an editorial review of your real language instead of a general chat. After the session, rewrite your notes into a small template that keeps the corrected version, one alternative, and one warning about what not to say.

How do you turn this into a one-week practice plan?

Keep the first week narrow: pick one category from your cheat sheet and run it through reading, writing, speaking, correction, and review. Most learners stall because they treat a guide as a checklist to finish rather than a small set of phrases to make automatic.

Day	Task	Output
Day 1	Pick one category that matches your nearest real task, such as email requests.	One focused practice target
Day 2	Rewrite three example phrases for your own company and contact.	Three personalized sentences
Day 3	Say each one aloud and record yourself once.	One short speaking sample
Day 4	Build a mini exchange: request, soft refusal, follow-up.	A short conversation script
Day 5	Get correction from a tutor on tone, not just grammar.	Corrected sentences and notes
Day 6	Say the corrected version from memory.	Cleaner recall under light pressure
Day 7	Use the best phrase in a real email or message.	One reusable workplace habit

If you only have ten minutes a day, keep the sequence and shrink the output. One corrected request you can reuse on Monday beats twenty phrases you only recognize. Before moving to a new category, check that you can explain the politeness level in plain English, produce one new sentence of your own, and name the casual form you should avoid. If any of those fails, stay with the same category another day.

With this cheat sheet as your base, you can turn business Japanese from a source of anxiety into a set of reliable, safe phrases. Learn faster with personal guidance from 30,000+ tutors trusted by over 10 million learners worldwide since 2007, and ask for feedback on tone, not just grammar. Book a trial lesson with a tutor who works in a Japanese office and make these phrases automatic before you need them.

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FAQ

Is Japanese business conversation hard?

It is challenging because politeness and hierarchy decide which phrase is correct, not just grammar. You can start safely with a small set of polite set-phrases for greetings, requests, and apologies.

Do I need keigo for Japanese business?

You need the common polite and humble patterns, not advanced keigo on day one. Clear teineigo with a few humble verbs like いただく carries most situations, and over-stacking keigo causes real errors.

Can I use casual Japanese at work?

Only when the relationship and company culture clearly allow it, usually with peers. With clients, seniors, and first-time contacts, stay in polite forms until someone signals otherwise.

How should I practice business Japanese?

Practice by scenario: emails, meeting openings, requests, apologies, and follow-ups. Ask for correction on tone and politeness level, not only grammar, since that is where business Japanese breaks.

What phrase is most useful in Japanese business emails?

お世話になっております as the opener and 何卒よろしくお願いいたします as the closing appear in almost every business email. Learn these two first and your emails will read as professional.