Situation
Imagine you're meeting a new business client for the first time in Japan. This dialogue will guide you through formal introductions, the process of exchanging business cards, and discussing the initial purpose of your meeting. Getting these phrases right is key to making a strong first impression in Japanese business.
Dialogue
็ฐไธญ: ๅใใพใใฆใๆ ชๅผไผ็คพABCใฎ็ฐไธญใจ็ณใใพใใใใใใใ้กใใใใใพใใ
Tanaka: Hajimemashite, Kabushikigaisha ABC no Tanaka to mลshimasu. Yoroshiku onegai itashimasu.
Tanaka: Nice to meet you. My name is Tanaka from ABC Co., Ltd. I look forward to working with you.
ๅฑฑ็ฐ: ๆ ชๅผไผ็คพXYZใฎๅฑฑ็ฐใงใใใใพใใๆฌๆฅใฏใๅฟใใไธญใใ่ถใใใใ ใใใใใจใใใใใพใใ
Yamada: Kabushikigaisha XYZ no Yamada de gozaimasu. Honjitsu wa oisogashii naka, okoshi itadaki arigatล gozaimasu.
Yamada: I am Yamada from XYZ Co., Ltd. Thank you for coming today despite your busy schedule.
็ฐไธญ: ใใกใใใใใๆใใใใ ใๅ ๆ ใงใใใไธ่ฉฑใซใชใใพใใ
Tanaka: Kochira koso, omaneki itadaki kลei desu. Osewa ni narimasu.
Tanaka: The pleasure is all mine to be invited. I appreciate your support.
ๅฑฑ็ฐ: ใใใงใฏใใพใๅๅบไบคๆใใใใฆใใใ ใใชใใงใใใใใ
Yamada: Sore de wa, mazu meishi kลkan o sasete itadakenai deshล ka.
Yamada: Well then, would you mind if we exchanged business cards first?
็ฐไธญ: ใฏใใใใกใใใงใใ็งใฎๅๅบใงใใใฉใใใ
Tanaka: Hai, mochiron desu. Watakushi no meishi desu. Dลzo.
Tanaka: Yes, of course. Here is my business card. Please.
ๅฑฑ็ฐ: ใใใใจใใใใใพใใใใกใใ็งใฎๅๅบใงใใใใพใใ
Yamada: Arigatล gozaimasu. Kochira ga watakushi no meishi de gozaimasu.
Yamada: Thank you. Here is my business card.
็ฐไธญ: ้ ๆดใใใใพใใใใๅฑฑ็ฐใใใฏไผ็ป้จใฎใๅบ่บซใงใใใฃใใใใพใใญใ
Tanaka: Chลdai itashimasu. A, Yamada-san wa kikakubu no goshusshin de irasshaimasu ne.
Tanaka: Thank you for the card. Oh, Mr. Yamada, you are from the Planning Department, aren't you?
ๅฑฑ็ฐ: ใฏใใใใใใงใใใใพใใ็พๅจใฏๆฐใใใใญใธใงใฏใใฎ่ฒฌไปป่ ใๅใใฆใใใพใใ
Yamada: Hai, sล de gozaimasu. Genzai wa atarashii purojekuto no sekininsha o tsutomete orimasu.
Yamada: Yes, that's correct. I am currently in charge of a new project.
็ฐไธญ: ใชใใปใฉใใใฎใใญใธใงใฏใใซใคใใฆใๅ ๆฅใใใ ใใ่ณๆใๆ่ฆใใใใพใใใ
Tanaka: Naruhodo. Sono purojekuto ni tsuite, senjitsu itadaita shiryล o haiken itashimashita.
Tanaka: I see. I've read the materials you sent the other day about that project.
ๅฑฑ็ฐ: ใ่ฆงใใใ ใใใใใจใใใใใพใใใใใไธๆใช็นใใใใใพใใใใใๆฐ่ปฝใซใๅฐใญใใ ใใใ
Yamada: Goran itadaki arigatล gozaimasu. Moshi gofumei na ten ga gozaimashitara, okigaru ni otazune kudasai.
Yamada: Thank you for looking over them. If you have any questions, please feel free to ask.
็ฐไธญ: ใใใใจใใใใใพใใใจใฆใ่ๅณๆทฑใใ่ฉณ็ดฐใซใคใใฆใใใซไผบใใใใจๆใฃใฆใใใพใใ
Tanaka: Arigatล gozaimasu. Totemo kyลmibukaku, shลsai ni tsuite sara ni ukagaitai to omotte orimasu.
Tanaka: Thank you. It was very interesting, and I would like to hear more details.
ๅฑฑ็ฐ: ๆฟ็ฅใใใใพใใใใใใงใฏใใใฃใใๆฌ้กใซๅ ฅใใใฆใใใ ใใพใใใใใ
Yamada: Shลchi itashimashita. Sore de wa, sassoku hondai ni hairasete itadakimashล ka.
Yamada: Understood. Shall we get straight to the main topic then?
Key Vocabulary
็ณใ
mลsu
โ to say (humble)
ๆ ชๅผไผ็คพ
kabushikigaisha
โ Co., Ltd. / Corporation
ๆฌๆฅ
honjitsu
โ today (formal)
ใๅฟใใไธญ
oisogashii naka
โ despite your busy schedule
ๅ ๆ
kลei
โ honor, glory
ใไธ่ฉฑใซใชใใพใ
osewa ni narimasu
โ Thank you for your support / It's a pleasure to work with you
ๅๅบไบคๆ
meishi kลkan
โ business card exchange
้ ๆดใใ
chลdai suru
โ to receive (humble)
ไผ็ป้จ
kikakubu
โ Planning Department
่ฒฌไปป่
sekininsha
โ person in charge
ๅ ๆฅ
senjitsu
โ the other day
่ณๆ
shiryล
โ materials, documents
ๆ่ฆใใ
haiken suru
โ to see, to look at (humble)
ไธๆใช็น
fumei na ten
โ unclear points, questions
ๆฌ้ก
hondai
โ main topic
Grammar Notes
ใใจ็ณใใพใ (to mลshimasu) / ใใงใใใใพใ (de gozaimasu): These expressions offer humble and polite ways to introduce yourself or state your affiliation. ใ็ณใใพใใ acts as a humble verb for ใ่จใใพใ (iimasu)ใ (to say), while ใใใใใพใใ is a polite form of ใใใใพใ (arimasu)ใ (to be/exist). Both subtly convey respect to the person you are speaking with.
ใใฆใใใพใ (te orimasu): This is the humble form of ใใใฆใใพใ (te imasu)ใ, indicating an ongoing state or action. It conveys a sense of respect and humility, often used in business contexts.
ใใใใใ้กใใใใใพใ (yoroshiku onegai itashimasu): This phrase is incredibly versatile and polite, typically used at the start of an interaction. It expresses a desire for a positive relationship or cooperation, and is often translated as "I look forward to working with you" or "Please treat me well."
ใใใใฆใใใ ใใพใ (sasete itadakimasu): This humble expression is employed when seeking permission or when indicating that an action is being humbly performed for another's benefit or with their approval. It demonstrates consideration and respect, as seen in the dialogue's ใๅๅบไบคๆใใใใฆใใใ ใใชใใงใใใใใ (Would you mind if we exchanged business cards?).
ใใงใใ / ใใ (desu ga / ga): The particles ใใใ or ใใงใใใ are often used to soften a statement, introduce a topic, or create a gentle transition without sounding abrupt. It can also imply a slight hesitation or a lead-in to a request.
ใใกใใใ (kochira koso): This phrase is used to politely reciprocate a feeling or action. If someone thanks you, you can say ใใใกใใใใ to mean "No, thank YOU" or "Likewise." In this dialogue, it reciprocates Tanaka's initial greeting.
Cultural Notes
In Japanese business culture, the initial meeting with a new client is a deeply ritualized affair, placing great importance on politeness and mutual respect. The exchange of business cards, known as meishi kลkan, forms a pivotal part of this process. When offering your business card, always use both hands, ensuring the text faces the recipient. If the other person holds a higher status, present your card slightly lower than theirs. Upon receiving a card, accept it with both hands and take a moment to read it carefully. During the meeting, place it respectfully on the table in front of you. Never immediately put it into your wallet or pocket; this is considered impolite.
The proper use of honorific language, or keigo, is of utmost importance. Even at the N3 level, grasping basic humble and polite forms like ใใใจ็ณใใพใใ, ใใใงใใใใพใใ, and ใใใฆใใใพใใ is fundamental. Phrases such as ใใใใใใ้กใใใใใพใใ and ใใไธ่ฉฑใซใชใใพใใ are vital for conveying respect and appreciation within a business relationship. Being mindful of these customs and linguistic subtleties clearly showcases your professionalism and sincere approach, qualities that are highly esteemed in Japanese business interactions.
Practice
Role-play: Practice the dialogue above, taking turns playing the roles of Tanaka and Yamada. Pay attention to natural pronunciation, intonation, and bowing (if practicing in person).
Substitution Drills:
Replace company names: Instead of ABC Co., Ltd. and XYZ Co., Ltd., try using imaginary company names like ใ้็ฉบใฝใใใฆใงใข (Aozora Sofutouea)ใ (Blue Sky Software) or ใๆชๆฅใใฏใใญใธใผ (Mirai Tekunorojii)ใ (Future Technology).
Change departments: Substitute ใไผ็ป้จ (kikakubu)ใ (Planning Department) with ใๅถๆฅญ้จ (eigyลbu)ใ (Sales Department), ใ้็บ้จ (kaihatsubu)ใ (Development Department), or ใๅบๅ ฑ้จ (kลhลbu)ใ (Public Relations Department).
Vary job titles: Instead of just mentioning the department, add a job title like ใ้จ้ท (buchล)ใ (Manager), ใ่ชฒ้ท (kachล)ใ (Section Chief), or ใๆ ๅฝ (tantล)ใ (Person in Charge).
Variation Scenario: Imagine you are meeting a potential business partner not in their office, but at a casual business networking event or a trade show. How would the conversation change while still maintaining politeness?