Brilliant 100+ Business Vocabulary In Japanese To Stand Out

Business Vocabulary In Japanese - Ling App

One of the reasons why many people learn Japanese is new business opportunities. Becoming proficient in the Japanese language can open new doors in your career and make you like gold dust for companies that want to collaborate with the Japanese.

As learning a new language, especially an Asian language, is not a one-night thing; it takes time to become fluent in Japanese. But still, you can speed up the process by prioritizing learning business vocabulary in Japanese after mastering the basic vocabulary.

Now, start learning business Japanese and book yourself a position in the Japanese business world!

Page Contents:

 

Japanese Business Culture

To start with, let’s prepare you for the business culture in Japan so that you won’t go through a big culture shock when you enter a Japanese office environment. You’re expected to show the utmost respect to your colleagues and seniors, as it is what Japanese people value the most.

Co-workers are bowing respectfully

Respectful Bowing

As you know, bowing is a standard greeting in Japanese culture and is also practiced in the workplace. Here are the three variations of bowing:

  • 会釈 (Eshaku) – Bow with the upper body to 15 degrees. You can greet your colleagues this way.
  • 敬礼 (Keirei) – Bow with the upper body to 30 degrees. You can greet your clients this way and also express gratitude and apologies.
  • 最敬礼 (Saikeirei) – Bow with the upper body to 45 degrees. You can greet VIPs and seniors this way and also express profound apologies.

Exchanging Business Cards

Exchanging business cards, 名刺 (meishi), is another etiquette rule in business, and it’s only done when you meet someone from another company for the first time. Business cards are considered to be one’s face in Japan and thus must be treated politely.

Remember to offer and receive cards with both hands (using one hand is considered rude) and ensure that the other person can read the front surface of your card.

Honorific Language At The Office

Using the appropriate Japanese honorifics is considered good manners in Japan. In business settings, you may be judged as incompetent if you can’t use honorific language, 敬語 (Keigo), correctly. Here are the three different forms of honorific language in Japanese:

丁寧語 (Teineigo) – polite language

It’s used to express things politely in general.

  • To do – する (suru) -> します (shimasu)

尊敬語 (Sonkeigo) – respectful language

It’s used to talk about superior people, clients, and customers.

  • To do – する (suru) -> なさいます (nasaimasu)

謙譲語 (Kenjōgo) – humble language

It’s used to talk about oneself in a humble form.

  • To do – する (suru) -> いたします (itashimasu)
There are books and a laptop on the table

 

Office Supplies In Japanese

A good office worker must have a command of the items used at the office. So we’ve collected the essential office supplies in Japanese in the list below.

EnglishJapaneseRomajiPronunciation
Paperclipクリップkurippu[Speechword voice=”Japanese Female” isinline]クリップ[/Speechword]
Envelope封筒fuutou[Speechword voice=”Japanese Female” isinline]封筒[/Speechword]
Postage stamp切手kitte[Speechword voice=”Japanese Female” isinline]切手[/Speechword]
Thumbtack画鋲gabyou[Speechword voice=”Japanese Female” isinline]画鋲[/Speechword]
Slidesスライドsuraido[Speechword voice=”Japanese Female” isinline]スライド[/Speechword]
Calendarカレンダーkarendaー[Speechword voice=”Japanese Female” isinline]カレンダー[/Speechword]
Tapeテープteーpu[Speechword voice=”Japanese Female” isinline]テープ[/Speechword]
Messageメッセージmesseーji[Speechword voice=”Japanese Female” isinline]メッセージ[/Speechword]
Fax machineファックス機fakkusu ki[Speechword voice=”Japanese Female” isinline]ファックス機[/Speechword]
Photocopierコピー機kopiー ki[Speechword voice=”Japanese Female” isinline]コピー機[/Speechword]
Telephone電話denwa[Speechword voice=”Japanese Female” isinline]電話[/Speechword]
Typewriterタイプライタtaipuraitā[Speechword voice=”Japanese Female” isinline]タイプライタ[/Speechword]
Projectorプロジェクターpurojekuta[Speechword voice=”Japanese Female” isinline]プロジェクター[/Speechword]
Computerコンピューターkonpyūtā[Speechword voice=”Japanese Female” isinline]コンピューター[/Speechword]
Screen画面gamen[Speechword voice=”Japanese Female” isinline]画面[/Speechword]
Calculator電卓dentaku[Speechword voice=”Japanese Female” isinline]電卓[/Speechword]

 

Hierarchy In A Japanese Company

You must pay attention to hierarchy unless it is your own company, right? So here is an example of the hierarchy in a typical Japanese office.

  1. President/CEO – 社長 (しゃちょう)
  2. Vice president – 副社長 (ふくしゃちょう)
  3. Department manager – 部長 (ぶちょう)
  4. Section manager – 課長 (かちょう)
  5. Co-worker – 同僚 (どうりょう)
  6. Subordinate – 部下 (ぶか)
Job interview

 

Must-Know Japanese Phrases To Nail Your Job Interview

In addition to your respectful attitude and confidence, Japanese business phrases can help you stand out in a job interview.

___と申します。(___ to mōshimasu.)

[Speechword voice=”Japanese Female” isinline]と申します[/Speechword]

Meaning: My name is ___.

After greeting each other, the first thing you should do is introduce yourself. In a business setting, using kenjōgo language to refer to yourself gives the impression that you have good manners and are decent.

The phrase 申します (mōshimasu) is literally translated as “I say myself as ___” in a humble way.

どうぞよろしくお願いいたします。(Dōzo yoroshiku onegai itashimasu.)

[Speechword voice=”Japanese Female” isinline]どうぞよろしくお願いいたします[/Speechword]

Meaning: I beg your kindness./It’s a pleasure to meet you.

It is a more polite version of “yoroshiku onegai shimasu,” but they have the same meaning, more or less. It would be best if you said this phrase after introducing yourself.

This is a handy phrase to use in any formal situation. You can express your gratitude and humbleness by saying this phrase, and it also means that you hope to have a good relationship from now on.

私の 強み/弱み は___です。(Watashi no tsuyomi/yowami wa ___ desu.)

[Speechword voice=”Japanese Female” isinline]私の 強み/弱み は___です[/Speechword]

Meaning: My strength/weakness is ___.

強み (tsuyomi) means “strength,” and 弱み (yowami) means “weakness.”

Explain your strengths to let the interviewer know that you are an ideal candidate for the position. And it leaves a good impression if you explain your weaknesses and how you can improve yourself.

私は___の経験があります。(Watashi wa ___ no keiken ga arimasu.)

[Speechword voice=”Japanese Female” isinline]私は___の経験があります[/Speechword]

Meaning: I have experience as ___.

経験 (keiken) means “experience.” You can use this phrase to talk about your related work experience to indicate that you are a competent candidate for the position.

いくつか質問してもいいですか。(Ikutsu ka shitsumon shite mo ii desu ka.)

[Speechword voice=”Japanese Female” isinline]いくつか質問してもいいですか[/Speechword]

Meaning: Can I ask you some questions?

If there are some unclear points during the interview, you can use this phrase and let the interviewer know that you have questions in mind. This phrase is also very versatile; you can use it anytime.

The applicant and interviewer are handshaking

面接のお時間をいただき、どうもありがとうございました。(Mensetsu no o-jikan o itadaki, dōmo arigatō gozaimashita.)

[Speechword voice=”Japanese Female” isinline]面接のお時間をいただき、どうもありがとうございました[/Speechword]

Meaning: Thank you very much for making time for the interview.

At the end of your interview, say this phrase with a smile and remember to bow politely before leaving the interview room.

 

Business Vocabulary In Japanese

Japanese business vocabulary includes many loan English words written as katakana words. So they are easy to learn. Here is the list of commonly used business vocabulary in Japanese.

EnglishJapaneseRomajiPronunciation
company会社kaisha[Speechword voice=”Japanese Female” isinline]会社[/Speechword]
office事務所jimusho[Speechword voice=”Japanese Female” isinline]事務所[/Speechword]
department部署busho[Speechword voice=”Japanese Female” isinline]部署[/Speechword]
meeting会議kaigi[Speechword voice=”Japanese Female” isinline]会議[/Speechword]
interview面接mensetsu[Speechword voice=”Japanese Female” isinline]面接[/Speechword]
job vacancy求人kyūjin[Speechword voice=”Japanese Female” isinline]求人[/Speechword]
salary給料kyūryō[Speechword voice=”Japanese Female” isinline]給料[/Speechword]
to work働くhataraku[Speechword voice=”Japanese Female” isinline]働く[/Speechword]
to report報告するhōkoku suru[Speechword voice=”Japanese Female” isinline]報告する[/Speechword]
to commute通勤するtsūkin suru[Speechword voice=”Japanese Female” isinline]通勤する[/Speechword]
boss上司jōshi[Speechword voice=”Japanese Female” isinline]上司[/Speechword]
document書類shorui[Speechword voice=”Japanese Female” isinline]書類[/Speechword]
client顧客kokyaku[Speechword voice=”Japanese Female” isinline]顧客[/Speechword]
customerお客様o-kyaku-sama[Speechword voice=”Japanese Female” isinline]お客様[/Speechword]
customerカスタマーkasutama[Speechword voice=”Japanese Female” isinline]カスタマー[/Speechword]
globalグローバルgurobbaru[Speechword voice=”Japanese Female” isinline]グローバル[/Speechword]
achievement功績koseki[Speechword voice=”Japanese Female” isinline]功績[/Speechword]
business商売shobai[Speechword voice=”Japanese Female” isinline]商売[/Speechword]
business connection取引先torihikisaki[Speechword voice=”Japanese Female” isinline]取引先[/Speechword]
bankrupt倒産tosan[Speechword voice=”Japanese Female” isinline]倒産[/Speechword]
accounting会計kaikei[Speechword voice=”Japanese Female” isinline]会計[/Speechword]
business trip出張shucho[Speechword voice=”Japanese Female” isinline]出張[/Speechword]
collaborationタイアップtaiappu[Speechword voice=”Japanese Female” isinline]タイアップ[/Speechword]
bank銀行ginko[Speechword voice=”Japanese Female” isinline]銀行[/Speechword]
absence from work欠勤kekin[Speechword voice=”Japanese Female” isinline]欠勤[/Speechword]
rush hour通勤ラッシュtsukinrsshu[Speechword voice=”Japanese Female” isinline]通勤ラッシュ[/Speechword]
enterprise company企業kigyo[Speechword voice=”Japanese Female” isinline]企業[/Speechword]
limited company有限会社yugen-gaisha[Speechword voice=”Japanese Female” isinline]有限会社[/Speechword]
public company株式会社kabushiki-gaisha[Speechword voice=”Japanese Female” isinline]株式会社[/Speechword]
well-established company大手企業ote-kigyo[Speechword voice=”Japanese Female” isinline]大手企業[/Speechword]
small-to-medium company中小企業chusho-kigyo[Speechword voice=”Japanese Female” isinline]中小企業[/Speechword]
creativeクリエイティブkurieiteibu[Speechword voice=”Japanese Female” isinline]クリエイティブ[/Speechword]
deficit赤字akaji[Speechword voice=”Japanese Female” isinline]赤字[/Speechword]
commerce, trade商業shogyo[Speechword voice=”Japanese Female” isinline]商業[/Speechword]
crisis situation危機kiki[Speechword voice=”Japanese Female” isinline]危機[/Speechword]
development dept.開発部kaihatsu-bu[Speechword voice=”Japanese Female” isinline]開発部[/Speechword]
general affairs dept.総務部somu-bu[Speechword voice=”Japanese Female” isinline]総務部[/Speechword]
human resources dept.人事部jinji-bu[Speechword voice=”Japanese Female” isinline]人事部[/Speechword]
sales dept.営業部eigyo-bu[Speechword voice=”Japanese Female” isinline]営業部[/Speechword]
economics経済keizai[Speechword voice=”Japanese Female” isinline]経済[/Speechword]
import輸入yunyu[Speechword voice=”Japanese Female” isinline]輸入[/Speechword]
export輸出yushutsu[Speechword voice=”Japanese Female” isinline]輸出[/Speechword]
demand需要jyuyo[Speechword voice=”Japanese Female” isinline]需要[/Speechword]
global market地球市場chikyushijo[Speechword voice=”Japanese Female” isinline]地球市場[/Speechword]
finance金融kinyu[Speechword voice=”Japanese Female” isinline]金融[/Speechword]
income所得shotoku[Speechword voice=”Japanese Female” isinline]所得[/Speechword]
letter of resignation辞表jihyo[Speechword voice=”Japanese Female” isinline]辞表[/Speechword]
interview面接mensetsu[Speechword voice=”Japanese Female” isinline]面接[/Speechword]
meeting room会議室kaigishitsu[Speechword voice=”Japanese Female” isinline]会議室[/Speechword]
international国際的kokusaiteki[Speechword voice=”Japanese Female” isinline]国際的[/Speechword]
information知識chishiki[Speechword voice=”Japanese Female” isinline]知識[/Speechword]
negotiation交渉koshou[Speechword voice=”Japanese Female” isinline]交渉[/Speechword]
inflationインフレinfure[Speechword voice=”Japanese Female” isinline]インフレ[/Speechword]
new product新製品shinseihin[Speechword voice=”Japanese Female” isinline]新製品[/Speechword]
original, creative独創的dokusoteki[Speechword voice=”Japanese Female” isinline]独創的[/Speechword]
paid leave有給休暇yukyukyuka[Speechword voice=”Japanese Female” isinline]有給休暇[/Speechword]
revision, alteration修正するshusei-suru[Speechword voice=”Japanese Female” isinline]修正する[/Speechword]
personal stamp判子hanko[Speechword voice=”Japanese Female” isinline]判子[/Speechword]
salary, wage給料kyuryo[Speechword voice=”Japanese Female” isinline]給料[/Speechword]
Project proposal企画書kikakusho[Speechword voice=”Japanese Female” isinline]企画書[/Speechword]
overtime残業zangyo[Speechword voice=”Japanese Female” isinline]残業[/Speechword]
pension年金nenkin[Speechword voice=”Japanese Female” isinline]年金[/Speechword]
sincerely yours (in letters)敬具keigu[Speechword voice=”Japanese Female” isinline]敬具[/Speechword]
surplus黒字kuroji[Speechword voice=”Japanese Female” isinline]黒字[/Speechword]
to give feedbackフィードバックするfidobaku-suru[Speechword voice=”Japanese Female” isinline]フィードバックする[/Speechword]
unemployment失業shitsugyo[Speechword voice=”Japanese Female” isinline]失業[/Speechword]
userユーザーyuza[Speechword voice=”Japanese Female” isinline]ユーザー[/Speechword]
supply供給kyokyu[Speechword voice=”Japanese Female” isinline]供給[/Speechword]
wealth gap貧困の差hinkon-no-sa[Speechword voice=”Japanese Female” isinline]貧困の差[/Speechword]
work procedure業務gyomu[Speechword voice=”Japanese Female” isinline]業務[/Speechword]
employee従業員jugyo[Speechword voice=”Japanese Female” isinline]従業員[/Speechword]
office clerk事務員jimu[Speechword voice=”Japanese Female” isinline]事務員[/Speechword]

Want to learn more than just business Japanese and make the Japanese language a part of your life? Then start using the Ling App right now!

 

Learn Japanese With Ling App!

If you want to learn Japanese, among the 60+ languages offered in the app, the Ling App is here for you!

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The Ling app provides tonnes of Japanese words and phrases you can learn at your own pace. Just grab your phone, tablet, or laptop right now and head to Google Play Store or Apple App Store to download it. Mini-games, puzzles, and AI chatbots to practice Japanese speaking skills are just some interactive activities inside the Ling App.

Many Japanese learners use Ling to improve their language skills, so why not join them? Download the Ling App, and get ready to speak Japanese soon!

Plus, don’t forget to visit our Japanese blog weekly to learn more about Japanese culture and language!

Until next time, じゃあまたね!

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