In shortShort answer: In the first week, three groups of phrases do most of the work: greetings, "I didn't understand" and "please repeat", and reporting (報告・連絡・相談, hō-ren-sō: report, inform, consult). Use polite です/ます form with colleagues and supervisors, and ask short questions early rather than late.
Quick guide
| Check | What to know |
|---|---|
| Overview | Short answer: In the first week, three groups of phrases do most of the work: greetings, "I didn't understand" and "please repeat", and reporting (報告・連絡・相談, hō-ren-sō: report, inform, consult). Use polite です/ます form with |
| Why these phrases | These original practice examples focus on situations in which a new worker needs to ask, confirm or report. They are a learning aid, not a measured guarantee of reduced stress. Do not say “understood” when a task or safe |
| 1. Greetings and daily routine | 1. Greetings and daily routine |
| 2. When you didn't understand | 2. When you didn't understand |
| 3. Starting a task | 3. Starting a task |
| 4. 報連相 (hō-ren-sō): report, inform, consult | Tip: tell the person as soon as you know, and give the result first, then the reason. |
| 5. Politeness levels | • Colleagues of equal rank, daily talk: です/ます form is safe. |
| 6. Phrases for customers (hotel, shop, restaurant) | 6. Phrases for customers (hotel, shop, restaurant) |
| Practice plan for week one | Say each phrase aloud ten times and record yourself once. |
| FAQ | Do I have to use keigo from day one? No. Start with です/ます and the set phrases above. |
| Learning resource | Practice listening and everyday Japanese with the Japan Foundation’s free Irodori materials: Source: www.irodori.jpf.go.jp |
| Sources and related links | • Source: www.irodori.jpf.go.jp |
Listen
Ask for a slower explanation if needed.
Confirm
Repeat the instruction in your own words.
Report
Tell your colleague when finished or when a problem occurs.
A visual summary of this guide. Read the relevant sections below for conditions and exceptions.
Overview
Short answer: In the first week, three groups of phrases do most of the work: greetings, "I didn't understand" and "please repeat", and reporting (報告・連絡・相談, hō-ren-sō: report, inform, consult). Use polite です/ます form with
Short answer: In the first week, three groups of phrases do most of the work: greetings, "I didn't understand" and "please repeat", and reporting (報告・連絡・相談, hō-ren-sō: report, inform, consult). Use polite です/ます form with colleagues and supervisors, and ask short questions early rather than late.
This guide is language content, not legal advice. The phrases are standard polite expressions; adapt the sample wording to your workplace and ask your supervisor about preferred customer-service phrases.
Why these phrases
These original practice examples focus on situations in which a new worker needs to ask, confirm or report. They are a learning aid, not a measured guarantee of reduced stress. Do not say “understood” when a task or safe
These original practice examples focus on situations in which a new worker needs to ask, confirm or report. They are a learning aid, not a measured guarantee of reduced stress. Do not say “understood” when a task or safety instruction is still unclear.
1. Greetings and daily routine
1. Greetings and daily routine
| When | Japanese | Reading |
|---|---|---|
| Arriving | おはようございます。 | ohayō gozaimasu |
| Introducing yourself | 〇〇と申します。よろしくお願いします。 | ... to mōshimasu. yoroshiku onegai shimasu |
| Leaving before others | お先に失礼します。 | osaki ni shitsurei shimasu |
| To someone still working | お疲れ様です。 | otsukaresama desu |
| Thanking | ありがとうございます。 | arigatō gozaimasu |
| Apologizing | 申し訳ありません。 | mōshiwake arimasen |
| Excuse me (to get attention) | すみません。 | sumimasen |
| Going out of the office | 行ってきます。 | ittekimasu |
| Coming back | ただいま戻りました。 | tadaima modorimashita |
2. When you didn't understand
2. When you didn't understand
| Meaning | Japanese | Reading |
|---|---|---|
| I didn't understand. | わかりませんでした。 | wakarimasen deshita |
| Could you say that again? | もう一度お願いします。 | mō ichido onegai shimasu |
| Could you speak more slowly? | ゆっくりお願いします。 | yukkuri onegai shimasu |
| Could you write it down? | 書いていただけますか。 | kaite itadakemasu ka |
| What does this word mean? | この言葉の意味は何ですか。 | kono kotoba no imi wa nan desu ka |
| Is this correct? | これで合っていますか。 | kore de atte imasu ka |
| Could you show me once? | 一度見せていただけますか。 | ichido misete itadakemasu ka |
| I will check and confirm. | 確認します。 | kakunin shimasu |
3. Starting a task
3. Starting a task
| Meaning | Japanese | Reading |
|---|---|---|
| Yes, understood. | はい、わかりました。 | hai, wakarimashita |
| I will do it. | やります。/ 対応します。 | yarimasu / taiō shimasu |
| What should I do first? | 最初に何をすればいいですか。 | saisho ni nani o sureba ii desu ka |
| By when? | いつまでですか。 | itsu made desu ka |
| Who should I ask? | 誰に聞けばいいですか。 | dare ni kikeba ii desu ka |
4. 報連相 (hō-ren-sō): report, inform, consult
Tip: tell the person as soon as you know, and give the result first, then the reason.
| Step | Meaning | Japanese | Reading |
|---|---|---|---|
| 報告 report | It is finished. | 終わりました。 | owarimashita |
| 報告 | I have finished the cleaning of room 301. | 301号室の清掃が終わりました。 | san-maru-ichi gōshitsu no seisō ga owarimashita |
| 連絡 inform | I will be late. | 少し遅れます。 | sukoshi okuremasu |
| 連絡 | I am sick and cannot come today. | 体調が悪いので、今日は休みます。 | taichō ga warui node, kyō wa yasumimasu |
| 相談 consult | May I ask you something? | ご相談があります。 | gosōdan ga arimasu |
| 相談 | I do not know what to do. | どうすればいいかわかりません。 | dō sureba ii ka wakarimasen |
Tip: tell the person as soon as you know, and give the result first, then the reason.
5. Politeness levels
• Colleagues of equal rank, daily talk: です/ます form is safe.
• Colleagues of equal rank, daily talk: です/ます form is safe.
• Supervisors and customers: more formal 敬語 (keigo) such as 「いたします」「ございます」. Learn the set phrases above first.
• Do not copy slang you hear at the workplace until you know the relationship.
6. Phrases for customers (hotel, shop, restaurant)
6. Phrases for customers (hotel, shop, restaurant)
| Meaning | Japanese | Reading |
|---|---|---|
| Welcome. | いらっしゃいませ。 | irasshaimase |
| Please wait a moment. | 少々お待ちください。 | shōshō omachi kudasai |
| I am sorry to keep you waiting. | お待たせいたしました。 | omatase itashimashita |
| I will check. | 確認いたします。 | kakunin itashimasu |
| Thank you very much. | ありがとうございました。 | arigatō gozaimashita |
| I will call the person responsible. | 担当の者を呼びます。 | tantō no mono o yobimasu |
Practice plan for week one
Say each phrase aloud ten times and record yourself once.
| Day | Focus |
|---|---|
| 1 | Greetings (section 1) |
| 2 | "I didn't understand" phrases (section 2) |
| 3 | Starting a task (section 3) |
| 4 | Customer phrases for your job (section 6) |
| 5 | 報連相 (section 4); write three real sentences about your job |
Say each phrase aloud ten times and record yourself once.
FAQ
Do I have to use keigo from day one? No. Start with です/ます and the set phrases above.
Do I have to use keigo from day one? No. Start with です/ます and the set phrases above.
Is it rude to ask again? It is usually better to ask than to guess wrong, especially for safety, money and customer matters.
Learning resource
Practice listening and everyday Japanese with the Japan Foundation’s free Irodori materials: Source: www.irodori.jpf.go.jp
Practice listening and everyday Japanese with the Japan Foundation’s free Irodori materials: Source: www.irodori.jpf.go.jp
The phrases and five-day practice plan above are our own editorial examples, not quotations from this resource.
Sources and related links
• Source: www.irodori.jpf.go.jp
• Source: www.irodori.jpf.go.jp
Confirm the rules yourself
Sources checked: . Official source pages may be in Japanese.
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