Today, we’re going to talk about Business Japanese, which is becoming increasingly important in global business settings. How does business Japanese differ from casual Japanese? Unlike everyday conversations, business Japanese uses more formal and specialized terms. For example, while “meeting” in casual Japanese may be referred to as “ミーティング (meeting),” in business contexts, it’s referred to as “会議 (kaigi).” Additionally, the use of honorific and humble language is crucial, as these nuances can significantly affect business interactions.

While English is widely used as the lingua franca of international business, Japanese remains essential when dealing with companies in Japan, especially when handling contracts and legal documents. To avoid misinterpretation and ensure legal accuracy, a professional level of business Japanese is necessary.

Japan remains a key economic partner in the global market. Beyond communication, understanding and respecting Japanese business culture and practices can help build trust. So, let’s dive into the basics of business Japanese, tips on handling business documents, and even AI tools that can assist you with writing professional documents in Japanese.

✍🏻 Basics of Business Japanese

In casual Japanese, you might greet a friend with “やあ (Yaa)” or “こんにちは (Konnichiwa).” However, in business settings, more formal expressions are used. When starting a business meeting, you might say “お待たせいたしました (Omatase itashimashita)” meaning “Sorry to keep you waiting.” When introducing yourself for the first time, you could say, “はじめまして。○○と申します (Hajimemashite. ○○ to mōshimasu),” meaning “Nice to meet you. My name is ○○.”

Similarly, when saying goodbye, you wouldn’t use casual phrases like “さようなら (Sayonara)” or “じゃね (Ja ne).” Instead, you would use “失礼いたします (Shitsurei itashimasu)” or “お疲れ様でした (Otsukaresama deshita),” both of which are more polite ways of saying farewell in a business context.

Here are a few more examples of how formal business Japanese differs from casual Japanese:

• “どうですか (Dō desu ka?)” becomes “いかがでしょうか (Ikaga deshouka?)”
• “わかりました (Wakarimashita)” becomes “承知いたしました (Shōchi itashimashita)”
• “久しぶりです (Hisashiburi desu)” becomes “ご無沙汰しております (Gobusata shite orimasu)”

When expressing opinions, instead of saying “私の意見は…(Watashi no iken wa…)” in casual situations, in business contexts, you would say “弊社の意見としては…(Heisha no iken toshite wa…)” meaning “As our company’s opinion…”

In business Japanese, specific vocabulary and titles for companies and people are also different:

• Your company: 弊社 (Heisha) or 当社 (Tōsha)
• The other party’s company: 御社 (Onsha) or 貴社 (Kisha)
• CEO: 社長 (Shachō) → 御社長様 (Onshachō-sama) or 社長様 (Shachō-sama)

Using the appropriate honorifics and formal terms is key in effective business communication in Japan.

✍🏻 Tips for Writing Business Documents

Writing a business email is an essential skill in professional communication. When drafting an email in Japanese, it’s important to keep a few key points in mind:

First, ensure that the subject line is clear and specific, such as “○○の件について (Regarding ○○).” The body of the email is typically structured into three parts: a greeting and introduction, the main message, and a closing statement. Don’t forget to include seasonal greetings like “風薫る季節となりました (As the season of fragrant winds begins)” in May, for example.

Common expressions for the main message include:

• “添付ファイルをご確認ください (Please check the attached file)”
• “ご多忙中恐れ入りますが (I apologize for the inconvenience during your busy schedule)”

Always use polite language. Phrases like “お手数をおかけしますが (I apologize for the trouble)” or “よろしくお願いいたします (I kindly request your cooperation)” should be used appropriately.

When writing business reports in Japanese, accuracy and brevity are key. Make sure to structure your report clearly, typically with sections for a title (件名), summary (概要), main text (本文), and conclusion (結論). When discussing facts and opinions, clearly separate them by using expressions such as “〜である (it is)” for facts and “〜と考えられる (it is considered)” for opinions. Always cite your data sources using phrases like “〜によると (According to…).”

✍🏻 Writing a Contract in Japanese

Japanese contracts are similar in structure to contracts in Korean or English, but there are a few points to note. First, the contract title should be clear, such as “物品販売契約書 (Goods Sales Contract).” Next, specify the contracting parties, using “貴社 (Your esteemed company)” for the other party and “弊社 (Our company)” for your own.

Contracts often contain specialized terms, such as:

• 納品期日 (Nōhin kijitsu): Delivery deadline
• 秘密保持契約書 (Himitsu hoshikeiyakusho): Non-disclosure agreement (NDA)
• 業務委託契約書 (Gyōmu itaku keiyakusho): Outsourcing agreement

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These technical terms and complex sentence structures make contract writing in Japanese challenging. This is where BeringAI can be a great help.

BeringAI is an AI translation tool specialized in legal and business documents. Unlike general translation tools, BeringAI accurately understands legal terminology and complex sentence structures, ensuring precision in contract translation. It also maintains the tone and formality required for business communication between Japanese and Korean.

BeringAI can handle large volumes of documents quickly, translating long texts in a matter of moments, saving both time and money. In fact, using BeringAI can reduce translation costs by up to 30% compared to other services. You can even try BeringAI for free, up to 5,000 words. Don’t rely on generic tools like Google or Papago for sensitive business documents—use BeringAI to ensure a polished and professional result.

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