Quick Answer: This page is a phrase list for foreign residents who know the pattern but not the wording: confirmations, softeners, workplace greetings, and โI didnโt catch that.โ Dictionary meaning and fitness for the room are different. Match the politeness level to the person.
Who is this guide for?
Foreign residents who need what to say, not the theory. Procedure lives in
Practical Communication Strategies for Foreigners
. Why talk goes indirect lives in
Verbal Patterns in Japanese Communication
.
The lines below are common. Rank, clients, and friends need different formality. For contracts and safety, do not leave a soft phrase as the only record.
What should you learn first?
You do not need the whole list. Three families cover most days:
- Checks โ repeat what you heard
- Softeners โ leave the other person a face
- Repairs โ admit you missed it
Add workplace greetings after you see how that office talks.
What do you say when you need a check?
Useful Japanese phrases:
- Meaning
- Let me confirm
- When
- Before you repeat a date or owner
- Meaning
- On my reading, Friday โ is that right?
- When
- Put the date in the sentence
- Meaning
- Could you be a bit more specific?
- When
- After a vague reply
- Meaning
- Excuse me โ who is the contact?
- When
- An awkward but needed check
| Japanese | Meaning | When |
|---|---|---|
| ็ขบ่ชใใใฆใใ ใใ (kakunin sasete kudasai) | Let me confirm | Before you repeat a date or owner |
| ็งใฎ็่งฃใงใฏ้ๆๆๅบใใงๅใฃใฆใใพใใ๏ผ | On my reading, Friday โ is that right? | Put the date in the sentence |
| ใใๅฐใๅ ทไฝ็ใซๆใใฆใใใ ใใพใใ๏ผ | Could you be a bit more specific? | After a vague reply |
| ๅคฑ็คผใงใใใๆ ๅฝใฏใฉใกใใงใใใใ๏ผ | Excuse me โ who is the contact? | An awkward but needed check |
ใๆฌๅฝใงใใ๏ผใ can sound like surprise. At work, a repeat is usually safer.
How do you soften a no or a request?
Guides often present these as buffers. They are not one-meaning.
- Meaning
- Iโm sorry, butโฆ
- When
- Before a decline or a hard ask
- Meaning
- If itโs all right
- When
- Steps a request down
- Meaning
- I think / it might be
- When
- Softens a claim
- Meaning
- It might be a bit difficult
- When
- Conventional soft no โ or literally hard
| Japanese | Meaning | When |
|---|---|---|
| ็ณใ่จณใใใพใใใ (mลshiwake arimasen ga) | Iโm sorry, butโฆ | Before a decline or a hard ask |
| ใใใใใใใใฐ (moshi yoroshikereba) | If itโs all right | Steps a request down |
| ใใจๆใใพใ / ใใใใใใพใใ | I think / it might be | Softens a claim |
| ใกใใฃใจ้ฃใใใใใใใพใใ | It might be a bit difficult | Conventional soft no โ or literally hard |
One alternative date or channel can make a no easier to take. Skip it if you do not have one.
What set phrases show up at work?
- Meaning
- Thank you for your ongoing help
- Notes
- Mail and phone openings
- Meaning
- Please treat this well
- Notes
- First requests, joining a team
- Meaning
- Thanks for the work today
- Notes
- In-office greeting; not always for first-time outsiders
- Meaning
- Thank you, as always
- Notes
- Ongoing thanks
| Japanese | Meaning | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| ใไธ่ฉฑใซใชใฃใฆใใใพใ (osewa ni natte orimasu) | Thank you for your ongoing help | Mail and phone openings |
| ใใใใใ้กใใใพใ (yoroshiku onegaishimasu) | Please treat this well | First requests, joining a team |
| ใ็ฒใๆงใงใ (otsukaresama desu) | Thanks for the work today | In-office greeting; not always for first-time outsiders |
| ใใคใใใใใจใใใใใพใ | Thank you, as always | Ongoing thanks |
Do not over-translate. Treat them as relationship formulas.
What if you did not catch it?
- Meaning
- Sorry, I didnโt understand
- When
- Honest miss
- Meaning
- Could you explain once more?
- When
- Need a replay
- Meaning
- May I ask for an interpreter?
- When
- Procedures, medical, contracts
| Japanese | Meaning | When |
|---|---|---|
| ใใฟใพใใใ็่งฃใงใใพใใใงใใ | Sorry, I didnโt understand | Honest miss |
| ใใไธๅบฆ่ชฌๆใใฆใใใ ใใพใใ๏ผ | Could you explain once more? | Need a replay |
| ้่จณใใ้กใใใฆใใใใใใงใใ๏ผ | May I ask for an interpreter? | Procedures, medical, contracts |
In emergencies, short direct words โ and an interpreter if you can โ beat a hedge.
FAQ
Is too much keigo cold?
With new people and outside the company, more polite is often safer. Match colleagues after you watch.
Does sล desu ne mean yes?
It can mean โIโm listening.โ Repeat the deadline.
Is English faster?
Some people will switch. Put numbers in a note either way.
Must I use every line?
No. Checks and repairs first. Add set phrases from the office.
Read next
How to check and decline
FAQ
Silence and faces
Sources
- Agency for Cultural Affairs, Guidelines for Honorifics (2 February 2007) (verified 2026-09-09) โ honorifics as relationship-adjusting language.
- Agency for Cultural Affairs, honorifics policy pages (verified 2026-09-09) โ national-language honorific guidance.
- Agency for Cultural Affairs, National Language Opinion Survey (verified 2026-09-09) โ official surveys of language use; not an official gloss of these lines.