Salaryman Japanese Pod

🇯🇵Native Japanese in Tokyo.💼Business & Daily phrases.💡Making your Japanese sound natural. Follow for your daily dose of Japanese!

[Salaryman Japanese Pod @SLP_Japanese]

Ever said "naruhodo" to your boss and got a weird look? 😅
I'm a Tokyo salaryman sharing Japanese they don't teach in class.
📅 Daily phrases at 7AM JST
🧠 Keigo quiz 3x a week
✅ Real office Japanese
Follow if you're serious about working in Japan.
#WorkInJapan #BusinessJapanese

[Salaryman Japanese Pod @SLP_Japanese]

Running late? 🚃💨

Don't just text "chotto okuremasu"

Say: "Osoku nari moushiwake gozaimasen. ○○ ji goro mairimasu."

3 rules:
• Call, don't just message 📞
• Give an arrival time
• Use mairimasu (参ります), not ikimasu

Your keigo level shows most under pressure. 💼

[Salaryman Japanese Pod @SLP_Japanese]

Quick quiz 🤔

Boss asks you to present. Best reply?

A) "Happyo shimasu"
B) "Happyo sasete itadakimasu"
C) "Happyo shitai to omoimasu"

Answer 👇
B — Japanese offices run on 「させていただきます」.
Overused? Yes. But skipping it sounds blunt. 😅

#WorkInJapan

[Salaryman Japanese Pod @SLP_Japanese]

In a Japanese meeting, which is safe to say?

A) un B) ee C) hai

. . .

C) hai -- always safe in any meeting
ee = a bit casual / un = friends only, never at work

In formal settings, say hai softly and often.
Silence can feel like disagreement.

[Salaryman Japanese Pod @SLP_Japanese]

❌ "Ryokai shimashita" to your boss
✅ "Shochi shimashita" — always correct

Both mean "understood," but:
・了解 (ryokai) = OK with peers, NOT the boss ❌
・承知 (shochi) = safe with anyone above you 💼

One word swap = instant keigo upgrade.

#WorkInJapan

[Salaryman Japanese Pod @SLP_Japanese]

Said "gokurosamadeshita" to your boss? That's a common mistake.

Both mean "good work today" -- but:

gokurosamadeshita = boss to subordinate ONLY
otsukaresama deshita = safe in ALL directions

If in doubt: always say otsukaresama deshita. #WorkInJapan

[Salaryman Japanese Pod @SLP_Japanese]

Why does every Japanese business email start with:

"osewa ni natte orimasu"

Literally: "Thank you for taking care of me."
Actually: a professional opener — like "Dear Sir/Madam"

Skip it and your email feels rude. Use it every time.

[Salaryman Japanese Pod @SLP_Japanese]

@CafeLearner This hits close to home. 正社員 status in Japan isn't just a contract type — it changes how you're spoken to, included in meetings, even which elevator people expect you to use. 🏢 The unspoken rules around it surprised me most.

[Salaryman Japanese Pod @SLP_Japanese]

@JapaneseSaki Such an important distinction! 食う always gets a reaction in the office — I've heard foreign colleagues accidentally use it in keigo situations and the room goes quiet. 😅 The context really does change everything.

[Salaryman Japanese Pod @SLP_Japanese]

@taiki_phrases B of course! 😄 What I love about おじゃまします is how it reflects Japanese culture — you're literally acknowledging the "intrusion" before it happens. My foreign colleagues always find this one surprisingly hard to say naturally at first.

[Salaryman Japanese Pod @SLP_Japanese]

A colleague invites you to lunch. You're busy.

Don't say: "chotto..." (awkward silence)

Say: mata zehi sasotte kudasai! Kyo wa chotto yo ga arimashite.
= "Please invite me again! I have something today."

"mata zehi" keeps the door open. Zero awkwardness.

[Salaryman Japanese Pod @SLP_Japanese]

Quiz! Client says you can't do something. Which is right?

A) dekimasen B) itashikanemasu C) muri desu

. . .

B! itashikanemasu = "I'm afraid that's not possible"
Humble + firm. Closes the door politely.

A = blunt / C = never at work #WorkInJapan

[Salaryman Japanese Pod @SLP_Japanese]

🚨 Saying "なるほど (naruhodo)" to your boss?

That might sound rude. 😬
It implies you're judging their idea.

✅ Say instead:
・おっしゃる通りです (ossharu tōri desu) = "Exactly as you say"
・そうですね (sō desu ne) = "I see"

One swap. Huge difference. 🤝 #WorkInJapan

[Salaryman Japanese Pod @SLP_Japanese]

📌 This Week's Top Phrases:

1️⃣ お疲れ様でした — End of day (to your boss)
2️⃣ ちょっとよろしいでしょうか — Do you have a moment?
3️⃣ お待たせいたしました — Sorry to keep you waiting

Save this! 🔖 Which one will YOU use first?

#BusinessJapanese #JLPT #WorkInJapan #DailyJapanese

[Salaryman Japanese Pod @SLP_Japanese]

🧑‍💼 Office quiz! Email to your boss — A or B?

A) よろしくお願いします
B) よろしくお願いいたします

.
.
.

✅ B! 「いたします」 (itashimasu) = humble form (kenjōgo)
Shows respect — use this with your boss.

❌ A = colleagues only
✅ B = safe for superiors 🙏 #WorkInJapan

[Salaryman Japanese Pod @SLP_Japanese]

🧠 Friday Quiz!

How do you say this in Japanese?

"I'm sorry to keep you waiting."
— but to a CLIENT. 🤝

Reply below 👇 Answer Monday!

#JapaneseQuiz #BusinessJapanese #WorkInJapan #JLPT

[Salaryman Japanese Pod @SLP_Japanese]

🇯🇵 Phrase of the day:

"ちょっとよろしいでしょうか？"
（ちょっと よろしいでしょうか）

🔵 Formality: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
🇺🇸 "Do you have a moment?"

💼 The most polite way to get your boss’s attention!

#DailyJapanese #BusinessJapanese #JLPT #SalarymanLife

[Salaryman Japanese Pod @SLP_Japanese]

✅ Answer!

❌ ご苦労様でした (too casual — for subordinates!)
✅ お疲れ様でした（おつかれさまでした）(correct to your boss!)

💼 This is one of the most common mistakes foreigners make in Japanese offices.

Did you get it right? 🙌

#BusinessJapanese #JLPT #WorkInJapan

[Salaryman Japanese Pod @SLP_Japanese]

🧠 Quick Quiz!

Your Japanese boss says:
"お疲れ様でした。ご苦労様でした。"

Which one do you say to your BOSS? 🤔

Reply below 👇 Answer tomorrow!

#JapaneseQuiz #BusinessJapanese #WorkInJapan #JLPT

[Salaryman Japanese Pod @SLP_Japanese]

🇯🇵 確かに (Tashikani)
🔵 Formality: ⭐⭐⭐
🇺🇸 Certainly / True / That's a good point.

💼 Use this as a reaction when you agree with someone's opinion. It shows you are listening and understanding. 💡🤝

#ListeningSkills #JLPT #Agreement #RealJapanese