Japanese for English speakers Sports · Lesson 7

A formal email

Recognise formal Japanese business email — ご来館をお待ちしております (we await your arrival). Plus 返事 (henji, reply) and the indirect quote ...と言います.

Conversation

  1. Kyle Kyle

    ロキーさん、メールの返事が届きました

    Rockī san, mēru no henji ga todokimashita

    Rocky, we have received the reply from the ryokan

    Tip: <henji> = reply, answer <todokimasu> = to receive, to arrive

  2. Rocky Rocky

    そうですか？何と言いますか？

    sō desu ka? nanto īmasuka?

    Oh, really? What does it say?

    Tip: <...to īmasu> = to say (this structure is also used to make a direct speech). He said: "good morning" = "konnnichiwa" to īmashita.

  3. Kyle Kyle

    ”ご来館をお待ちしております”

    goraikan o omachi shite orimasu

    "Dear customers, we are waiting for your arrival".

    Tip: formal greeting from a business

  4. Rocky Rocky

    いいですね

    ī desu ne

    That's great

Common questions

Quick answers about this lesson's grammar and vocabulary.

How is Japanese business language different from spoken?

Business Japanese uses humble forms (お待ちしております), formal vocabulary, longer set phrases, and avoids direct statements.

What does ご来館 mean?

A formal way to refer to 'your visit' (to a building) — uses the honorific ご- prefix common in business and customer service.

What does ...と言います mean?

'... says' — used to quote what someone said: 田中さんは「おはよう」と言いました = 'Tanaka-san said "good morning"'.

Test yourself

Pick the English translation for each line from this lesson. Wrong answers are pulled from other Japanese lessons.

4 quick questions on what you just heard.