Welcome back to the second part of our series on essential Japanese expressions! In this edition, we’ll introduce three more key phrases that will further enhance your interactions with Japanese colleagues and clients. These expressions are not only practical but also demonstrate cultural sensitivity, helping you build stronger and more respectful relationships. Practice them often, and watch how they transform your communication!
The first expressions are “goodbye and sorry for leaving before you” and “thank you for your work.”
– Goodbye / I am leaving before you” in Japanese is osakini
– Otsukaresama deshita means “well done” or “thank you for your work”
Japan is a highly group-oriented society, so when one team member leaves the office before his/her colleagues, he/she will say osakini. It is both a farewell and an apology for leaving early. Colleagues will then reply “Otsukaresama deshita” meaning “I/we acknowledge all your hard work, and thank you for it.”
You can use otsukaresama deshita not only at the end of the day, but at the end of a project, or any effort your Japanese colleague made (for example, if he had a 15 hours flight back home, you can say Otsukaresama deshita.)
The second essential expressions are “I will work hard”, “let’s work hard” and “good luck.”
– ganbarimas means “I/we will work hard” or “I/we will do my/our best”
– ganbarimashoo is used when talking to colleagues also involved in the work and means “let us work hard” or “let us do our best.”
– ganbatte kudasai is used when talking to someone doing the work or effort and means “please do your best”
The third essential expressions are “I understand,” “I understood,” and “I don’t understand.”
– “I understand” is wakarimas
– “I understood / I have understood” in the past tense is wakarimashita
– “I do not understand” is wakarimasen
Use these phrases to express whether you understand a request or explanation.
Check our video to learn the correct pronunciation:
https://youtu.be/g76FxAaUQtw
Feel free to share this video among your colleagues.
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