๐Ÿ‡ฏ๐Ÿ‡ต Going to Work in Japan? Here's What You Need to Know and Say!

If you're planning to work in Japan, whether short-term or long-term, learning some basic Japanese workplace phrases will make your life easier, your interactions smoother, and your experience richer.

๐Ÿงณ First, the Basics:

English Japanese Pronunciation
I am going to work ไป•ไบ‹ใซ่กŒใใพใ™ Shigoto ni ikimasu
I am working ๅƒใ„ใฆใ„ใพใ™ Hatarai teimasu
I will start working now ไปŠใ‹ใ‚‰ๅƒใใพใ™ Ima kara hatarakimasu
I finished work ไป•ไบ‹ใŒ็ต‚ใ‚ใ‚Šใพใ—ใŸ Shigoto ga owarimashita
Good job (to others) ใŠ็–ฒใ‚Œๆง˜ใงใ™ Otsukaresama desu
Let’s do our best! ้ ‘ๅผตใ‚Šใพใ—ใ‚‡ใ†！ Ganbarimashou!

๐Ÿข Everyday Work Phrases:

Situation Japanese Pronunciation
Good morning ใŠใฏใ‚ˆใ†ใ”ใ–ใ„ใพใ™ Ohayou gozaimasu
Thank you ใ‚ใ‚ŠใŒใจใ†ใ”ใ–ใ„ใพใ™ Arigatou gozaimasu
Please ใŠ้ก˜ใ„ใ—ใพใ™ Onegaishimasu
Excuse me / Sorry ใ™ใฟใพใ›ใ‚“ Sumimasen
Yes / No ใฏใ„ / ใ„ใ„ใˆ Hai / Iie
I understand / I got it ใ‚ใ‹ใ‚Šใพใ—ใŸ Wakarimashita
I don’t understand ใ‚ใ‹ใ‚Šใพใ›ใ‚“ Wakarimasen

๐Ÿ‘จ‍๐Ÿ’ผ At the Office:

Phrase Japanese Pronunciation
Where is the meeting room? ไผš่ญฐๅฎคใฏใฉใ“ใงใ™ใ‹？ Kaigishitsu wa doko desu ka?
I have a meeting ไผš่ญฐใŒใ‚ใ‚Šใพใ™ Kaigi ga arimasu
Can you help me? ๆ‰‹ไผใฃใฆใใ‚Œใพใ™ใ‹？ Tetsudatte kuremasu ka?
I’m learning Japanese ๆ—ฅๆœฌ่ชžใ‚’ๅ‹‰ๅผทใ—ใฆใ„ใพใ™ Nihongo o benkyou shiteimasu

๐Ÿ“ Pro Tips:

  • Always greet colleagues with ใŠ็–ฒใ‚Œๆง˜ใงใ™ (Otsukaresama desu) — it’s polite and used often.
  • Use formal language (ใงใ™ / ใพใ™ form) in most professional settings.
  • Bring a small notebook to jot down new words and phrases you hear at work.

If you'd like a downloadable version or printable phrase sheet, let me know in the comments! ๐ŸŒŸ

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