Latest / Learn Japanese with Fexingo / Japanese Office Basics - Meeting Vocabulary
Transcript
- Lucas: Welcome back to Learn Japanese with Fexingo. I am Lucas. Luna: And I am Luna. It is great to be here again. Lucas: Today we are stepping into a new environment. No more winter snow or convenience stores. Luna: Right. We are going to the office. But not just any office. Lucas: We are focusing on one specific event: the meeting. Luna: Oh, meetings. They can be long. And sometimes boring. Lucas: That is why we need good phrases to navigate them politely. Luna: I feel nervous just thinking about speaking up in a meeting. Lucas: Do not worry. We will take it very slowly. Just a few key phrases. Luna: Okay. Let us start with the beginning of the meeting. Lucas: Yes. The first thing someone usually says is to begin. Luna: How do you say 'Let us begin the meeting'? Lucas: The phrase is kaigi o hajimemashou. Luna: Kaigi o hajimemashou. Lucas: Very good. Kaigi means meeting. Hajimemashou means let us begin. Luna: So it is a suggestion. Let's do this together. Lucas: Exactly. It is polite and inclusive. Repeat it once more. Luna: Kaigi o hajimemashou. Lucas: Perfect. Now, imagine the meeting has started. Luna: But wait. Nobody has the papers yet. Lucas: Right. You might need to ask for the documents. Luna: How do I ask someone to hand out the materials? Lucas: You would say shiryou o haitte kudasai. Luna: Shiryou o haitte kudasai? Lucas: Almost. Listen closely. Shiryou o hai-te kudasai. Luna: Shiryou o hai-te kudasai. Lucas: Better. Shiryou means materials or data. Haitte comes from haiku, to distribute. Luna: Oh, I see. So it is a request for distribution. Lucas: Yes. Kudasai makes it a polite request. Try it again. Luna: Shiryou o hai-te kudasai. Lucas: Spot on. You sound very professional already. Luna: Thanks. Okay, now we have the papers. What happens next? Lucas: Usually, the leader checks if everyone understands. Luna: Do they ask 'Any questions?' Lucas: Yes. The common phrase is shitsumon ga arimasu ka. Luna: Shitsumon ga arimasu ka. Lucas: Good. Shitsumon is question. Arimasu is to exist or have. Luna: So literally, 'Are there questions?' Lucas: Exactly. It is simple but very effective in business. Luna: I can repeat that easily. Shitsumon ga arimasu ka. Lucas: Let us practice the whole flow so far. Start the meeting. Luna: Kaigi o hajimemashou. Lucas: Now, ask for the papers. Luna: Shiryou o hai-te kudasai. Lucas: And check for questions. Luna: Shitsumon ga arimasu ka. Lucas: That was smooth. You are getting the rhythm of business Japanese. Luna: It feels less scary now. But what about after the meeting? Lucas: Great point. Someone needs to write down what happened. Luna: The minutes. How do you say that? Lucas: You would say gijiroku o tsukurimasu. Luna: Gijiroku o tsukurimasu. Lucas: Correct. Gijiroku is the official record. Tsukurimasu means to make. Luna: So 'I will make the minutes.' Is that right? Lucas: Yes. It shows initiative. It is a strong phrase to know. Luna: I like that. Gijiroku o tsukurimasu. Lucas: Finally, the meeting must end at some point. Luna: How do you close it formally? Lucas: You say kaigi wa kore de owarimasu. Luna: Kaigi wa kore de owarimasu. Lucas: Perfect. Kore de means 'with this'. Owarimasu means to finish. Luna: 'With this, the meeting ends.' Clear and direct. Lucas: Let us run through all five phrases one last time. Luna: Okay. Ready. Lucas: Begin the meeting. Luna: Kaigi o hajimemashou. Lucas: Distribute the materials. Luna: Shiryou o hai-te kudasai. Lucas: Ask for questions. Luna: Shitsumon ga arimasu ka. Lucas: Make the minutes. Luna: Gijiroku o tsukurimasu. Lucas: End the meeting. Luna: Kaigi wa kore de owarimasu. Lucas: You did it. That is a complete cycle of a business meeting. Luna: I feel ready to join a conference call now. Lucas: Maybe start with friends before your boss. Luna: Ha! Good idea. Practice makes perfect. Lucas: If these phrases help you progress in your Japanese... Luna: Remember that listener support keeps Fexingo ad-free. Lucas: You can buy me a coffee dot com slash fexingo. Luna: It really helps us keep making these episodes for you. Lucas: Back to our topic. Did you remember the word for minutes? Luna: Gijiroku. Yes. I will not forget that one. Lucas: Good. Keep practicing until we chat again. Luna: See you next time. Sayonara!