Business Japanese for a sales meeting: keigo phrases

How Kenji opens the conversation

Kenji always speaks first. This is the scene's own opening line, with a reply you could give back at the same level:

• 

  本日ほんじつはお時間じかんをいただき、ありがとうございます。さくら食品しょくひんの山本やまもとと申もうします。

  Honjitsu wa ojikan o itadaki, arigatō gozaimasu. Sakura Shokuhin no Yamamoto to mōshimasu.

  Thank you for making time for me today. I'm Yamamoto, from Sakura Foods.

  You could say

  こちらこそ、よろしくお願ねがいいたします。どうぞおかけください。

  Kochira koso, yoroshiku onegai itashimasu. Dōzo okake kudasai.

  The pleasure's mine. Please, have a seat.

Other ways it can begin

No two conversations go the same way, and the first line changes too. Each of these can open the scene:

• 

  こちらの会議室かいぎしつ、とても明あかるくて気持きもちがいいですね。

  Kochira no kaigishitsu, totemo akarukute kimochi ga ii desu ne.

  This meeting room is so bright and pleasant, isn't it?

  You could say

  ありがとうございます。よく言いわれます。

  Arigatō gozaimasu. Yoku iwaremasu.

  Thank you. People often say that.

• 

  本日ほんじつは新商品しんしょうひんのサンプルをお持もちしました。

  Honjitsu wa shinshōhin no sanpuru o omochi shimashita.

  Today I've brought samples of our new products.

  You could say

  ありがとうございます。ぜひ見みせてください。

  Arigatō gozaimasu. Zehi misete kudasai.

  Thank you. Please do show me.

• 

  実じつは、このソースが先月せんげつテレビで紹介しょうかいされました。

  Jitsu wa, kono sōsu ga sengetsu terebi de shōkai saremashita.

  Actually, this sauce was featured on TV last month.

  You could say

  そうなんですか。人気にんきが出でそうですね。

  Sō nan desu ka. Ninki ga desō desu ne.

  Really? Sounds like it could get popular.

• 

  失礼しつれいですが、お菓子かしのご担当たんとうでいらっしゃいますか。

  Shitsurei desu ga, okashi no gotantō de irasshaimasu ka.

  Pardon me, but are you the one in charge of snacks?

  You could say

  はい、お菓子かしと調味料ちょうみりょうを担当たんとうしています。

  Hai, okashi to chōmiryō o tantō shite imasu.

  Yes, I handle snacks and seasonings.

• 

  こちら、私わたしの名刺めいしでございます。よろしくお願ねがいいたします。

  Kochira, watashi no meishi de gozaimasu. Yoroshiku onegai itashimasu.

  Here is my business card. I look forward to working with you.

  You could say

  頂戴ちょうだいします。こちらこそよろしくお願ねがいします。

  Chōdai shimasu. Kochira koso yoroshiku onegai shimasu.

  Thank you, I'll take it. The pleasure is mine.

Phrases worth knowing here

Lines for what you do at the meeting room, each with when you'd say it.

• では、新商品しんしょうひんのご説明せつめいをお願ねがいします。Dewa, shinshōhin no gosetsumei o onegai shimasu.Well then, please tell me about the new products.Use to start the presentation after the initial greetings and business cards.
• 試食ししょくさせていただけますか。Shishoku sasete itadakemasu ka.May I taste a sample?Say when he puts out the sauces or snacks and you want to try them.
• 卸価格おろしかかくはおいくらになりますか。Oroshi kakaku wa oikura ni narimasu ka.What's the wholesale price?Ask once you're interested in a specific item.
• サンプルと資料しりょうをいただけますか。Sanpuru to shiryō o itadakemasu ka.Could I have samples and the materials?Use near the end, to take something back to your team.
• 社内しゃないで検討けんとうさせていただきます。Shanai de kentō sasete itadakimasu.I'll discuss it internally.A polite way to close without committing to an order yet.

Words you'll hear

How polite to be

formal Here Kenji speaks keigo: the respectful and humble forms staff use with customers, and everyone uses with clients and superiors, and the replies suggested to you match the level you'd use back. The guide to keigo explains the three levels, and when each is right.

More scenes with Kenji

• Running into a neighbor健二（けんじ） · Convenience storepolite
• Yakitori under the tracks健二（けんじ） · Yakitori barcasual
• Picking up a prescription健二（けんじ） · Pharmacypolite
• Bargains at the supermarket健二（けんじ） · Supermarketpolite
• Buying a rice cooker健二（けんじ） · Electronics storepolite
• Booking the bullet train健二（けんじ） · Ticket officepolite
• Signing up at the gym健二（けんじ） · Gympolite
• Picking up the rental car健二（けんじ） · Car rentalpolite
• A night at the ballpark健二（けんじ） · Baseball stadiumpolite

Or see every scene, with all four characters.