Common Mistakes in Business Japanese (And How to Avoid Them!)
Whether you’re preparing for your first internship in Tokyo or participating in a virtual meeting with Japanese colleagues, business Japanese can feel like a daunting challenge. You’ve studied grammar, nailed the polite です・ます form—but suddenly, you realize that you’re unsure if you’re coming across as professional or just… awkward.
This article will walk you through the common mistakes in business Japanese, help you understand why they happen, and provide practical strategies to avoid them. You’ll also pick up useful vocabulary, learn cultural tips, and find exercises to reinforce what you’ve learned!
Why Business Japanese Is Different
Business Japanese goes beyond textbooks—it’s about relationships, hierarchy, tone, and cultural awareness. The most common mistake learners make? Assuming that just being “polite” is enough.
There are three key layers to business Japanese:
- 丁寧語（ていねいご・teineigo）: Polite language (～です、～ます)
- 尊敬語（そんけいご・sonkeigo）: Honorific language for actions of others
- 謙譲語（けんじょうご・kenjōgo）: Humble language for your own actions
Using the wrong one in the wrong situation can make you sound overly casual, too stiff, or even disrespectful!
Common Mistake #1: Overusing です/ます When Keigo Is Needed
Example
✖ 社長は会社に来ます。
✔ 社長は会社にいらっしゃいます。
Even though です/ます is polite, it’s not respectful enough in formal situations. When talking about someone of higher status, use sonkeigo (尊敬語).
Vocabulary Focus
- 来る → いらっしゃる (irassharu) = to come/go (honorific)
- 言う → おっしゃる (ossharu) = to say (honorific)
Practice Challenge
Convert the following plain verbs into their 尊敬語 forms:
- 食べる
- 見る
- する
Common Mistake #2: Using 謙譲語 (Humble Form) When Talking About Others
Example
✖ 社長が申しました。
✔ 社長がおっしゃいました。
「申す」(mōsu) is 謙譲語 (humble), so it’s only used for yourself or your in-group. Using it for your boss or client sounds like you’re putting them below you!
Vocabulary Focus
- 申す（もうす・mōsu）= to say (humble)
- おっしゃる = to say (honorific)
Common Mistake #3: Forgetting Set Phrases for Phone Calls and Emails
Example
✖ はい、田中です。
✔ いつもお世話になっております。田中でございます。
Phone and email etiquette is serious in Japan. Open with appropriate greetings to show professionalism.
Useful Set Phrases
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| いつもお世話になっております | Thank you for your continued support |
| ○○株式会社の△△と申します | This is △△ from ○○ Corporation |
| 恐れ入りますが、少々お待ちいただけますか | Excuse me, may I ask you to wait a moment? |
Common Mistake #4: Mixing Up Honorific Prefixes 「お」「ご」
Example
✖ ご名前
✔ お名前
Some words take 「お」, some 「ご」—and some take neither. The rules depend on word origin (native vs Sino-Japanese), but the best way to learn is through exposure and patterns.
General Rule
- Use お for native Japanese words (名前、お話、お茶)
- Use ご for Sino-Japanese words (ご連絡、ご挨拶、ご確認)
Common Mistake #5: Being Too Direct
Japanese business language avoids direct refusals or blunt statements. Instead of saying “I can’t,” it’s better to use a soft, indirect style.
Example
✖ できません。
✔ 難しいかと存じます。
(Literally: “I believe it may be difficult.”)
Case Study: Mai’s First Business Meeting
Mai was an exchange student interning at a Tokyo tech firm. During her first meeting, she confidently said:
「私はこのプロジェクトをします。」
Her boss gently corrected her to say:
「私がこのプロジェクトを担当いたします。」
Why? “する” is too casual. By switching to いたします (humble form of “to do”), Mai showed appropriate humility.
Must-Know Business Keigo Vocabulary
| English | Japanese (Kanji) | Hiragana | Romaji | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| to do | 致す | いたす | itasu | 謙譲語 |
| to see | 拝見する | はいけんする | haiken suru | 謙譲語 |
| to ask/visit | 伺う | うかがう | ukagau | 謙譲語 |
| to say | 申す | もうす | mōsu | 謙譲語 |
| to be (exist) | いらっしゃる | いらっしゃる | irassharu | 尊敬語 |
| to say | おっしゃる | おっしゃる | ossharu | 尊敬語 |
| thank you (polite) | 恐れ入ります | おそれいります | osore irimasu | 丁寧語 |
Action Steps to Improve Your Business Japanese
- Master the Keigo Triangle: 丁寧語 → 謙譲語 → 尊敬語
- Practice Business Dialogues: Simulate common business situations
- Watch Business Japanese Videos: NHK, YouTube, and anime with office settings
- Use a Keigo-Specific App: Try apps like “Nihongo Keigo Training” or “Business Japanese JLC”
- Record Yourself: Practice and compare your speech with native recordings
Practice Exercise
Write a business introduction email in Japanese using at least three keigo expressions.
Use the vocabulary and phrases above. Bonus if you include a phone script too!
Conclusion & Call to Action
Business Japanese is full of subtle rules, but don’t let that intimidate you! With awareness, consistent practice, and a solid understanding of common mistakes, you can master the art of sounding respectful, professional, and fluent.
Want to deepen your skills or explore internships in Japan? Contact our team to learn more about study and work programs that prepare you for real business settings in Japan.
