A useful Japanese business vocabulary list should help you perform real tasks: thank a contact, confirm contract terms, discuss a price or budget, report a sales drop, and ask for documents. Memorizing isolated nouns is not enough. You also need complete phrases, appropriate formality, and accurate pronunciation.
The list below covers communication inside a company, organization, or government office, as well as topics such as insurance, oil prices, phone calls, and files. It is suitable for learners who want practical vocabulary without assuming that every workplace uses exactly the same expressions.
A Functional Japanese Business Vocabulary List
The most valuable words are organized by what they help you do. Learn each item with its function, then connect it to a situation you might actually face.
Function | Japanese | Hepburn Romaji | English Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
Open a message | お世話になっております | osewa ni natte orimasu | Thank you for your continued support; a standard business greeting |
Express thanks | ありがとうございます | arigatō gozaimasu | Thank you |
Acknowledge information | 承知しました | shōchi shimashita | Understood; acknowledged |
Request confirmation | ご確認いただけますか | go-kakunin itadakemasu ka | Could you please confirm? |
Discuss cost | 価格 | kakaku | price |
Set spending limits | 予算 | yosan | budget |
Review an agreement | 契約条件 | keiyaku jōken | contract terms |
Discuss coverage | 保険契約 | hoken keiyaku | insurance contract |
Report performance | 売上 | uriage | sales; revenue |
Describe a workplace body | 組織 | soshiki | organization |
Discuss public administration | 政府 | seifu | government |
Refer to a state | 国 | kuni | country; nation |
Describe a market movement | 石油価格の下落 | sekiyu kakaku no geraku | a drop or fall in oil prices |
Refer to a commitment | 約束 | yakusoku | promise; appointment |
Complete paperwork | 申込書 | mōshikomisho | application form |
Check quoted costs | 見積書 | mitsumorisho | estimate; quotation document |
Make contact | 電話 | denwa | phone; telephone call |
Share a file physically | USBメモリ | yū esu bī memori | USB flash drive |
Prepare supporting content | 資料 | shiryō | materials; documents |
Confirm delivery timing | 納期 | nōki | delivery deadline |
A pronunciation note matters here: the long vowel in shōchi should not be reduced to sho. Some search results omit macrons, but 承知しました (shōchi shimashita, understood) begins with a long “ō” sound.
The familiar request ending ください (kudasai, please) is polite in many everyday settings, but business requests often require a softer complete pattern. In ありがとうございます (arigatō gozaimasu, thank you), gozaimasu belongs to the full expression rather than functioning as a universal politeness word.
Four Phrases in Workplace Context
Complete sentences turn passive vocabulary into usable business Japanese. These four examples cover negotiation, confirmation, reporting, and file handling.
価格をもう少し調整していただくことは可能でしょうか。
Kakaku o mō sukoshi chōsei shite itadaku koto wa kanō deshō ka.
Would it be possible to adjust the price a little more?
契約条件をご確認いただけますか。
Keiyaku jōken o go-kakunin itadakemasu ka.
Could you please confirm the contract terms?
売上は先月より下がりました。
Uriage wa sengetsu yori sagarimashita.
Sales fell compared with last month.
資料はUSBメモリに保存してあります。
Shiryō wa yū esu bī memori ni hozon shite arimasu.
The materials have been saved on a USB flash drive.
Notice that the price request asks whether an adjustment is possible. It does not simply command the other person to lower it. Similarly, the contract sentence uses a clear confirmation request rather than attaching “please” to a direct order.
Learn Words as Business Functions
Meaning alone does not tell you when a word sounds natural. Group vocabulary into functions such as acknowledging, requesting, reporting, negotiating, and confirming. This makes recall faster because you are choosing language for a purpose, not searching through an alphabetical list.
Domain words such as 契約 (keiyaku, contract) and 保険 (hoken, insurance) also need a concrete task. You might need to confirm a condition, identify a form, or ask which document contains the relevant information. A noun becomes useful when you know what action normally surrounds it.
Try this review cycle:
- Choose five items connected to one situation, such as a sales meeting.
- Write one realistic purpose for each item.
- Say a complete sentence aloud without reading.
- Change one detail, such as the product, month, or deadline.
- Record vocabulary that you could recognize but could not produce.
Cultural note: Japanese business communication often makes acknowledgment visible before moving to a question or disagreement. A brief, appropriate acknowledgment can show that you received the information; it does not necessarily mean that you agree with every detail.
If you need a gentler foundation first, Business Japanese for Beginners: Simple Phrases That Work explains accessible expressions for common interactions. For a broader path connecting vocabulary with meetings, email, and workplace communication, see the Business Japanese Course for Real Work.
Common Mistakes and Live Practice
The biggest mistake is treating every dictionary equivalent as interchangeable. Business vocabulary depends on the relationship, situation, and burden placed on the listener.
Adding “please” to a direct command. Learners often assume that one polite ending automatically makes a request suitable for work. A complete confirmation or possibility pattern usually gives the listener more room to respond.
Memorizing nouns without their actions. Knowing “budget” does not prepare you to propose one, stay within one, or explain a change. Pair every noun with one practical communicative goal.
Using casual reactions in formal conversations. teachers have observed that learners sometimes carry everyday reactions into business speech. Register practice helps learners choose a response that fits a formal discussion while still sounding engaged.
Ignoring pronunciation during vocabulary study. Long vowels can distinguish the intended sound, and abbreviations may have established Japanese readings. Teachers also identify recurring individual pronunciation patterns during live practice, then allow learners to complete a response before offering focused feedback.
A standard Kind Japanese one-on-one lesson lasts 25 minutes and takes place online over LINE. A focused lesson can combine:
- A short warm-up using familiar workplace vocabulary
- A target speaking task, such as confirming contract terms
- Feedback on pronunciation, wording, and register after a complete response
- A speak-correct-repeat attempt using the same situation
- A learner-owned review note or question list for later practice
To practise this vocabulary in a focused business situation, book a Free Trial Lesson with Kind Japanese and bring one workplace task you want to handle more confidently.
FAQ
How many Japanese business words should I learn first?
Start with a small functional set covering greetings, confirmation, requests, price, deadlines, documents, and reporting. Around each term, learn one complete phrase and one situation, because recalling a word inside a useful pattern is more valuable than memorizing a long list without knowing its register or purpose.
Is the basic word for “please” polite enough for business Japanese?
The basic request form can be polite, but workplace tone depends on the relationship, burden, and context. For important requests, learn a complete possibility or confirmation pattern instead of adding “please” mechanically; a live teacher can help you compare direct, neutral, and more deferential choices for the same task.
Can this vocabulary help with JLPT study?
Yes, business vocabulary can strengthen reading and listening, especially when words appear in notices, emails, announcements, or workplace conversations. The JLPT does not include a speaking section, so use separate speaking practice to turn familiar grammar and vocabulary into clear answers while keeping official test preparation focused on the tested skills.
