keigoLesson 2

Exchanging Business Cards — Senior colleague

Situation

Where
A first business meeting
Who
You and a senior colleague
Goal
To exchange business cards with proper etiquette.

Conversation

Show

A

Forgive me for not introducing myself sooner. I'm Tanaka from ABC.

B

Thank you for your courtesy. I'll gratefully receive it.

A

Likewise. Thank you for having me today.

B

I'm Sato. I look forward to working with you.

Vocabulary (10)

moushiokuremashita

sorry for the late introduction

Polite phrase if you greet after some delay.

watakushi

I (formal)

More formal reading of 私 than わたし.

choudaiitashimasu

I gratefully receive

Said when accepting a card.

goteineini

how courteous of you

Acknowledges politeness.

nanitozo

please / by all means

Formal intensifier before よろしく.

honjitsu

today (formal)

Used in business greetings.

otsukaresamadesu

thank you for your work

The all-purpose workplace greeting, used like hello and goodbye between coworkers.

yoroshikuonegaishimasu

thank you in advance

Closes most requests and emails; sets a cooperative tone.

kakunin

confirmation / check

Daily-use word: ご確認お願いします means "please check."

shouchishimashita

understood (polite)

Politer than 分かりました; use with managers and clients.

Grammar

お + Verb stem + いたします

Humble: お願いいたします.

Name + と申します

Humble self-introduction.

何卒 + request

Formal "please": 何卒よろしく.

Cultural Notes

Workplace etiquette

The lower-status or visiting person usually offers their card first. Present and receive with both hands.

Formality level

High keigo with わたくし and 何卒. First business meetings are very formal.

Common mistake

Don't write on someone's card in front of them, and don't place your drink on it during the meeting.

Quiz

What does "申し遅れました" mean?

What does "私" mean?

What does "頂戴いたします" mean?

What does "ご丁寧に" mean?

What does "何卒" mean?

What does "本日" mean?

How is the pattern "お〜いたします" used?

How is the pattern "〜と申します" used?

How is the pattern "何卒〜" used?

What is the goal of this conversation?

Flashcards

Turn this lesson into flashcards

Save all 10 vocabulary items to your deck and review them later with spaced repetition.