keigoLesson 13

Writing a Business Email — Department manager

Situation

Where
Email to another company
Who
You and a department manager
Goal
To request a document by email using proper openings.

Conversation

Show

A

Thank you for your continued support. This is Tanaka from ABC Inc.

A

To get straight to it, could you send me the materials for the schedule?

B

Thank you. Understood. I'll send them by end of today.

A

Sorry to trouble you when you're busy. Thank you very much.

Vocabulary (10)

osewaninatteorimasu

thank you for your support

Standard opener for emails to people outside your company.

sassokudesuga

to get straight to it

Transitions politely from greeting to the main point.

ookuriitadakemasudeshouka

could you please send

Very polite request form.

honjitsuchuu

within today

〜中 = "within (a period)."

osoreirimasu

I'm much obliged / sorry to trouble you

Polite acknowledgement of imposition.

kabushikigaisha

corporation / Inc.

Precedes or follows a company name.

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.

houkoku

report

Part of 報連相 (report, contact, consult) — core Japanese work etiquette.

Grammar

お + Verb stem + いただけますでしょうか

The most polite request pattern in business email.

Noun + 中

Within a time span: 本日中 = "within today."

Adj + ところ

お忙しいところ = "while you're busy," softens an imposition.

Cultural Notes

Workplace etiquette

Business emails open with お世話になっております and close with よろしくお願いいたします — skipping them feels abrupt.

Formality level

Full keigo. To clients you don't know well, default to the highest politeness.

Common mistake

Don't start an external email with the request. Always greet first, then 早速ですが to transition.

Quiz

What does "お世話になっております" mean?

What does "早速ですが" mean?

What does "お送りいただけますでしょうか" mean?

What does "本日中" mean?

What does "恐れ入ります" mean?

What does "株式会社" mean?

How is the pattern "お〜いただけますでしょうか" used?

How is the pattern "〜中" used?

How is the pattern "〜ところ" 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.