Lesson #43: 先ほど、何か失礼がございましたでしょうか (Sakihodo, nani ka shitsuree ga gozaimashita deshoo ka)

Determining what is worrying a client

English Title: Determining what is worrying a client

Role-play Setup

You’re working at a real estate company. A client calls after a property viewing and requests that your superior check the contract before you send it. The client seems worried about something.

Full Script & Explanation

The Client’s Call

Okyakusama / Client

もしもし。先ほど内見をした、鈴木と申します。
Moshimoshi. Sakihodo naiken o shita, Suzuki to mooshimasu.
Hello. This is Suzuki—I did a property viewing a little while ago.

「内見」is short for「内部見学」, meaning “property viewing” or “interior viewing.” 「申します」is the humble form of「言います」. [telephone conversation]

Student

はい、鈴木様。お世話になっております。
Hai, Suzuki-sama. Osewa ni natte orimasu.
Yes, Mr./Ms. Suzuki. Thank you for your business.

Standard polite business greeting. [telephone conversation]

Okyakusama / Client

あの、契約書を送る前に、もう一度上司の方に確認してもらえませんか。
Ano, keeya kusho o okuru mae ni, moo ichido jooshi no kata ni kakunin-shite moraemasen ka.
Um, before you send the contract, could you have your superior check it one more time?

「契約書」means “contract.” 「上司の方」is a polite way to refer to a superior. The client is requesting extra verification. [requesting]

Student

もちろんです。それでは、確認してから、早速お送りします。
Mochiron desu. Soredewa, kakunin-shite kara, sassoku ookuri-shimasu.
Of course. Then, I’ll check it and send it to you right away.

「もちろん」means “of course” or “certainly.” 「早速」means “immediately” or “right away.” [expressing agreement]

Consulting with a Coworker

Student

先ほど内見をしたお客様なんですが、何か気にされているようなんです。
Sakihodo naiken o shita okyakusama nan desu ga, nani ka ki ni sarete iru yoo nan desu.
About the customer who did the property viewing earlier—they seem to be worried about something.

「気にする」means “to worry about” or “to be concerned about.” 「ているようです」indicates it appears that way. [giving factual information]

Dooryoo / Coworker

どうして？何かあったんですか。
Dooshite? Nani ka attan desu ka.
Why? Did something happen?

The coworker is asking for more information. [asking for information]

Student

いえ、内見のときは特に問題はなかったと思うんですが…。
Ie, naiken no toki wa toku ni mondai wa nakatta to omou n desu ga…
No, I don’t think there were any particular problems during the viewing, but…

「特に」means “particularly” or “especially.” The trailing「が」indicates uncertainty. [giving factual information]

KEY PHRASE

Student

先ほど、何か失礼がございましたでしょうか。その場合は、ご遠慮なくおっしゃってください。
Sakihodo, nani ka shitsuree ga gozaimashita deshoo ka. Sono baai wa, goenryo naku osshatte kudasai.
Was there something wrong earlier? If so, please do let me know.

「失礼」means “rudeness” or “discourtesy,” but here it means “something wrong” or “something inappropriate.” 「ございましたでしょうか」is the extremely polite past tense question form.

「ご遠慮なく」means “without hesitation” or “please feel free to.” 「おっしゃる」is the honorific form of「言う」. This phrase proactively invites the client to voice any concerns, showing customer care and professionalism. [asking for information] [encouraging communication]

Okyakusama / Client

いえいえ、そういうことではないんです。
Ieie, soo iu koto dewa nai n desu.
No, no, it’s not that.

The client denies having any complaints. [clarifying]

Okyakusama / Client

私、心配性なので、一応、確認してもらいたいなと思いまして。
Watashi, shinpaisee na node, ichioo, kakunin-shite moraitai na to omoimashite.
I tend to worry, so I just wanted to have it checked, just in case.

「心配性」means “someone who worries a lot” or “worrywart.” 「一応」means “just in case” or “for now.” The client is explaining their personality trait. [giving factual information]

Student

そうなんですね。承知いたしました。それでは、上司に確認してから、お送りします。
Soo nan desu ne. Shoochi itashimashita. Soredewa, jooshi ni kakunin-shite kara, ookuri-shimasu.
I see. I understand. Then, I’ll have my superior check it before sending it to you.

「承知いたしました」is a very polite way of saying “I understand” or “I acknowledge.” [expressing agreement]

Vocabulary

内見 (naiken) - property viewing, interior viewing (short for 内部見学)
Example: 明日、アパートの内見があります。(I have an apartment viewing tomorrow.)

契約書 (keeya kusho) - contract, agreement
Example: 契約書にサインしてください。(Please sign the contract.)

早速 (sassoku) - immediately, right away, at once
Example: 早速、対応いたします。(I’ll handle it right away.)

失礼 (shitsuree) - rudeness, discourtesy; excuse me
Example: 失礼いたします。(Excuse me. / I’ll be leaving now.)

ご遠慮なく (goenryo naku) - without hesitation, please feel free
Example: ご遠慮なく質問してください。(Please feel free to ask questions.)

心配性 (shinpaisee) - worrywart, someone who worries a lot
Example: 私は心配性なので、何度も確認します。(I’m a worrier, so I check multiple times.)

一応 (ichioo) - just in case, for now, tentatively
Example: 一応、確認しておきます。(I’ll check just in case.)

承知 (shoochi) - acknowledgment, understanding, consent
Example: 承知いたしました。(I understand. / Acknowledged.)

Cultural Notes

Proactive Customer Service in Japan

Japanese customer service emphasizes anticipating and addressing concerns before they become problems:

Read between the lines - Notice when customers seem uncertain or worried
Ask proactively - Don’t wait for customers to complain
Use soft language - 「何か失礼が」instead of direct “Is there a problem?”
Encourage openness - 「ご遠慮なく」invites honest feedback
Show understanding - Validate customer concerns without judgment

This approach prevents small concerns from becoming major issues.

Understanding「心配性」(Worrying Personality)

In Japanese culture, openly admitting「心配性」serves multiple purposes:

Explains behavior without seeming demanding
Maintains harmony by framing extra requests as personal trait
Allows staff to provide reassurance
Shows self-awareness and humility

The Phrase「いえいえ」

「いえいえ」(no, no) is a polite way to deny or deflect:

More emphatic than single「いえ」
Shows politeness and humility
Often used to decline compliments or deny problems
Softer than direct「違います」(That’s wrong)

Grammar Points

Using「何か」to Ask for Specifics

Pattern: 何か + [noun] + [question]

「何か」means “something” and is used when asking if there’s something (specific but unknown).

Examples:

何か問題がありますか。
(Is there some problem?)
何か質問はありますか。
(Do you have any questions?)
何か食べたいものはありますか。
(Is there something you want to eat?)

Contrast:

何がありますか。(What is there? - open question)
何かありますか。(Is there something? - expects yes/no)

The Difference Between「特に」and「別に」

Both can mean “particularly” or “especially,” but usage differs:

特に (toku ni) - especially, particularly (affirmative contexts)

特に問題はありません。(There are no particular problems.)
特に好きな食べ物はありますか。(Is there any food you particularly like?)

別に (betsu ni) - (not) particularly (often in negative contexts)

別に問題はありません。(There’s nothing particularly wrong.)
別に急いでいません。(I’m not particularly in a hurry.)

Using「一応」(Just in Case / For Now)

「一応」indicates doing something as a precaution or tentatively.

Meanings:

Just in case: 一応、確認します。(I’ll check just in case.)
For now: 一応、これで大丈夫です。(This is OK for now.)
Nominally: 一応、リーダーです。(I’m the leader, technically.)

Examples:

一応、傘を持って行きます。
(I’ll bring an umbrella just in case.)
一応、予約しました。
(I made a reservation tentatively.)

Tips from this Dialogue

早速 (sassoku) - immediately, right away

「早速」indicates doing something without delay, showing promptness and enthusiasm.

Usage:

早速、対応します。(I’ll handle it right away.)
早速ですが、本題に入ります。(Getting right to the point…)
早速のご返信ありがとうございます。(Thank you for your prompt reply.)

Similar expressions:

すぐに (soon, immediately - neutral)
直ちに (immediately - formal)
大至急 (urgently - emergency level)

ご遠慮なく (goenryo naku) - please feel free

This phrase encourages people to act without holding back.

Examples:

ご遠慮なく質問してください。
(Please feel free to ask questions.)
ご遠慮なくお召し上がりください。
(Please help yourself / eat freely.)
ご遠慮なくお申し付けください。
(Please don’t hesitate to let us know.)

Related: 遠慮する means “to hold back” or “to refrain”

気にする (ki ni suru) - to worry about, to mind

This verb expresses concern or attention to something.

Examples:

気にしないでください。(Please don’t worry about it.)
細かいことを気にする。(To worry about small details.)
人の目を気にする。(To worry about what others think.)

Pattern: 気に + される = honorific “to be concerned about”

Keego (Polite Language)

Different Ways to Say “Was there a problem?”

From casual to formal:

何かあった？(Very casual)
何かありましたか。(Polite)
何か問題がございましたか。(Business polite)
何か不都合がございましたでしょうか。(Very polite)
何か失礼がございましたでしょうか。(Extremely polite)

Levels of “I understand”

From casual to formal:

分かった。(Casual)
分かりました。(Polite)
承知しました。(Business polite)
承知いたしました。(Humble polite)
かしこまりました。(Service industry polite)

Kanji

内 - inside, within
Reading: うち (uchi), ナイ (nai)
Example: 内見 (naiken - interior viewing), 内容 (naiyoo - contents)

見 - see, look
Reading: み (mi), ケン (ken)
Example: 内見 (naiken - viewing), 見る (miru - to see)

契 - pledge, contract
Reading: ケイ (kei)
Example: 契約 (keeyaku - contract)

約 - promise, approximately
Reading: やく (yaku), ヤク (yaku)
Example: 契約 (keeyaku - contract), 約束 (yakusoku - promise)

失 - lose, error, fault
Reading: うしな (ushina), シツ (shitsu)
Example: 失礼 (shitsuree - rudeness), 失敗 (shippai - failure)

礼 - courtesy, thanks
Reading: レイ (rei)
Example: 失礼 (shitsuree - excuse me), お礼 (oree - thanks)

遠 - distant, far
Reading: とお (too), エン (en)
Example: 遠慮 (enryo - restraint), 遠い (tooi - far)

慮 - thought, consideration
Reading: リョ (ryo)
Example: 遠慮 (enryo - restraint), 考慮 (kooryo - consideration)

Source

Based on NHK WORLD-JAPAN’s “Easy Japanese for Work” Lesson #43
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/tv/easyjapaneseforwork/skit43.html