Lesson #47: では、手短に申し上げます (Dewa, temijika ni mooshiagemasu)

Business Japanese Review Special: Part 1

English Title: Business Japanese Review Special: Part 1

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Overview

This is a review lesson that revisits important phrases and situations from previous lessons. It features two different workplace scenarios demonstrating key business Japanese expressions.

SCENARIO 1: Speaking briefly to a busy superior

Role-play Setup

You’re working at a metalworking company. Your boss is very busy, but you need to get his approval on a document. You need to explain the situation concisely.

The Dialogue

Student

工場長、今、よろしいでしょうか。
Koojoochoo, ima, yoroshii deshoo ka.
Factory Manager, do you have a moment now?

「よろしいでしょうか」is the polite way to ask “Is it OK?” or “Do you have time?” [requesting attention]

Jooshi / Superior

うん、何？
Un, nani?
Yeah, what is it?

Casual response from the superior. [responding]

Student

あの、お忙しいところ申し訳ないんですが、この書類に目を通していただけませんか。
Ano, oisogashii tokoro mooshiwake nai n desu ga, kono shorui ni me o tooshite itadakemasen ka.
Um, I’m sorry to bother you when you’re busy, but could you look over this document?

「お忙しいところ申し訳ない」is a standard phrase acknowledging someone’s busy state. 「目を通す」means “to look over” or “to glance through.” [apologizing] [requesting]

Jooshi / Superior

うーん、今ちょっと忙しいんだよね。
Uun, ima chotto isogashii n da yo ne.
Hmm, I’m a bit busy right now.

The superior indicates he’s busy. [giving factual information]

KEY PHRASE 1

Student

では、手短に申し上げます。
Dewa, temijika ni mooshiagemasu.
Then, I’ll keep it brief.

「手短に」means “briefly” or “concisely.” 「申し上げます」is the humble form of「言います」(to say).

This phrase shows consideration for the superior’s time and promises to be concise. It’s commonly used when you need to explain something to a busy person. [stating intention]

Student

今日中にお客様に提出する書類です。
Kyoojuu ni okyakusama ni teishutsu-suru shorui desu.
This is a document that needs to be submitted to the customer today.

「今日中に」means “within today” or “by the end of today.” 「提出する」means “to submit.” [giving factual information]

Jooshi / Superior

あぁ、そうなんだ。じゃあ、ちょっと待って。今見るから。
Aa, soo nan da. Jaa, chotto matte. Ima miru kara.
Ah, I see. Then wait a moment. I’ll look at it now.

The superior understands the urgency and agrees to review immediately. [stating intention]

Student

よろしくお願いします。
Yoroshiku onegai-shimasu.
Thank you very much.

Standard polite expression when asking for a favor. [requesting]

SCENARIO 2: Checking a new employee’s understanding

Role-play Setup

You’re working at a nursing care facility. You’ve just explained a task to a new employee. You want to make sure they understood correctly.

The Dialogue

Student

じゃあ、お願いしますね。
Jaa, onegai-shimasu ne.
OK then, I’m counting on you.

Standard phrase when delegating a task. [requesting]

Shain / New Employee

はい、分かりました。
Hai, wakarimashita.
Yes, I understood.

The new employee acknowledges understanding. [confirming]

Student

本当に分かりましたか。
Hontoo ni wakarimashita ka.
Did you really understand?

「本当に」means “really” or “truly.” Double-checking understanding. [asking for confirmation]

Shain / New Employee

はい。
Hai.
Yes.

Confirming. [confirming]

KEY PHRASE 2

Student

では、もう一度、確認のために説明してもらえますか。
Dewa, moo ichido, kakunin no tame ni setsumee-shite moraemasu ka.
Then, could you explain it back to me once more for confirmation?

「確認のために」means “for the purpose of confirmation.” 「説明してもらえますか」asks “could you explain?”

This phrase is a professional way to verify understanding by having the person explain back to you. It’s especially important in safety-critical environments or when training new employees. [requesting]

Shain / New Employee

はい。まず、利用者様の朝食の準備をします。
Hai. Mazu, riyooshasama no chooshoku no junbi o shimasu.
Yes. First, I prepare breakfast for the residents.

「利用者様」is the respectful term for “facility users/residents.” 「朝食」means “breakfast.” 「準備」means “preparation.” [giving factual information]

Shain / New Employee

そして、利用者様が食べ終わったら、食器を片付けます。
Soshite, riyooshasama ga tabe-owattara, shokki o katazukemasu.
Then, after the residents finish eating, I clean up the dishes.

「食べ終わる」means “to finish eating.” 「食器」means “dishes/tableware.” 「片付ける」means “to clean up” or “to tidy.” [giving factual information]

Student

そうですね。よく理解できていますね。
Soo desu ne. Yoku rikai-dekite imasu ne.
That’s right. You understand it well.

「理解できている」means “to have understood” or “to comprehend.” Praising the employee’s understanding. [praising]

Shain / New Employee

ありがとうございます。
Arigatoo gozaimasu.
Thank you very much.

Expressing gratitude for the praise. [expressing gratitude]

Vocabulary

手短 (temijika) - brief, concise, short
Example: 手短に話します。(I’ll speak briefly.)

申し上げる (mooshiageru) - to say, to tell (humble)
Example: ご報告申し上げます。(I will report to you.)

書類 (shorui) - document, papers
Example: 書類を提出してください。(Please submit the documents.)

目を通す (me o toosu) - to look over, to glance through
Example: この資料に目を通してください。(Please look over this material.)

提出 (teishutsu) - submission, presentation
Example: レポートを提出します。(I’ll submit the report.)

確認 (kakunin) - confirmation, verification
Example: もう一度確認します。(I’ll confirm once more.)

利用者 (riyoosha) - user, resident (of a facility)
Example: 利用者様にサービスを提供します。(We provide services to the facility users.)

朝食 (chooshoku) - breakfast
Example: 朝食は7時です。(Breakfast is at 7 o’clock.)

準備 (junbi) - preparation
Example: 会議の準備をします。(I’ll prepare for the meeting.)

食器 (shokki) - dishes, tableware
Example: 食器を洗います。(I’ll wash the dishes.)

片付ける (katazukeru) - to clean up, to tidy, to put away
Example: 部屋を片付けます。(I’ll tidy up the room.)

理解 (rikai) - understanding, comprehension
Example: よく理解しました。(I understood well.)

Cultural Notes

Being Considerate of Others’ Time

Japanese workplace culture highly values consideration for others’ time:

  1. Acknowledge busyness - Use「お忙しいところ」before requests
  2. Promise brevity - Use「手短に」when explaining to busy people
  3. Get to the point - State urgency or importance upfront
  4. Show gratitude - Thank people for their time

The Importance of Verification

In Japanese workplace culture, especially in safety-critical fields:

  1. Don’t assume understanding - Verify even when someone says they understand
  2. Use teach-back method - Have them explain back to you
  3. Frame positively - 「確認のために」rather than implying distrust
  4. Praise understanding - Acknowledge when they get it right

Humble Language in Brief Explanations

「申し上げます」is the humble form of「言います」:

Grammar Points

The Expression「手短に」

Pattern: 手短に + [verb]

「手短に」means “briefly” or “concisely.”

Examples:

Related expressions:

Using「中に」for Deadlines

Pattern: [time period] + 中に

「中に」after a time period means “within” or “by the end of.”

Examples:

Note: Without「に」,「中」means “during” rather than “by”:

The Pattern「確認のために」

Pattern: [noun] + のために

「のために」means “for the purpose of” or “for the sake of.”

Examples:

Tips from this Dialogue

お忙しいところ (oisogashii tokoro)

This phrase acknowledges that you’re interrupting someone who is busy.

Full expressions:

Similar patterns:

目を通す (me o toosu) - to look over

This idiomatic expression means to glance through or review something.

Usage:

Examples:

Literal meaning: 目 (eye) + を通す (to pass through)

食べ終わる (tabe-owaru) - to finish eating

Pattern: [verb stem] + 終わる

This pattern means “to finish [verb-ing].”

Examples:

Keego (Polite Language)

Different Ways to Say “I’ll explain”

From casual to formal:

  1. 説明する。(Casual)
  2. 説明します。(Polite)
  3. 説明いたします。(Humble polite)
  4. ご説明いたします。(Very humble polite)
  5. ご説明申し上げます。(Extremely humble polite)

Levels of “To say/tell”

  1. 言う (iu) - casual
  2. 言います (iimasu) - polite
  3. おっしゃる (ossharu) - honorific (for others)
  4. 申す (moosu) - humble
  5. 申し上げる (mooshiageru) - very humble

Review: Key Patterns from Previous Lessons

Asking for time politely

Acknowledging someone’s busy state

Making brief explanations

Requesting explanations

Verifying understanding

Kanji

手 - hand
Reading: て (te), シュ (shu)
Example: 手短 (temijika - brief), 手 (te - hand)

短 - short
Reading: みじか (mijika), タン (tan)
Example: 手短 (temijika - brief), 短い (mijikai - short)

申 - say (humble)
Reading: もう (moo), シン (shin)
Example: 申し上げる (mooshiageru - to say humbly), 申す (moosu - to say)

上 - up, above
Reading: あ (a), うえ (ue), ジョウ (joo)
Example: 申し上げる (mooshiageru - to say humbly), 上 (ue - above)

書 - write
Reading: か (ka), ショ (sho)
Example: 書類 (shorui - document), 書く (kaku - to write)

類 - kind, variety
Reading: ルイ (rui)
Example: 書類 (shorui - document), 種類 (shurui - type)

提 - present, submit
Reading: テイ (tei)
Example: 提出 (teishutsu - submission), 提案 (teean - proposal)

出 - exit, put out
Reading: で (de), だ (da), シュツ (shutsu)
Example: 提出 (teishutsu - submission), 出る (deru - to go out)

確 - certain, sure
Reading: たし (tashi), カク (kaku)
Example: 確認 (kakunin - confirmation), 確か (tashika - certain)

認 - recognize, acknowledge
Reading: みと (mito), ニン (nin)
Example: 確認 (kakunin - confirmation), 認める (mitomeru - to recognize)

利 - profit, benefit
Reading: き (ki), リ (ri)
Example: 利用者 (riyoosha - user), 利益 (rieki - profit)

用 - use, business
Reading: もち (mochi), ヨウ (yoo)
Example: 利用 (riyoo - use), 用事 (yooji - errand)

準 - prepare, standard
Reading: ジュン (jun)
Example: 準備 (junbi - preparation), 標準 (hyoojun - standard)

備 - provide, equip
Reading: そな (sona), ビ (bi)
Example: 準備 (junbi - preparation), 備える (sonaeru - to prepare)

食 - eat, meal
Reading: た (ta), く (ku), ショク (shoku)
Example: 朝食 (chooshoku - breakfast), 食べる (taberu - to eat)

器 - vessel, container
Reading: キ (ki)
Example: 食器 (shokki - dishes), 器 (utsuwa - container)

片 - one-sided,片ece
Reading: かた (kata), ヘン (hen)
Example: 片付ける (katazukeru - to tidy up), 片方 (kataホー - one side)

付 - attach, stick
Reading: つ (tsu), フ (fu)
Example: 片付ける (katazukeru - to tidy up), 付ける (tsukeru - to attach)

理 - reason, logic
Reading: リ (ri)
Example: 理解 (rikai - understanding), 理由 (riyuu - reason)

解 - untie, solve
Reading: と (to), カイ (kai), ゲ (ge)
Example: 理解 (rikai - understanding), 解く (toku - to solve)

Source

Based on NHK WORLD-JAPAN’s “Easy Japanese for Work” Lesson #47
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/tv/easyjapaneseforwork/skit47.html