Lesson #48: 今日明日中には (Kyoo ashita juu niwa)

Business Japanese Review Special: Part 2

English Title: Business Japanese Review Special: Part 2

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Overview

This is the final review lesson that revisits important phrases and situations from the series. It features two workplace scenarios demonstrating essential business Japanese expressions for handling delays and schedule conflicts.

SCENARIO 1: Delayed response to a client

Role-play Setup

You’re working at a real estate company. A client had asked you a question by phone, but you couldn’t answer immediately. You call back to provide the answer.

The Dialogue

Student

もしもし、お世話になっております。
Moshimoshi, osewa ni natte orimasu.
Hello, thank you for your business.

Standard polite business phone greeting. [greeting]

Okyakusama / Client

あぁ、どうも。
Aa, doo mo.
Ah, hello.

Casual acknowledgment. [responding]

KEY PHRASE 1

Student

先日は、すぐにお答えできず、申し訳ございませんでした。
Senjitsu wa, sugu ni okotae dekizu, mooshiwake gozaimasen deshita.
I apologize for not being able to answer you immediately the other day.

「先日」means “the other day.” 「お答えできず」is the negative form of “to be able to answer” (humble). 「申し訳ございませんでした」is the very polite form of apology.

This phrase acknowledges your inability to respond immediately and apologizes sincerely. It’s essential when following up on delayed responses. [apologizing]

Student

お調べしましたところ、来月からリフォームが可能とのことです。
Oshirabe-shimashita tokoro, raigetsu kara rifoomu ga kanoo to no koto desu.
After checking, it seems that renovation will be possible starting next month.

「お調べしました」is the humble form of “I investigated/checked.” 「可能とのことです」means “it is said to be possible” or “apparently it’s possible.” [giving factual information]

Okyakusama / Client

そうですか。ありがとうございます。
Soo desu ka. Arigatoo gozaimasu.
I see. Thank you.

The client acknowledges and thanks. [expressing gratitude]

Student

いえ、こちらこそご迷惑をおかけしました。
Ie, kochira koso gomeewaku o okake-shimashita.
No, I’m the one who caused you inconvenience.

「こちらこそ」means “I’m the one who…” (reversing thanks/apology). 「ご迷惑をおかけしました」is “I caused you trouble/inconvenience.” [apologizing]

SCENARIO 2: Schedule conflict adjustment

Role-play Setup

You’re working at a metalworking company. A client requests urgent repairs with a specific deadline. However, your company is already handling another urgent job, making it difficult to meet the client’s deadline.

The Dialogue

Okyakusama / Client

すみません、修理をお願いしたいんですが。
Sumimasen, shuuri o onegai-shitai n desu ga.
Excuse me, I’d like to request a repair.

Standard polite request opening. [requesting]

Student

はい、承知いたしました。
Hai, shoochi itashimashita.
Yes, I understand.

Very polite acknowledgment. [confirming]

Okyakusama / Client

今週中に仕上げていただけますか。
Konshuu juu ni shiage-te itadakemasu ka.
Could you finish it within this week?

「今週中に」means “within this week.” 「仕上げる」means “to finish” or “to complete.” [requesting]

Student

今週中ですね。少々お待ちください。確認いたします。
Konshuu juu desu ne. Shooshoo omachi kudasai. Kakunin itashimasu.
Within this week, I see. Please wait a moment. I’ll check.

「少々」means “a little” or “a moment.” The worker is checking the schedule. [confirming] [stating intention]

After Checking

Student

お待たせいたしました。
Omatase itashimashita.
Thank you for waiting.

Standard phrase after making someone wait. [apologizing]

KEY PHRASE 2

Student

申し訳ございません。今、別の急ぎの仕事が入っておりまして、今週中は難しいです。
Mooshiwake gozaimasen. Ima, betsu no isogi no shigoto ga haitte orimashite, konshuu juu wa muzukashii desu.
I apologize. Right now, we have another urgent job, so within this week is difficult.

「別の急ぎの仕事」means “another urgent job.” 「入っている」means “is scheduled/booked.” 「難しいです」is a polite way to say it’s not possible.

This phrase professionally declines a request by explaining the situation honestly while maintaining politeness. [refusing politely] [giving reasons]

Okyakusama / Client

そうですか…。
Soo desu ka…
I see…

The client sounds disappointed. [expressing disappointment]

Student

今日明日中には無理なんですが、来週の月曜日であればお受けできます。
Kyoo ashita juu niwa muri nan desu ga, raishuu no getsuyoobi de areba ouke-dekimasu.
Within today or tomorrow is impossible, but if it’s next Monday, we can accept it.

「今日明日中には」means “within today or tomorrow.” 「無理」means “impossible.” 「お受けできます」is the humble form of “can accept/undertake.”

This phrase offers an alternative after explaining what’s impossible, showing problem-solving attitude. [offering alternatives]

Okyakusama / Client

そうですか。じゃあ、それでお願いします。
Soo desu ka. Jaa, sore de onegai-shimasu.
I see. Then, please go ahead with that.

The client accepts the alternative. [accepting]

Student

ありがとうございます。よろしくお願いいたします。
Arigatoo gozaimasu. Yoroshiku onegai itashimasu.
Thank you very much. I appreciate your understanding.

Expressing gratitude for the client’s flexibility. [expressing gratitude]

Vocabulary

先日 (senjitsu) - the other day, recently
Example: 先日はありがとうございました。(Thank you for the other day.)

お答え (okotae) - answer, reply (polite)
Example: お答えします。(I will answer.)

お調べする (oshirabe-suru) - to investigate, to check (humble)
Example: お調べいたします。(I will check for you.)

リフォーム (rifoomu) - renovation, remodeling
Example: 家をリフォームします。(I’ll renovate the house.)

可能 (kanoo) - possible, feasible
Example: それは可能です。(That is possible.)

ご迷惑 (gomeewaku) - trouble, inconvenience (polite)
Example: ご迷惑をおかけしました。(I caused you trouble.)

修理 (shuuri) - repair, fix
Example: 機械の修理をします。(I’ll repair the machine.)

仕上げる (shiageru) - to finish, to complete
Example: 仕事を仕上げます。(I’ll complete the work.)

急ぎ (isogi) - urgent, rush
Example: 急ぎの仕事があります。(I have urgent work.)

別の (betsu no) - another, different
Example: 別の方法を試します。(I’ll try a different method.)

無理 (muri) - impossible, unreasonable
Example: それは無理です。(That’s impossible.)

受ける (ukeru) - to receive, to accept, to undertake
Example: 注文を受けます。(I’ll accept the order.)

Cultural Notes

Apologizing for Delayed Responses

Japanese business culture emphasizes prompt responses:

  1. Acknowledge the delay - Even if just a few hours, mention it
  2. Apologize sincerely - Use「申し訳ございません」for business situations
  3. Explain what you did - 「お調べしました」shows you took action
  4. Provide the answer - Get to the information quickly
  5. Apologize again - 「ご迷惑をおかけしました」reinforces sincerity

Declining Requests Politely

When you must refuse a client’s request:

  1. Apologize first - Start with「申し訳ございません」
  2. Explain honestly - Give the real reason without excuses
  3. Use softening language - 「難しいです」rather than「できません」
  4. Offer alternatives - Always try to provide another option
  5. Show appreciation - Thank them for understanding

The Art of Saying “No” Without Saying “No”

Japanese rarely use direct refusals:

Grammar Points

Using「できず」for Apologizing

Pattern: [verb potential form stem] + ず

「ず」is a negative suffix used in formal writing and apologies.

Examples:

Full apology pattern:

The Pattern「お調べしましたところ」

Pattern: お + [verb stem] + しましたところ

This humble pattern means “after I [verb]ed” or “when I checked.”

Examples:

Using「中」for Time Periods

Pattern: [time word] + 中に / 中は / 中には

Different uses:

Examples:

Tips from this Dialogue

こちらこそ (kochira koso)

This phrase reverses thanks or apologies.

Usage: When someone thanks or apologizes to you, and you want to say “I’m the one who should thank/apologize”:

ご迷惑をおかけする (gomeewaku o okakesuru)

This phrase means “to cause trouble/inconvenience.”

Pattern: ご迷惑をおかけして、申し訳ございません。

Related expressions:

無理 (muri) - impossible, unreasonable

「無理」is commonly used to express impossibility.

Levels of directness:

  1. 無理です。(Impossible - direct)
  2. 無理なんです。(It’s impossible - explaining)
  3. ちょっと無理です。(It’s a bit impossible - softer)
  4. 無理かもしれません。(It might be impossible - very soft)

Usage:

Keego (Polite Language)

Apologizing for Inability

From casual to formal:

  1. できなくてごめん。(Casual)
  2. できなくてすみません。(Polite)
  3. できなくて申し訳ありません。(Formal)
  4. できず、申し訳ございません。(Very formal)
  5. できかねまして、大変申し訳ございません。(Extremely formal)

Saying “I checked”

Levels of politeness:

  1. 調べた。(Casual)
  2. 調べました。(Polite)
  3. 調べてみました。(Polite, showing effort)
  4. お調べしました。(Humble polite)
  5. お調べいたしました。(Very humble polite)

Review: Key Patterns from the Series

Apologizing for delays

Following up after checking

Acknowledging inconvenience caused

Declining politely with reasons

Offering alternatives

Kanji

先 - previous, ahead
Reading: さき (saki), セン (sen)
Example: 先日 (senjitsu - the other day), 先 (saki - ahead)

日 - day, sun
Reading: ひ (hi), か (ka), ニチ (nichi), ジツ (jitsu)
Example: 先日 (senjitsu - the other day), 今日 (kyoo - today)

答 - answer, reply
Reading: こた (kota), トウ (too)
Example: 答える (kotaeru - to answer), 答え (kotae - answer)

調 - investigate, tune
Reading: しら (shira), チョウ (choo)
Example: 調べる (shiraberu - to investigate), 調子 (chooshi - condition)

可 - possible, approve
Reading: カ (ka)
Example: 可能 (kanoo - possible), 許可 (kyoka - permission)

能 - ability, talent
Reading: ノウ (noo)
Example: 可能 (kanoo - possible), 能力 (nooryoku - ability)

迷 - astray, lost
Reading: まよ (mayo), メイ (mei)
Example: 迷惑 (meewaku - trouble), 迷う (mayou - to be lost)

惑 - confused, bewildered
Reading: まど (mado), ワク (waku)
Example: 迷惑 (meewaku - trouble), 困惑 (konwaku - bewilderment)

修 - discipline, study, repair
Reading: シュウ (shuu), シュ (shu)
Example: 修理 (shuuri - repair), 修正 (shuusee - correction)

理 - reason, logic
Reading: リ (ri)
Example: 修理 (shuuri - repair), 理由 (riyuu - reason)

仕 - serve, official
Reading: つか (tsuka), シ (shi)
Example: 仕上げる (shiageru - to finish), 仕事 (shigoto - work)

上 - up, above, finish
Reading: あ (a), うえ (ue), ジョウ (joo)
Example: 仕上げる (shiageru - to finish), 上 (ue - above)

急 - hurry, urgent
Reading: いそ (iso), キュウ (kyuu)
Example: 急ぎ (isogi - urgent), 急ぐ (isogu - to hurry)

別 - separate, another
Reading: わか (waka), ベツ (betsu)
Example: 別の (betsu no - another), 特別 (tokubetsu - special)

無 - nothing, without
Reading: な (na), ム (mu), ブ (bu)
Example: 無理 (muri - impossible), 無い (nai - not exist)

理 - reason, logic
Reading: リ (ri)
Example: 無理 (muri - impossible), 理由 (riyuu - reason)

受 - receive, accept
Reading: う (u), ジュ (ju)
Example: 受ける (ukeru - to receive), 受付 (uketsuke - reception)

Final Notes

Completing the Series

Congratulations on completing all 48 lessons of “Easy Japanese for Work”!

Key skills learned:

  1. Polite requests and refusals - Essential business communication
  2. Keego (honorific language) - Showing respect to clients and superiors
  3. Problem-solving language - Offering alternatives and solutions
  4. Workplace etiquette - Understanding Japanese business culture
  5. Industry-specific vocabulary - Various workplace contexts

Moving Forward

To continue improving your Japanese workplace communication:

Source

Based on NHK WORLD-JAPAN’s “Easy Japanese for Work” Lesson #48
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/tv/easyjapaneseforwork/skit48.html

Series Complete!

This concludes the “Easy Japanese for Work” series. All 48 lessons provide a foundation for professional Japanese communication in various workplace settings. Review and practice these lessons regularly to build confidence and fluency in business Japanese.