# Japanese Office Vocabulary: Japanese Business Vocabulary for Foreign Professionals
> Learn essential Japanese office vocabulary for working in Japan. Job titles, keigo, business phrases, and workplace culture terms you actually need.
**URL:** https://migaku.com/blog/japanese/japanese-office-vocabulary
**Last Updated:** 2026-03-20
**Tags:** vocabulary, phrases
---
If you're planning to work in Japan or have already landed a job at a Japanese company, you'll quickly realize that [casual Japanese](https://migaku.com/blog/japanese/basic-japanese-phrases) won't cut it in the office. The workplace has its own vocabulary, hierarchy-based language, and cultural expressions that you just don't encounter in textbooks. I've seen [Japanese learners](https://migaku.com/learn-japanese) struggle with this transition because office Japanese feels like learning a whole new language on top of what they already know. This guide covers the essential Japanese office vocabulary you need to actually function in a professional environment, from job titles to cultural concepts.

<toc></toc>

----
## Understanding the hierarchy through job titles
Japanese companies run on strict hierarchy, and the vocabulary reflects this reality. You can't just call everyone by their name and move on. Every job title matters because it determines how you speak to someone and how they speak to you.

- The top of the food chain is the <typo lang="ja" syntax="社長[しゃちょう;h]"></typo> (shachō), which means company president or CEO.
- Then you've got <typo lang="ja" syntax="副社長[ふくしゃちょう;h]"></typo> (fuku-shachō) for vice president.
- Below that, you'll find <typo lang="ja" syntax="部長[ぶちょう;h]"></typo> (buchō), the department head or general manager. This person runs an entire department and has serious decision-making power.
- Moving down, there's <typo lang="ja" syntax="課長[かちょう;h]"></typo> (kachō), the section chief who manages a smaller team within a department.
- Then <typo lang="ja" syntax="係長[かかりちょう;h]"></typo> (kakarichō), a subsection chief who oversees an even smaller group.
- Regular employees are called <typo lang="ja" syntax="社員[しゃいん;h]"></typo> (shain), while new employees fresh out of university are <typo lang="ja" syntax="新入社員[しんにゅうしゃいん;h]"></typo> (shinnyū shain).
- Part-time workers have their own terms too. <typo lang="ja" syntax="アルバイト[あるばいと;h]"></typo> (arubaito), often shortened to <typo lang="ja" syntax="バイト[ばいと;h]"></typo> (baito), refers to part-timers, usually students or temporary workers.
- Contract employees are <typo lang="ja" syntax="契約社員[けいやくしゃいん;h]"></typo> (keiyaku shain).

Here's the thing about these titles: you use them when addressing people. Instead of saying "Mr. Tanaka," you'd say "Tanaka-buchō" if he's a department head. The title becomes part of how you refer to your superior in conversation.

----
## Essential office items and spaces in business Japanese vocabulary
Walk into any Japanese office, and you'll need vocabulary for the physical stuff around you. 

| Japanese | English |
| - | - |
| <typo lang="ja" syntax="会議室[かいぎしつ;h]"></typo> | Meeting room |
| <typo lang="ja" syntax="机[つくえ;h]"></typo> | Desk |
| <typo lang="ja" syntax="デスク[ですく;h]"></typo> | Desk setup (including chair and space) |
| <typo lang="ja" syntax="書類[しょるい;h]"></typo> | Documents / Paperwork |
| <typo lang="ja" syntax="名刺[めいし;h]"></typo> | Business card |
| <typo lang="ja" syntax="報告書[ほうこくしょ;h]"></typo> | Report |
| <typo lang="ja" syntax="契約書[けいやくしょ;h]"></typo> | Contract |
| <typo lang="ja" syntax="ペン[ぺん;h]"></typo> | Pen |
| <typo lang="ja" syntax="シャープペンシル[しゃーぷぺんしる;h]"></typo> / <typo lang="ja" syntax="シャーペン[しゃーぺん;h]"></typo> | Mechanical pencil |
| <typo lang="ja" syntax="ホッチキス[ほっちきす;h]"></typo> | Stapler |
| <typo lang="ja" syntax="クリップ[くりっぷ;h]"></typo> | Paper clip |
| <typo lang="ja" syntax="コピー機[こぴーき;h]"></typo> | Copy machine |
| <typo lang="ja" syntax="プリンター[ぷりんたー;h]"></typo> | Printer |
| <typo lang="ja" syntax="パソコン[ぱそこん;h]"></typo> | Computer |

----
## Work verbs and daily phrases in business vocabulary
Learning how to talk about work itself requires specific verbs. 

| Japanese | English |
| - | - |
| <typo lang="ja" syntax="働[はたら;a] く[;h]"></typo> | To work |
| <typo lang="ja" syntax="勤[つと;a] めています[;h]"></typo> | I'm employed at |
| <typo lang="ja" syntax="会議[かいぎ;h] に[;h] 出席[しゅっせき;h] する[;h]"></typo> | To attend a meeting |
| <typo lang="ja" syntax="会議[かいぎ;h] を[;h] 開[ひら;a] く[;h]"></typo> | To hold a meeting |
| <typo lang="ja" syntax="発表[はっぴょう;h] する[;h]"></typo> | To give a presentation |
| <typo lang="ja" syntax="提出[ていしゅつ;h] する[;h]"></typo> | To submit documents / reports |
| <typo lang="ja" syntax="確認[かくにん;h] する[;h]"></typo> | To check / verify |
| <typo lang="ja" syntax="休[やす;a] む[;h]"></typo> | To take a day off |
| <typo lang="ja" syntax="休暇[きゅうか;h] を[;h] 取[と;a] る[;h]"></typo> | To formally request leave |
| <typo lang="ja" syntax="残業[ざんぎょう;h]"></typo> | Overtime work |
| <typo lang="ja" syntax="残業[ざんぎょう;h] する[;h]"></typo> | To do overtime |

----
## Keigo and honorific language
Here's where [business Japanese](https://migaku.com/blog/japanese/anime-manga-business-japanese) gets tricky. Keigo is the system of honorific language that you absolutely need in the workplace. It has three main types: 
1. <typo lang="ja" syntax="尊敬語[そんけいご;h]"></typo> (sonkeigo) for showing respect to superiors,
2. <typo lang="ja" syntax="謙譲語[けんじょうご;h]"></typo> (kenjōgo) for humbling yourself,
3. and <typo lang="ja" syntax="丁寧語[ていねいご;h]"></typo> (teineigo) for general politeness.

The verb **"to say"** changes completely depending on who's saying it. 
1. When your superior says something, you use <typo lang="ja" syntax="おっしゃる[おっしゃる;h]"></typo> (ossharu).
2.  When you're saying something to a superior, you humble yourself with <typo lang="ja" syntax="申[もう;a] す[;h]"></typo> (mōsu) or <typo lang="ja" syntax="申[もう;a] し[;h] 上[あ;a] げる[;h]"></typo> (mōshi ageru).

**"To do"** follows the same pattern. 
1. Your superior "does" something using <typo lang="ja" syntax="なさる[なさる;h]"></typo> (nasaru),
2. while you humble your own actions with <typo lang="ja" syntax="致[いた;a] す[;h]"></typo> (itasu).

When asking someone **to look** at something, you don't use the regular <typo lang="ja" syntax="見[み;a] る[;h]"></typo> (miru). 
1. Instead, you say <typo lang="ja" syntax="ご覧[ごらん;h] になる[;h]"></typo> (goran ni naru) when your superior is looking,
2. or <typo lang="ja" syntax="拝見[はいけん;h] する[;h]"></typo> (haiken suru) when you're looking at something they showed you.

The word for **"to know"** shifts too. 
1. <typo lang="ja" syntax="ご存知[ごぞんじ;h] ですか[;h]"></typo> (gozonji desu ka) asks if a superior knows something,
2. while <typo lang="ja" syntax="存[ぞん;a] じております[;h]"></typo> (zonjite orimasu) means you know something, using humble language.

----
## Japanese business culture concepts
Some vocabulary only makes sense within Japanese business culture. 

| Japanese | English | Explanation |
| - | - | - |
| <typo lang="ja" syntax="報連相[ほうれんそう;h]"></typo> | Hōrensō | Crucial concept combining three kanji: 報告 (hōkoku, reporting), 連絡 (renraku, informing), and 相談 (sōdan, consulting). Means constantly keeping superiors informed about what you're doing. |
| <typo lang="ja" syntax="根回[ねまわ;a] し[;h]"></typo> | Nemawashi | Literally "going around the roots." Informal consensus-building before official meetings. Talking to key people individually, getting buy-in, smoothing out objections before formal decision-making. Japanese companies rely heavily on this. |
| <typo lang="ja" syntax="先輩[せんぱい;h]"></typo> | Senpai | Someone senior to you (not necessarily by job title but by years at the company). Affects how you speak and interact. |
| <typo lang="ja" syntax="後輩[こうはい;h]"></typo> | Kōhai | Someone junior to you. Affects how you speak and interact. |
| <typo lang="ja" syntax="飲[の;a] み[;h] 会[かい;h]"></typo> | Nomikai | Drinking parties after work. Pretty much mandatory for building relationships with colleagues. Refusing can hurt career progression, though nobody says this explicitly. |
| <typo lang="ja" syntax="朝礼[ちょうれい;h]"></typo> | Chōrei | Morning assembly where teams gather to discuss the day's tasks. |
| <typo lang="ja" syntax="ラジオ体操[らじおたいそう;h]"></typo> | Rajio taisō | Radio exercises done before work starts (in some companies). |

----
## Japanese phrases for phone and email communication
Phone vocabulary is super specific in Japanese business settings. 
- When you answer the phone, you say <typo lang="ja" syntax="お電話[おでんわ;h] ありがとうございます[;h]"></typo> (o-denwa arigatō gozaimasu), thanking them for calling.
- To ask who's calling, you use <typo lang="ja" syntax="失礼[しつれい;h] ですが[;h]、どちら様[どちらさま;h] でしょうか[;h]"></typo> (shitsurei desu ga, dochira-sama deshō ka).
- When transferring a call, you say <typo lang="ja" syntax="少々[しょうしょう;h] お待[おま;a] ち[;h] ください[;h]"></typo> (shōshō omachi kudasai), asking them to wait a moment.
- If the person isn't available, you might say <typo lang="ja" syntax="ただ 今[いま;a]、席[せき;h] を 外[はず;a] しております[;h]"></typo> (tadaima, seki wo hazushite orimasu), meaning they're away from their desk.

Business emails follow strict formatting. 
- You start with <typo lang="ja" syntax="お世話[おせわ;h] になっております[;h]"></typo> (osewa ni natte orimasu), a set phrase acknowledging your ongoing business relationship.
- The subject line is <typo lang="ja" syntax="件名[けんめい;h]"></typo> (kenmei).
- Ending an email uses phrases like <typo lang="ja" syntax="よろしくお 願[おねが;a] いいたします[;h]"></typo> (yoroshiku onegai itashimasu), which doesn't translate directly but expresses something like "I humbly ask for your favorable consideration."
- You might also see <typo lang="ja" syntax="何卒[なにとぞ;h]よろしくお 願[おねが;a] いいたします[;h]"></typo> (nanitozo yoroshiku onegai itashimasu) for extra formality.

----
## Preparing for a job interview
Job interview vocabulary deserves its own attention if you're trying to land a position at Japanese companies. 

- The interview itself is <typo lang="ja" syntax="面接[めんせつ;h]"></typo> (mensetsu).
- Your resume is <typo lang="ja" syntax="履歴書[りれきしょ;h]"></typo> (rirekisho), which follows a specific format in Japan, completely different from Western resumes.
- When introducing yourself, you'll use <typo lang="ja" syntax="自己紹介[じこしょうかい;h]"></typo> (jiko shōkai). A common opening is <typo lang="ja" syntax="本日[ほんじつ;h]はお 時間[おじかん;h] をいただき[;h]、ありがとうございます[;h]"></typo> (honjitsu wa ojikan wo itadaki, arigatō gozaimasu), thanking them for their time today.
- They'll ask about your motivation with <typo lang="ja" syntax="志望動機[しぼうどうき;h]"></typo> (shibō dōki). Your strengths are <typo lang="ja" syntax="長所[ちょうしょ;h]"></typo> (chōsho) and weaknesses are <typo lang="ja" syntax="短所[たんしょ;h]"></typo> (tansho). Previous work experience is <typo lang="ja" syntax="職歴[しょくれき;h]"></typo> (shokureki).
- When the interview ends, you bow and say <typo lang="ja" syntax="本日[ほんじつ;h] はありがとうございました[;h]"></typo> (honjitsu wa arigatō gozaimashita).

The thank-you email you send afterward can make or break your chances, so you should [learn Japanese](https://migaku.com/blog/japanese/how-long-does-it-take-to-learn-japanese) business email etiquette thoroughly.

----
## Modern workplace terms
The Japanese language has adapted to include modern work concepts. 

| Japanese | English |
| - | - |
| <typo lang="ja" syntax="リモートワーク[りもーとわーく;h]"></typo> / <typo lang="ja" syntax="テレワーク[てれわーく;h]"></typo> | Remote work |
| <typo lang="ja" syntax="在宅勤務[ざいたくきんむ;h]"></typo> | Working from home |
| <typo lang="ja" syntax="ビデオ会議[びでおかいぎ;h]"></typo> / <typo lang="ja" syntax="オンライン会議[おんらいんかいぎ;h]"></typo> | Video conference |
| <typo lang="ja" syntax="ウェブカメラ[うぇぶかめら;h]"></typo> | Webcam |
| <typo lang="ja" syntax="ミュート[みゅーと;h] する[;h]"></typo> | To mute yourself |
| <typo lang="ja" syntax="締[し;a] め[;h] 切[き;a] り[;h]"></typo> | Project deadline |
| <typo lang="ja" syntax="プロジェクト[ぷろじぇくと;h]"></typo> | Project |
| <typo lang="ja" syntax="チーム[ちーむ;h]"></typo> / <typo lang="ja" syntax="班[はん;h]"></typo> | Team (班 is for smaller work groups) |
| <typo lang="ja" syntax="ワークライフバランス[わーくらいふばらんす;h]"></typo> | Work-life balance |
| <typo lang="ja" syntax="燃[も;a] え[;h] 尽[つ;a] き[;h] 症候群[しょうこうぐん;h]"></typo> / <typo lang="ja" syntax="バーンアウト[ばーんあうと;h]"></typo> | Burnout |

----
## Common mistakes learners make
Most people [learning Japanese vocabulary](https://migaku.com/blog/japanese/best-japanese-anki-decks) for the office make predictable errors. 

1. They use casual forms with superiors, which can seriously damage relationships. Saying <typo lang="ja" syntax="分[わ;a] かった[;h]"></typo> (wakatta) instead of <typo lang="ja" syntax="承知[しょうち;h] しました[;h]"></typo> (shōchi shimashita) when acknowledging an instruction sounds rude and unprofessional.
2. People also struggle with when to use which level of keigo. You don't need maximum honorific language with colleagues at your level, but you absolutely need it with clients and upper management. The context determines the appropriate level, and this takes time to internalize.
3. Not understanding the cultural concepts behind certain vocabulary causes problems too. You might know the word <typo lang="ja" syntax="残業[ざんぎょう;h]"></typo> (zangyō) means overtime, but if you don't understand that refusing overtime can be seen as not being a team player, you'll miss the cultural weight the word carries.

Anyway, if you want to learn Japanese vocabulary in context rather than isolated lists, Migaku's browser extension and app let you look up words instantly while watching Japanese content or reading business articles. You can save words directly into your study deck and review them with spaced repetition. There's a 10-day free trial if you want to check it out.

<img src="https://migaku-cms-assets.migaku.com/Screenshot_2026_04_08_104033_44721bed86/Screenshot_2026_04_08_104033_44721bed86.png" width="1918" height="935" alt="learn japanese language and japanese culture with migaku" />

<prose-button href="/learn-japanese" text="Learn Japanese with Migaku"></prose-button>

----
## Improve your language proficiency with immersion
Watching Japanese business dramas gives you realistic examples of how people actually speak in offices. Shows set in corporate environments use this vocabulary constantly, and you'll hear the hierarchy and keigo in action. Notice which phrases the characters use repeatedly. Japanese business communication relies heavily on set phrases, so once you learn them, you can plug them into different situations.

> If you consume media in Japanese, and you understand at least some of the messages and sentences within that media, you will make progress. _Period_.

Repeat. Remember. Retain.