Visiting a Company

Business Etiquette | 会社を訪ねるとき

Visiting a Company

You should take off your coat or scarf before entering an office. When dealing with reception or an intercom, you should first state your company name and your own name, and in the following way you should announce an appointment or purpose: “I’m SMITH from ABC company. Itsumo osewa ni natte orimasu. I have an appointment with Mr. SUZUKI in the sales department at 10:00.” When you are shown into a room, basically you should not sit unless invited to take a seat. If there is no invitation, avoid sitting in the best seats and wait in an inferior seat. The best seats are at the far end of the room, while the inferior seats are closer to the entrance. When the person you are meeting comes into the room, immediately stand up and exchange greetings and business cards. Wait to sit until the host(s) takes their seat. In addition, if a boss or colleagues are present, only sit down after your superiors are seated. If tea is served, it is better not to imbibe any until you are encouraged to do so. After saying “Arigatou gozaimasu. Choudai shimasu” or “Itadakimasu,” hold the teacup with both hands and drink. Generally the visitor is the one who decides when it is time to leave. You bow, saying, “Honjitsu wa ojikan wo itadakimashite, arigatou gozaimashita.” (Thank you for your time today.) When you leave the room, you bow once again, saying, “Shitsurei itashimasu.”

オフィスおふぃす
ofisu ni
(an) office
はい
hairu
entering
まえ
mae ni
before
コートこーと
ko-to ha
(your) coat
ぎ、
nugi,
(you) should take off
マフラーまふらー
mafura- ha
(or) scarf
とりましょう。
torimashou.
[take off]
受付うけつけ
uketsuke
reception
ya
or
インターホンいんたーほんでの
innta-honn de no
(an) intercom
応対おうたい
outai
dealing with
には、
niha,
when
まず
mazu
first
社名しゃめい
shamei
(your) company name
to
and
名前なまえ
namae wo
(your) own name
い、
ii,
(you) should state and
約束やくそくがあること
yakusoku ga aru koto
(an) appointment
ya
or
目的もくてき
mokuteki wo
purpose
つぎのように
tsugi no you ni
in (the) following way
つたえます。
tsutae masu.
(you) should announce
ABCエービーシーしゃ
e-bi-shi- sha
ABC company
から
kara
from
まいりりました
mairimashita
[came]
スミスすみす
sumisu to
Smith
もうします。
moushi masu.
I’m
いつもお世話せわになっております。
itsumo osewa ni natte orimasu.
itsumo osewa ni natte orimasu
営業部えいぎょうぶ
eigyoubu
(the) sales department
no
in
鈴木すずきさま
suzuki sama
Mr. Suzuki
to
with
10じゅう
jyuuji
ten o’clock
ni
at
約束やくそく
oyakusoku
(an) appointment
しております」。
shite orimasu.
(I) have
部屋へや
heya ni
(a) room
案内あんないされたら、
annnai saretara,
(you) are shown into when
基本的きほんてき
kihonnteki ni
basically
せき
seki wo
to take a seat
すすめられる
susumerareru
invited
まで
made
unless <till>
すわりません。
suwari masenn.
(you) should not sit
案内あんない
annnai ga
invitation
ない
nai
there is no
場合ばあいは、
baai ha,
if
上座かみざ
kamiza wo
in the best seats
けて、
sake te,
avoid (sitting) and
下座しもざ
shimoza ni
in (an) inferior seat
すわって
suwatte
[sitting]
ちます。
machimasu.
wait
部屋へや
heya
(the) room
no
of
おく
oku ga
at (the) far end
上座かみざ
kamiza,
the best seats (are) while
ぐち
iriguchi
(the) entrance
ちかくが
chikaku ga
closer to
下座しもざ
shimoza
(the) inferior seats
です。
desu.
are
担当者たんとうしゃ
tanntousha ga
(the) person (you) are meeting
部屋へや
heya ni
(the) room
はいってきたら、
haitte kitara,
comes into when
すぐに
sugu ni
immediately
ちあがり、
tachiagari,
stand up and
あいさつ
ausatsu
greetings
ya
and
名刺めいし
meishi
business cards
交換こうかんをします。
koukann wo shimasu.
exchange
訪問先ほうもんさきみなさんが
houmonnsaki no minasann ga
(the) host(s) <people of visiting company>
すわ
suwaru
takes (their) seat
まで
made
until
ちます。
machimasu.
wait (to sit)
また、
mata,
in addition
上司じょうし
jyoushi to
(a) boss (or colleagues)
同行どうこうした
doukou shita
are present
場合ばあいは、
baai ha,
if
上司じょうし
jyoushi ga
(your) superiors
すわって
suwatte
are seated
から、
kara,
after
すわります。
suwari masu.
(only) sit down
ちゃ
ocha wo
tea
された
dasareta
is served
場合ばあい
baai,
if
すすめられて
susumerarete
(you) are encouraged (to do so)
から
kara
until <after>
くちをつける
kuchi wo tsukeru
not to imbibe any <to sip>
ほういでしょう。
hou ga yoi deshou.
it is better
「ありがとうございます。
arigatou gozaiasu.
arigatou gozaimasu
ちょうだいします」
choudai shimasu
choudai shimasu
ya
or
「いただきます」と、
itadakimasu to,
itadakimasu
れい
orei wo
[thanks]
ってから、
itte kara,
saying after
両手りょうて
ryoute
both hands
de
with
茶碗ちゃわん
chawann wo
(the) teacup
って
motte
hold and
みます。
nomi masu.
drink
かえ
kaeru
to leave
タイミングたいみんぐ
taiminngu wo
when it is time
すのは
kiridasu no ha
the one (who) decides
訪問者ほうもんしゃからが
houmonnsha kara ga
(the) visitor
一般的いっぱんてき
ippannteki
generally
です。
desu.
is
本日ほんじつ
honnjitsu ha
today
時間じかん
ojikann wo
(your) time
いただきまして、
itadakimashite,
[giving]
ありがとうございました」
arigatou gozaimashita
thank you (for)
って、
to itte,
saying
おじぎをします。
ojigi wo shimasu.
(you) bow
部屋へや
heya wo
(the) room
deru
(you) leave
まえ
mae ni
when
もう一度いちど
mouichido,
once again
[rb:失礼しつれいいたします」
shitsurei itasimasu
shitsurei itashimasu
って、
to itte,
saying
会釈えしゃくをします。
eshaku wo shimasu.
(you) bow

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