Used for business calls, for example, making a phone call to a client, Japanese generally speak as follows:
“Watashi wa ABC sha no Satou to moushimasu. Osewani natte orimasu. Tanaka san wa irasshaimasu ka.”
When you say your name, it is better to say “moushimasu,” rather than “iimasu,” since it makes a polite impression on the person you’re speaking to.
“Osewa ni natte orimasu” (I would appreciate your usual cooperation) is a set phrase that demonstrates respect for a client.
If you say “imasu ka” instead of “irasshaimasu ka” to a client, you will be perceived as being a person ignorant of polite manners.
The other way to say this would be “Tanaka san o, onegai shimasu.” (Mr. Tanaka please.)
When replying to such phone calls, you should say the following:
“Tanaka desune. Shoushou omachikudasai.”
When dealing with staff within your company, even if they are your boss or president, you should not address them using san or their position title.
In cases when the person is out of the office, you should say the following:
“Tanaka wa gaishutsuchuu desu. Yoroshikereba goyouken o oukagai itashimasu.”
“Yoroshikereba” is a phrase that is often used.
If the caller says to call him back later, you should say the following:
“Yoroshikereba, orikaeshi Tanaka kara denwa sashiagemashouka.”
Even so, if the caller says, “Iie, kochira kara nochi hodo kakenaoshi masu. (“It’s OK. I will call him back later.”), you can infer that the caller would like to put something directly to Mr. Tanaka.
It is generally accepted that when you want to sell something or make a request to a person, you should call back.
ビジネス
Bijinesu
business
取引先
torihikisaki
(a) client
電話をかける
denwa o/wo kakeru
making (a) phone call
ときには、
toki niwa/ha,
[when]
一般的に
ippantekini
generally
次のように
tsugi no you ni
as follows
話します。
hanashimasu.
(Japanese) speak
「私は、
“Watashi wa/ha,
this
ABC社
ABC’sha
ABC company
お世話になっております。
Osewani natte orimasu.
(I) would appreciate your usual cooperation
田中さんは
Tanaka san wa/ha
Mr. Tanaka
いらっしゃいますか」。
irasshaimasu ka.”
is there
自分の
Jibun no
your <own>
「申します」
“moushimasu”
(to say) moushimasu
相手
aite
(the) person you’re speaking to
印象を
inshou o/wo
(a[n]) impression
好ましいです。
konomashii desu.
(it) is better
「お世話になっております」は、
“Osewani natte orimasu” wa/ha,
(I) would appreciate your usual cooperation
取引先を
torihikisaki o/wo
(a) client
敬う
uyamau
(that) demonstrates respect for
決まり文句
kimari’monku
(a) set phrase
「いらっしゃいますか」と
“irasshaimasu ka” to
irasshaimasu ka
「いますか」と
“imasu ka” to
imasu ka
礼儀を
reigi o/wo
polite manners
知らない
shiranai
ignorant (of)
思われます。
omowaremasu.
(you) will be perceived
「田中さんをお願いします」
“Tanaka san o/wo onegaishimasu”
Mr. Tanaka please
という言い方
to iu iikata
the other way to say (this)
応対する
outai suru
replying
次のように
tsugi no youni
(the) following
言います。
iimasu.
(you) should say
「田中
“Tanaka
Mr. Tanaka ?
少々お待ちください」。
Shoushou omachikudasai.”
hold the line please
社内スタッフ
Shanai’sutaffu
staff within (your) company
に対しては、
ni taishite wa/ha,
when dealing with
社長で
shachou de
president
あっても、
attemo,
even if (they) are
役職を
yakushoku o/wo
(their) position title
べきではありません。
beki dewa/ha arimasen.
(you) should not
外出している
Gaishutsu shite iru
(the person) is out of (the) office
次のように
tsugi no youni
(the) following
言います。
iimasu.
(you) should say
「田中は
“Tanaka wa/ha
Tanaka
外出中
gaishutsuchuu
out
よろしければ、
Yoroshikereba,
[if you like]
ご用件を
goyouken o/wo
(a) message
お伺いいたします」。
oukagai itashimasu.”
may (I) take (for him)
「よろしければ」は
“Yoroshikereba wa/ha
Yoroshikereba
フレーズ
fure-zu
(a) phrase
相手が
Aite ga
(the) caller
電話すると
denwa suru to
to call (him) back
次のように
tsugi no you ni
(the) following
続けます。
tsuzu/dukemasu.
(you) should say
「よろしければ、
“Yoroshikereba,
[if you like]
お電話をさしあげましょうか」。
odenwa o/wo sashiagemashou ka.”
shall (I) get to call (you)
相手 が、
aite ga,
(the) caller
かけ直します」
kakenaoshimasu”
will call (him) back
田中 さん
Tanaka san
Mr. Tanaka
直接
chokusetsu
directly
依頼 したい
irai shitai
(the caller) would like
用件 が
youken ga
something
売り込みたい
Urikomitai
(you) want to sell (something)
依頼したい
irai shitai
make (a) request
ときには、
toki niwa/ha,
[when]
かけ直す
kakenaosu
(you) should call back
常識です。
joushiki desu.
(it) is generally accepted