日本語の会議表現: 会議の開啓から終結まで

Japanese business meetings have their own vocabulary, structure, and etiquette. Whether you're attending a 会議 (kaigi, formal meeting) or a 打ち合わせ (uchi-awase, informal planning session), knowing the right phrases will help you participate confidently and make the right impression.

TOC

At a Glance: Japanese Meeting Phrase Types

FunctionJapaneseRomaji
Opening the meetingこれより会議を始めます。Korekara kaigi wo hajimemasu.
Agenda announcement本日の議題は〜です。Honjitsu no gidai wa ~ desu.
Giving the floorご意見をお聞かせください。Go-iken wo okikase kudasai.
Agreeing with a proposalそのご案に贛成です。Sono go-an ni sansei desu.
Closing the meeting以上で会議を終わります。Ijou de kaigi wo owarimasu.
Yuka

Japanese business meetings have a clear structure — opening, agenda, discussion, decision, close. Once you know the key phrase for each stage you'll follow along much more easily!

Opening the Meeting

JapaneseRomajiEnglish
ご集まりいただき、ありがとうございます。Go-atsumari itadaki, arigatou gozaimasu.Thank you all for gathering.
本日はお忙しい中、ご参加いただきありがとうございます。Honjitsu wa o-isogashii naka, go-sanka itadaki arigatou gozaimasu.Thank you for joining us on this busy day.
これより、会議を始めたいと思います。Korekara, kaigi wo hajimetai to omoimasu.I would like to begin the meeting now.
本日の議題は次のとおりです。Honjitsu no gidai wa tsugi no toori desu.Today's agenda is as follows.

Presenting and Explaining Ideas

JapaneseRomajiEnglish
お会いしたいことがあります。O-shirase shitai koto ga arimasu.I have something I'd like to report.
提案があります。Teian ga arimasu.I have a proposal.
資料をご覧ください。Shiryou wo go-ran kudasai.Please look at the materials.
これは〜についてのデータです。Kore wa ~ ni tsuite no deeta desu.This is the data about ~.
要点をまとめますと、〜です。Youten wo matomemasu to, ~ desu.To summarise the key points, it is ~.
Rei

How do I ask a question politely during a Japanese meeting without interrupting?

Yuka

Use: よろしければ、質問してもよろしいでしょうか。 (Yoroshikereba, shitsumon shitemo yoroshii deshou ka.) — If I may, could I ask a question? This is very polite and won't feel intrusive.

Asking Questions and Seeking Clarification

JapaneseRomajiEnglish
質問してもよろしいでしょうか。Shitsumon shitemo yoroshii deshou ka.May I ask a question?
もう少し詳しく教えていただけますか。Mou sukoshi kuwashiku oshiete itadakemasu ka.Could you explain that in a bit more detail?
ご確認させてください。〜ということでよろしいですか。Go-kakunin sasete kudasai. ~ to iu koto de yoroshii desu ka.Let me confirm. Is it correct that ~?
理解しました。Rikai shimashita.I understand.
引き続きお願いします。Hikitsuzuki o-negai shimasu.Please continue. / I'll continue to be in your care.

Agreeing, Disagreeing, and Responding to Proposals

JapaneseRomajiEnglish
そのご案に贛成です。Sono go-an ni sansei desu.I agree with that proposal.
ごもっともです。Go-mottomo desu.That's a valid/reasonable point.
少し持ち帰って検討したいと思います。Sukoshi mochikatte kentou shitai to omoimasu.I'd like to take some time to consider this.
その点については、別の観点があります。Sono ten ni tsuite wa, betsu no kanten ga arimasu.Regarding that point, I have a different perspective.
負担できない部分があります。Futan dekinai bubun ga arimasu.There are parts we cannot manage. (Soft refusal)

Decision-Making and Action Items

JapaneseRomajiEnglish
では、この方向で進めましょう。De wa, kono houkou de susmemashou.Then let's proceed in this direction.
担当者は〜さんです。Tantousha wa ~ san desu.The person in charge is ~.
期限は〜までです。Kigen wa ~ made desu.The deadline is by ~.
次回の会議は〜の予定です。Jikai no kaigi wa ~ no yotei desu.The next meeting is scheduled for ~.

Closing the Meeting

JapaneseRomajiEnglish
以上で、本日の議題は終わりです。Ijou de, honjitsu no gidai wa owari desu.That concludes today's agenda.
ご参加いただきありがとうございました。Go-sanka itadaki arigatou gozaimashita.Thank you for attending.
お疲れさまでした。O-tsukare sama deshita.Thank you for your hard work.
以上で会議を終わります。Ijou de kaigi wo owarimasu.This concludes the meeting.
Yuka

お疲れさまでした (o-tsukare sama deshita) is the most important phrase to remember — it's said at the end of any meeting or work session and shows appreciation for everyone's effort.

Quick Quiz: Japanese Meeting Phrases

1. How do you say “May I ask a question?” politely in Japanese?
質問してもよろしいでしょうか。 (Shitsumon shitemo yoroshii deshou ka.)

2. What phrase marks the end of a work session?
お疲れさまでした。 (O-tsukare sama deshita.)

3. How do you introduce an agenda item: “Today's agenda is as follows”?
本日の議題は次のとおりです。 (Honjitsu no gidai wa tsugi no toori desu.)

4. What is a polite way to disagree or ask for time to consider?
少し持ち帰って検討したいと思います。 (Sukoshi mochikatte kentou shitai to omoimasu.)

5. What is 打ち合わせ (uchi-awase)?
An informal pre-meeting or planning session between colleagues

あわせて読みたい
Japanese Phone Call Phrases: もしもし, Hold, Transfers, and More Master Japanese phone etiquette: moshi moshi, putting someone on hold, dealing with bad connections, taking messages, and closing calls. Essential for daily life and business in Japan.
あわせて読みたい
Japanese Business Email Phrases: Templates and Expressions for Professional Communication Complete guide to Japanese business email: opening formulas, making requests politely, apologizing for delays, and professional closing phrases. Templates you can use right away.

Keep Learning

あわせて読みたい
Keigo: Sonkeigo vs Kenjougo vs Teineigo — Japanese Honorific Language Explained Keigo (敬語) — Japanese honorific language — is one of the most discussed and most feared aspects of Japanese for learners. But it's also one of the most rew...
あわせて読みたい
Japanese Job Interview Phrases: What to Say from Entry to Exit Complete guide to Japanese job interview phrases: entering the room, self-introduction, common questions, and asking your own questions. Includes keigo and cultural protocol.
あわせて読みたい
Japanese Business Card Etiquette: The Complete 名刺 Guide Master Japanese business card (名刺) exchange ritual: how to present, receive, read, and store meishi. Includes what to say and common foreigner mistakes to avoid.

Which Japanese meeting phrase do you find most challenging? Leave a comment below — and share your own favourite business Japanese phrases!

Let's share this post !

Comments

To comment

TOC