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Workplace Diplomacy
In a Japanese work environment, direct confrontation is avoided at all costs. You cannot simply say "That's a bad idea" or "This code is wrong." You must use diplomacy. Learning how to disagree politely and give constructive feedback without damaging harmony is the hallmark of an advanced professional.
Scenes
Scene Vocabulary
機能
kinouFeature / Functionおっしゃること
o-ssharu kotoWhat you are sayingただ
tadaHowever / Justバグ
baguBug修正しゅうせい
shūseiFix / Correction厳しいいかめしい
kibishiiSevere / Difficult待っていただけませんか
matte itadakemasen kaCould I receive the favor of you waiting?仕方ない
shikata naiIt can't be helped午後一
gogo i-chiFirst thing in the afternoonできます
dekimasuCan doどれくらい
dorekuraiHow much / How longご迷惑
gomeiwakuTrouble / Inconvenienceほど
hodoAbout / Extentいたしました
itashimashitaDidじゃあ
jaaWell then実み
jitsuActually / Truthかかります
kakarimasuTakes (time/money)かも
kamoMaybe / Might金曜日きんようび
kinyoubiFridayこの
konoThisまで
madeUntil / To見つかりまして
mitsukari-mashiteWas found and...なる
naruBecomeお掛け
okakeSit downお願いします
onegaishimasuPlease来週
raishuuNext weekリリース
ririisuRelease承知
shouchiConsent / Agreement水曜日
suiyoubiWednesday少し
sukoshiA little分かります
wakarimasuUnderstandよく
yokuWell / OftenDialogue A: Disagreeing with a Deadline
Your manager has just proposed launching a new feature by Friday. As the lead developer, you know this is impossible due to a bug. You need to push back against the deadline without saying a flat "No."
Display Options
Manager
この機能、金曜日までにリリースできますか？Kono kinou, kinyoubi made ni ririisu dekimasu ka?
Can we release this feature by Friday?
You
おっしゃることはよく分かります。ただ、実はバグが見つかりまして...O-ssharu koto wa yoku wakarimasu. Tada, jitsu wa bagu ga mitsukari-mashite...
I understand completely what you are saying. However, actually, a bug was found, and...
Manager
バグですか。修正にどれくらいかかりますか？Bagu desu ka. Shūsei ni dorekurai kakarimasu ka?
A bug? How long will the fix take?
You
少し厳しいかもしれません。来週の水曜日まで待っていただけませんか？Sukoshi kibishii kamo shiremasen. Raishuu no suiyoubi made matte itadakemasen ka?
It might be a little severe/difficult. Could I have you wait until next Wednesday?
Manager
なるほど。仕方ないですね。じゃあ、水曜日の午後一でお願いします。Naru hodo. Shikata nai desu ne. Jaa, suiyoubi no gogo i-chi de onegaishimasu.
I see. It can't be helped. Then, first thing Wednesday afternoon, please.
You
ご迷惑をおかけします。承知いたしました。Gomeiwaku o okake shimasu. Shouchi itashimashita.
I apologize for the trouble. Understood.