#hintsandtips

Check out the accompanying YouTube video here for detailed instructions.

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Check out the accompanying YouTube video here. Make sure to look at all the key vocabulary at the end of this post.

On Episode 1 of the Writing Business Japanese Series, we’re looking at how to ask for a quotation. This email can be used and adjusted when you’re looking to get a quote for a certain number of products from a company who you have been in touch with in the past. If it’s the first time emailing, be sure to introduce yourself!

Let’s take a look at the mail in full.

Subject: お見積もりのお願い

山田　様

いつもお世話にっております。
早速ですが、弊社では新たな製品の購入を検討しております。
つきましては、下記の内訳でお見積もりをいただければ幸いです。

記

品名：〇〇
数量：〇〇個

以上

お手数ですが、本日中にお送りいただければ幸いです。
お忙しいところ恐縮ですが、よろしくお願いいたします。

べんきょうご

Now let’s look in a little more detail.

Subject: お見積もりのお願い

The subject line should be short and sweet. In this case, ‘request for a quote’.

いつもお世話にっております。

This literally means something like “You’re taking care of me”, but in business terms it’s a standard greeting. “ーておます” is used here, which indicates this is a business relationship that is already established. If you are making a new connection, it is sometimes better to say ‘お世話になります’.

早速ですが、弊社では新たな製品の購入を検討しております。

The next sentence is “Sorry for getting right to it, but we’re considering purchasing some of your new items.” The key word here is 早速ですが, which is a way of indicating that you are about to jump right into the main topic of the email.

つきましては、下記の内訳でお見積もりをいただければ幸いです。

記

品名：〇〇
数量：〇〇個

以上

The recipient needs to know what they’re quoting for, so you have to give them an itemized breakdown (内訳). By using ‘下記’, you’re saying that you want a quote for the following. When using 下記, you must follow the sentence by starting a list with ‘記’, otherwise the person doesn’t know where to look. So literally, “I’d like a quote with the breakdown as follows, below the 記’

お手数ですが、本日中にお送りいただければ幸いです。

You can include a deadline. Although お送りいただければ幸いです sounds like a tentative deadline, it’s always best to just follow the deadline, and apologise if you can’t make it. Remember, Japanese people aren’t often direct when making requests…

お忙しいところ恐縮ですが、よろしくお願いいたします。

The final keyword is ‘恐縮’ - this means ‘I’m terribly sorry’ and is used frequently at the end of business emails to politely say sorry for taking up the recipient’s time.

KEY WORD LIST

お世話になる: I’m indebted to you
早速 sudden
弊社 our company (formal)
新たな new
製品 product
購入する purchase
検討する considering
下記 the following 
内訳 itemized
幸い appreciative
品名 product name
数量 quantity
以上 that’s all
お手数ですが、 sorry to trouble you,
本日中 within today, by the end of today
お忙しいところ while you’re busy
恐縮 sorry

—————

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