#japanese vocab
Check out the accompanying YouTube video here!
On Episode 2 of the Writing Business Japanese Series, we’re going to check inventory, or stock levels. This email can be used and adjusted when you’re looking to place an order for a large quantity of products from a company who you have been in touch with in the past, but want to make sure they have it in stock.
Subject: 〇〇の在庫についての問い合わせ
田中 様
いつもお世話になっております。
（株）BENKYOGOの山田です。
早速ですが、〇〇の在庫についてお問い合わせしたく
ご連絡させていただきました。
つきましては１００個注文したいのですが、
在庫はございますでしょうか。
急なお願いで大変恐縮ですが、折り返しご回答よろしくお願いいたします。
山田
Let’s take a look at the mail in more detail.
Subject: 〇〇の在庫についての問い合わせ
The subject line should be short and sweet. We use 問い合わせ here to mean ‘enquiry’. In an email’s subject, you can use the phrase [insert topic]についての問い合わせ to give a clear idea about what your enquiry is.
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’.
（株）BENKYOGOの山田です。
（株）here is the shortened version of 株式会社 – incorporated company. When talking about your own company, you can use the shortened version, but be sure to use the full version when referring to another company.
早速ですが、〇〇の在庫についてお問い合わせしたく
ご連絡させていただきました。
Once again we are using 問い合わせ, however, here we are using it as a verb. We are actually saying, “I want to enquire about…[insert topic], so I’ve contacted you”. However, in order to link the new sentences, we use the stem form of したい which becomes したく.
ご連絡させていただきました literally means “you have given me permission to contact you”, but in reality it is a polite way of saying “so, I’m contacting you.”
つきましては１００個注文したいのですが、
在庫はございますでしょうか。
State how many items you need. Then, ask if they have it in stock. ございます is both the humble and respectful form of ある – to have. Therefore you can say:
蔵庫がございます – “we have the stock”, when talking to a customer,
or 蔵庫はございますか – “do you have the stock?”, when talking to a vendor.
急なお願いで大変恐縮ですが、折り返しご回答よろしくお願いいたします。
Finally we apologise for the sudden request (急なお願い) and request their response (折り返しご回答).
折り返し means return, and is used most commonly in the phrase – 折り返しお電話いただけますか。- “could you call me back?”
Here it means, could you return your answer to my enquiry? i.e. can you reply to me?
在庫 stock, inventory
問い合わせ enquiry
お世話になる: I’m indebted to you
株式会社 incorporated company
（株）short for 株式会社
早速 sudden
ご連絡 contact (formal)
注文 order
ございます keigo form of the verb ある
急なお願い sudden request
大変 extremely
恐縮 sorry
折り返し return
ご回答 (your) reponse (polite)
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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