Learn how to exchange business cards in Japan
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| Hi everyone! |
| みなさん、おげんきですか。(Mina-san, o-genki desu ka.) |
| Have you ever exchanged a business card? |
| If you want to make a good impression, it is important to know the custom on how to give or exchange business cards here in Japan. Let's learn how we do it today! |
| これはめいしといいます。(Kore wa meishi to iimasu.) |
| めいし (meishi) means “business card” in Japanese. |
| It's not just a piece of paper with contact information, but something you need to treat carefully to show your respect to someone who you get the card from. |
| これはめいしいれといいます。(Kore wa meishi-ire to iimasu.) |
| めいしいれ (meishi-ire) means “business card holder.” This is a wallet for business cards. Japanese business workers have it. |
| When to exchange business cards? |
| When you meet someone for the first time, you exchange your business cards at the beginning of the meeting, not at the end. We usually exchange business cards while standing, so make sure to be prepared. |
| How to exchange cards |
| 1) Hold your card with both hands making sure to have the card face toward the person you are going to greet. |
| 2) Give your self-introduction briefly, your company name and your name. |
| 3) Slightly bow and exchange cards. |
| 4) Use two hands when accepting a business card. |
| 5) After sitting at a table, put the card on your card wallet. Don't put the card into the wallet or pocket right way. |
| しつれいします。こんにちは。(Shitsurei shimasu. Konnichiwa.) |
| “Excuse me. Hello.” |
| すみません。ありがとうございます。(Sumimasen. Arigatō gozaimasu.) |
| “Pardon me. Thank you very much.” |
| If you’re visiting the company, you should give your business card first. |
| こんにちは、イノベーティブ・ランゲージのリサともうします。よろしくおねがいします。(Konnichiwa, Inobētibu Rangēji no Risa to mōshimasu. Yoroshiku o-negai shimasu.) |
| “Hello, I am Risa from Innovative Language. Please treat me well.” |
| When you do simultaneous exchange it is a little different. |
| “Simultaneous exchange” is called どうじこうかん (dōji-kōkan). |
| When exchanging cards at the same time, use your right hand to give your card and receive card on your left hand. |
| Now, let’s look at the situation of us exchanging cards. |
| では、よろしくおねがいします。(Dewa yoroshiku o-negai shimasu.) |
| “So, please treat me well.” |
| どうじこうかんのときは、りょうてであいてにめいしをわたすのではなくて、みぎてでわたしましょう。(Dōji-kōkan no toki wa, ryōte de aite ni watasu no dewa nakute, migite de watashimashō.) |
| “When you exchange cards simultaneously, use your right hand instead of your both hands.” |
| ラララ・カンパニーのリサともうします。(Rarara kanpanī no Risa to mōshimasu.) |
| “I'm Risa from the Rarara Company.” |
| ハハハ・コーポレーションのユウキともうします。(Hahaha Kōporēshon no Yūki to mōshimasu.) |
| “I'm Yuki from the Hahaha Corporation.” |
| よろしくおねがいします。(Yoroshiku o-negai shimasu.) |
| “Please treat me well.” |
| ハハハ・コーポレーションのユウキさんですね。(Hahaha Kōporēshon no Yūki-san desu ne.) |
| “You're Yuki from the Hahaha Corporation.” |
| ラララ・カンパニーのリサさんですね。(Rarara kanpanī no Risa-san desu ne.) |
| “You're Risa from the Rarara Company.” |
| はい、よろしくおねがいします。(Hai, yoroshiku o-negai shimasu.) |
| “Yes, I am. Please treat me well.” |
| These are the key words and phrases for today: |
| めいし (meishi) “business card” |
| めいしいれ (meishi-ire) “business card holder” |
| えしゃく (eshaku) “nod” |
| どうじこうかん (dōji-kōkan) “simultaneous exchange” |
| かいしゃめい (kaishamei) “company name” |
| ほうもんしゃ (hōmonsha) “visitors” |
| How was it? |
| Now you can do めいしこうかん (meishi kōkan) which means “exchange business card” in Japan! |
| Good luck! |
| If you have anything you want us to make a video about please, let us know in the comments! |
| Bye bye. |
| じゃあ、こんどのポケモンゴーのせっていばしょなんですけども… (Jā, kondo no Pokemon GŌ no settei basho nandesu kedo mo…) |
| “So, I'd like to discuss a location for the next PokemonGo…” |
Comments
HideHow do you want to design your Japanese business card?
こんにちは、Sibusisiweさん！(Konnichiwa, Sibusisiwe-san! "Hello, Sibusisiwe!")
そうですか？それは面白いですね！(Sou desu ka? Sore wa omoshiroi desu ne! "Is that so? That's interesting!") Japanese sounds can be quite unique and fun to learn. Keep practicing, and you'll get used to them.
If you have any specific questions or need help with pronunciation, feel free to ask.
ありがとうございます！
Kazuya
Team JapanesePod101.com
The boo!! Sounds killed me😂😂
Hello Cynthia,
You are very welcome.
We're glad to have you with us! 👍
Please don't hesitate to contact us if any questions arise throughout your studies. We would be happy to help you! 😊
Sincerely,
Ali
Team JapanesePod101.com
Thanks for the tip on simultaneous exchange!
Hi Laura,
Thank you for your comment!
Yes, giving and exchanging business cards is still common custom in Japan.
As you say, however, name card information system is changing to be digitalized😊
Hope you enjoy learning Japanese with us:)
Sincerely,
Miho
Team JapanesePod101.com
Hello!
Is it still a common practice to exchange business cards even in 2022?
Or did it change considering that everything is digital these days? :)
Thanks,
Laura
Konnichiwa Jaimil
Thank you for sharing your business card information.
you can write かいしゃめい as 会社名 in Kanji If you like.
Keep up the good work and Feel free to ask us any questions.
Sono
Team JapanesePod101.com
名前: ジャイミル
かいしゃめい: ふわふわ ランヅ
This is a way I would design my buiseness card.
こんにちは、Lauriceさん
コメントありがとうございます！
楽しんでもらえてよかったです?他のビデオも観てくださいね。
Miki(美希)
Team JapanesePod101.com
このレッスンはとてもたのしいです. Hahaha Company. ??
Hi Adam Bonilla Aguirre,
Thank you for your comment!
Normally, we exchange business cards once you meet someone on business, but actually we do it at the end of interactions when we don't have enough time at the beginning.
And whenever you exchange cards, two hands and bow are essential.
Good luck on your business!
Keep studying with JapanesePod101.com
Cheers,
Miki(美希)
Team JapanesePod101.com
I work in commission retail and I will usually give my business card at the end of a transaction.
In Japan, is it okay to present your card in the end of your interaction? If you do, do you present it with two hands and still bow?
I am not sure how prevalent commission retail is in Japan or if this is an issue.
Hi Blaze,
Thank you for your comment!
If you don't have such business cards, you can say "Meishi o motte inai monode..." which means "I don't have any business cards..."
Hope this helps you.
Keep studying with JapanesePod101.com
Cheers,
Miki(美希)
Team JapanesePod101.com
What if you don't have a business card?
Hi Vida,
Thank you for your comment!
When you receive more than one cards, you can put them on the table.
Keep studying with JapanesePod101.com
Cheers,
Miki(美希)
Team JapanesePod101.com
Hi. When meeting more than one person, we still put their cards on our card holder or on the table to see all cards?
Megさん、
こんにちは。
Thank you for the cute emoticons!
We hope you liked the lesson!
Let us know if you have any questions.
Sincerely,
Cristiane (クリスチアネ)
Team Japanesepod101.com
???
Hi Logan Schmidt,
Thank you for your comment!
"professional" is translated "プロの", ”本職の" "専門家の", and so on. It depends on a situation.
What kind of professional do you want to be?
Keep studying with JapanesePod101.com
Regards,
Miki（美希）
Team JapanesePod101.com
I want to design my card to be professional.
How do you say professional in Japanese?