Business Email Basics
Learn the standard structure of a Japanese business email: subject line, addressee, greeting, body, closing, and signature. Practise the fixed phrases used in each part.
N2 Topic-Based Conversation — Business Email & Report Writing · All lessons · All courses
Vocabulary
- 件名（けんめい） (件名): subject line (of an email)
- 宛名（あてな） (宛名): addressee, name of the recipient
- 本文（ほんぶん） (本文): body (of an email or document)
- 添付（てんぷ） (添付): attachment, attaching
- 署名（しょめい） (署名): signature block
- 挨拶（あいさつ） (挨拶): greeting
- 結び（むすび） (結び): closing (part of a message)
- 取り急ぎ（とりいそぎ） (取り急ぎ): in haste, without delay (used for a quick message)
- 恐れ入りますが（おそれいりますが） (恐れ入りますが): I am sorry to trouble you, but
- 貴社（きしゃ） (貴社): your company (written form)
- 弊社（へいしゃ） (弊社): our company (humble form)
- 用件（ようけん） (用件): matter, business to discuss
In-lesson practice
- Business Email Basics — Exercises (6 questions)
Related JLPT N2 quizzes
- JLPT N2 – Grammar Exercise 25 (10 questions)
- JLPT N2 – Grammar Exercise 24 (10 questions)
- JLPT N2 – Grammar Exercise 23 (10 questions)
- JLPT N2 – Grammar Exercise 22 (10 questions)
- JLPT N2 – Grammar Exercise 21 (10 questions)
- JLPT N2 – Grammar Exercise 20 (10 questions)
- JLPT N2 – Grammar Exercise 19 (10 questions)
- JLPT N2 – Grammar Exercise 18 (10 questions)
- JLPT N2 – Grammar Exercise 17 (10 questions)
- JLPT N2 – Grammar Exercise 16 (10 questions)
- JLPT N2 – Grammar Exercise 15 (10 questions)
- JLPT N2 – Grammar Exercise 14 (10 questions)
Frequently asked questions
- What does 「件名（けんめい）」 mean in this lesson?
- subject line (of an email)
- What does 「宛名（あてな）」 mean in this lesson?
- addressee, name of the recipient
- What does 「本文（ほんぶん）」 mean in this lesson?
- body (of an email or document)
- What does 「添付（てんぷ）」 mean in this lesson?
- attachment, attaching
- What does 「署名（しょめい）」 mean in this lesson?
- signature block
- What does 「挨拶（あいさつ）」 mean in this lesson?
- greeting
- What does 「結び（むすび）」 mean in this lesson?
- closing (part of a message)
- What does 「取り急ぎ（とりいそぎ）」 mean in this lesson?
- in haste, without delay (used for a quick message)
- What does 「恐れ入りますが（おそれいりますが）」 mean in this lesson?
- I am sorry to trouble you, but
- What does 「貴社（きしゃ）」 mean in this lesson?
- your company (written form)
- What does 「弊社（へいしゃ）」 mean in this lesson?
- our company (humble form)
- What does 「用件（ようけん）」 mean in this lesson?
- matter, business to discuss
- お忙しい（ ）、ご返信いただきありがとうございます。
- 「〜折に」is the formal expression for 'when/on the occasion of' used in business writing.
- 資料をご確認（ ）存じます。
- 「ご確認いただきたく存じます」is the fixed humble request pattern.
- 弊社では、毎月一回、社内研修を実施（ ）。
- 「〜させていただいております」is the humble continuous form used in company announcements.
- 「添付」の読み方として正しいものはどれか。
- 添付 = てんぷ.
- 取引先へのメールの件名として最も適切なものはどれか。
- A good subject line states the topic and the request, as taught in the listening section.
- メールの結びとして適切な表現はどれか。
- This is the polite closing request pattern introduced in the grammar section.