Report Structure and Format
Learn the standard structure of a Japanese business report: conclusion-first ordering, the 5W1H frame, how to describe background and cause, and how to write recommendations that readers can act on.
N2 Topic-Based Conversation — Business Email & Report Writing · All lessons · All courses
Vocabulary
- 報告書（ほうこくしょ） (報告書): written report
- 結論（けつろん） (結論): conclusion
- 経緯（けいい） (経緯): background, sequence of events
- 要因（よういん） (要因): factor, cause
- 課題（かだい） (課題): issue, task to be addressed
- 提案（ていあん） (提案): proposal, suggestion
- 添付資料（てんぷしりょう） (添付資料): attached document
- 概要（がいよう） (概要): outline, summary
- 根拠（こんきょ） (根拠): basis, grounds
- 簡潔（かんけつ） (簡潔): concise, brief
- 箇条書き（かじょうがき） (箇条書き): bullet points
- 結論から述べる（けつろんからのべる） (結論から述べる): to state the conclusion first
In-lesson practice
- Report Structure and Format — 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 「報告書（ほうこくしょ）」 mean in this lesson?
- written report
- What does 「結論（けつろん）」 mean in this lesson?
- conclusion
- What does 「経緯（けいい）」 mean in this lesson?
- background, sequence of events
- What does 「要因（よういん）」 mean in this lesson?
- factor, cause
- What does 「課題（かだい）」 mean in this lesson?
- issue, task to be addressed
- What does 「提案（ていあん）」 mean in this lesson?
- proposal, suggestion
- What does 「添付資料（てんぷしりょう）」 mean in this lesson?
- attached document
- What does 「概要（がいよう）」 mean in this lesson?
- outline, summary
- What does 「根拠（こんきょ）」 mean in this lesson?
- basis, grounds
- What does 「簡潔（かんけつ）」 mean in this lesson?
- concise, brief
- What does 「箇条書き（かじょうがき）」 mean in this lesson?
- bullet points
- What does 「結論から述べる（けつろんからのべる）」 mean in this lesson?
- to state the conclusion first
- 調査結果（ ）、改善案をまとめました。
- 「〜を踏まえて」means 'based on' and links evidence to a conclusion.
- 確認作業に時間がかかった（ ）。
- 「〜次第です」is the formal way to explain circumstances.
- 中止（ ）経緯を報告書にまとめました。
- 「〜に至った経緯」is the fixed phrase for the background leading to a result.
- 「根拠」の読み方として正しいものはどれか。
- 根拠 = こんきょ.
- 報告書の書き方として最も適切なものはどれか。
- This is the standard structure taught in the reading and listening sections.
- 数字を示すときに添えるべきものは何か。
- The reading section requires including the basis for figures.