Apologising and Handling Complaints

Respond calmly to an unhappy client by phone, use sincere apology phrases, explain the situation and promise concrete action.

N3 Topic-Based Conversation — Business Email & Phone Etiquette · All lessons · All courses

Vocabulary

  • クレーム: complaint (from a customer)
  • 苦情(くじょう) (苦情): complaint, grievance
  • 謝罪(しゃざい) (謝罪): apology
  • 事情(じじょう) (事情): circumstances, situation
  • 説明(せつめい) (説明): explanation
  • 改善(かいぜん) (改善): improvement
  • 対応する(たいおうする) (対応する): to handle, to respond to
  • 責任者(せきにんしゃ) (責任者): person responsible, manager in charge
  • 早急に(さっきゅうに) (早急に): immediately, urgently
  • 誠に(まことに) (誠に): truly, sincerely
  • 弁償(べんしょう) (弁償): compensation, reimbursement
  • 報告(ほうこく) (報告): report
  • 再発(さいはつ) (再発): recurrence, happening again
  • 防ぐ(ふせぐ) (防ぐ): to prevent

Kanji

  • 苦 く: suffering, hardship (苦情)
  • 情 じょう: feeling, situation (事情)
  • 謝 しゃ: apologise (謝罪)
  • 罪 ざい: crime, fault (謝罪)
  • 説 せつ: explain (説明)
  • 明 めい: clear, bright (説明)
  • 善 ぜん: good, improve (改善)
  • 責 せき: responsibility (責任)

Open kanji lookup

In-lesson practice

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Frequently asked questions

What does 「クレーム」 mean in this lesson?
complaint (from a customer)
What does 「苦情(くじょう)」 mean in this lesson?
complaint, grievance
What does 「謝罪(しゃざい)」 mean in this lesson?
apology
What does 「事情(じじょう)」 mean in this lesson?
circumstances, situation
What does 「説明(せつめい)」 mean in this lesson?
explanation
What does 「改善(かいぜん)」 mean in this lesson?
improvement
What does 「対応する(たいおうする)」 mean in this lesson?
to handle, to respond to
What does 「責任者(せきにんしゃ)」 mean in this lesson?
person responsible, manager in charge
What does 「早急に(さっきゅうに)」 mean in this lesson?
immediately, urgently
What does 「誠に(まことに)」 mean in this lesson?
truly, sincerely
What does 「弁償(べんしょう)」 mean in this lesson?
compensation, reimbursement
What does 「報告(ほうこく)」 mean in this lesson?
report
What does 「再発(さいはつ)」 mean in this lesson?
recurrence, happening again
What does 「防ぐ(ふせぐ)」 mean in this lesson?
to prevent
What is the meaning of kanji 「苦」 (く)?
suffering, hardship (苦情)
What is the meaning of kanji 「情」 (じょう)?
feeling, situation (事情)
What is the meaning of kanji 「謝」 (しゃ)?
apologise (謝罪)
What is the meaning of kanji 「罪」 (ざい)?
crime, fault (謝罪)
What is the meaning of kanji 「説」 (せつ)?
explain (説明)
What is the meaning of kanji 「明」 (めい)?
clear, bright (説明)
What is the meaning of kanji 「善」 (ぜん)?
good, improve (改善)
What is the meaning of kanji 「責」 (せき)?
responsibility (責任)
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