5 Business Keigo Dialogs: Office Conversation Simulations in Japan

Mastering keigo theory alone is not enough — you need to see how keigo works in real conversation. This article presents 5 full business dialogs that show how all five keigo categories (尊敬語そんけいご, 謙譲語けんじょうごI, 謙譲語けんじょうごII, 丁寧語ていねいご, dan 美化語びかご) are used naturally in office situations. Each dialog includes an English translation and detailed annotations that explain the keigo category for every expression.

How to use this page: Read each dialog, then study the keigo annotations under it. Notice who is speaking, to whom, and why a given keigo category is chosen. Try rereading the dialog while identifying each keigo yourself before checking the annotations.

The five dialogs cover the business situations you meet most often: meeting a new client, answering the phone, routine meetings, a business lunch, and requesting leave. Each dialog shows a different formality level — from ultra-formal (client meeting) to semi-formal (internal meeting). By studying all five, you build a mental pattern for almost any Japanese office situation.

💡 Tip: Keigo annotations under each dialog use these abbreviations: KI = 謙譲語けんじょうごI, KII = 謙譲語けんじょうごII. The KI+KII pattern marks 敬語連結けいごれんけつ (keigo chain) combining two different categories — this is valid and is not 二重敬語にじゅうけいご.

Dialog 1: Meeting a Client for the First Time

Situation: 田中たなかさん (staff at Sakura Co.) meets 山本やまもとさん (client from Fuji Co.) in the office lobby. This is a first meeting. The highest keigo level is used. Notice how Tanaka consistently uses KI and KII, while 弊社へいしゃ is used to humble one’s own company.

Dialog 1: Meeting a Client for the First Time

Tanaka-san (staff at Sakura Co.) meets Yamamoto-san (client from Fuji Co.) in the office lobby. This is a first meeting. The highest keigo level is used. Notice how Tanaka consistently uses KI and KII, while 弊社 is used to humble one’s own company.

田中: 本日ほんじつはお忙いそがしい中なか、お越こしいただきまして誠まことにありがとうございます。株式会社かぶしきがいしゃサクラの田中たなかと申もうします。 Honjitsu wa oisogashii naka, okoshi itadakimashite makoto ni arigatou gozaimasu. Kabushikigaisha Sakura no Tanaka to moushimasu. Thank you for coming despite being busy today. I am Tanaka from Sakura Co.

山本: こちらこそ、お招まねきいただきありがとうございます。フジ商事しょうじの山本やまもとでございます。 Kochirakoso, omaneki itadaki arigatou gozaimasu. Fuji Shouji no Yamamoto de gozaimasu. Likewise, thank you for the invitation. I am Yamamoto from Fuji Shoji.

田中: 山本やまもとさま、いつもお世話せわになっております。こちらへどうぞ。弊社へいしゃの部長ぶちょうの佐藤さとうがお待まちしております。 Yamamoto-sama, itsumo osewa ni natte orimasu. Kochira e douzo. Heisha no buchou no Satou ga omachi shite orimasu. Yamamoto-sama, thank you for your continued support. Please come this way. Sato from our company is already waiting.

山本: ありがとうございます。ご案内あんないいただけますか。 Arigatou gozaimasu. Goannai itadakemasu ka. Thank you. Could you show me the way?

田中: はい、ご案内あんないいたします。お飲のみ物ものは何なにがよろしいでしょうか。お茶ちゃ、お水みず、コーヒーをご用意よういしております。 Hai, goannai itashimasu. Onomimono wa nani ga yoroshii deshou ka. Ocha, omizu, koohii o goyoui shite orimasu. Yes, I will guide you. What would you like to drink? We have prepared tea, water, and coffee.

山本: では、お茶ちゃをお願ねがいします。 Dewa, ocha o onegai shimasu. Then tea, please.

Keigo Annotations

💡 Notice uchi-soto: 田中たなか refers to his own boss without a title (佐藤さとう only, not 佐藤さとう部長ぶちょう) and uses 弊社へいしゃ (not 当社とうしゃ) because he is speaking to a client (外そと).

Dialog 2: Answering a Business Phone Call

Situation: 鈴木すずきさん (receptionist at Yamada Co.) answers a call from 高橋たかはしさん (outside client). Phone dialogs demand more careful keigo because there is no body language — everything depends on words. Notice uchi-soto: 鈴木すずき refers to 中村なかむら (a colleague) without any title toward the outside caller.

Dialog 2: Answering a Business Phone Call

Suzuki-san (receptionist at Yamada Co.) answers a call from Takahashi-san (outside client). Phone dialogs demand more careful keigo because there is no body language — everything depends on words. Notice uchi-soto: Suzuki refers to Nakamura (a colleague) without any title toward the outside caller.

鈴木: お電話でんわありがとうございます。山田やまだ商事しょうじでございます。 Odenwa arigatou gozaimasu. Yamada Shouji de gozaimasu. Thank you for calling. Yamada Shoji.

高橋: 私わたし、ABC株式会社かぶしきがいしゃの高橋たかはしと申もうしますが、営業部えいぎょうぶの中村なかむらさまはいらっしゃいますか。 Watakushi, eebeeshii kabushikigaisha no Takahashi to moushimasu ga, eigyoubu no Nakamura-sama wa irasshaimasu ka. I am Takahashi from ABC Corp. Is Nakamura-sama from the sales department available?

鈴木: 高橋たかはしさま、いつもお世話せわになっております。営業部えいぎょうぶの中村なかむらですね。只今ただいま確認かくにんいたしますので、少々しょうしょうお待まちいただけますでしょうか。 Takahashi-sama, itsumo osewa ni natte orimasu. Eigyoubu no Nakamura desu ne. Tadaima kakunin itashimasu node, shoushou omachi itadakemasu deshou ka. Takahashi-sama, thank you for your continued support. Nakamura, yes. I will check now; could you wait a moment?

narator: (保留ほりゅうの後あと) (Horyuu no ato) (After holding the call)

鈴木: お待またせいたしました。申もうし訳わけございませんが、中村なかむらは只今ただいま席せきを外はずしております。よろしければ伝言でんごんを承うけたまわりますが。 Omatase itashimashita. Moushiwake gozaimasen ga, Nakamura wa tadaima seki o hazushite orimasu. Yoroshikereba dengon o uketamawarimasu ga. Sorry to keep you waiting. I am sorry, but Nakamura is away from his desk right now. If you prefer, I can take a message.

高橋: では、折おり返かえしお電話でんわをいただきたいのですが。 Dewa, orikaeshi odenwa o itadakitai no desu ga. Then, may I ask for a callback?

鈴木: 承知しょうちいたしました。念ねんのため、お電話番号でんわばんごうをお伺うかがいしてもよろしいでしょうか。 Shouchi itashimashita. Nen no tame, odenwabangou o oukagai shite mo yoroshii deshou ka. Certainly. Just to be sure, may I ask for your phone number?

Keigo Annotations

💡 Uchi-soto point: 鈴木すずき refers to 中村なかむら without a title (「中村なかむら」 only), and uses 「外はずしております」(KII) rather than 「いらっしゃる」. This is the principle of 内うちと外そと.

Dialog 3: Weekly Meeting

Situation: 佐藤さとう部長ぶちょう leads the weekly meeting. 田中たなかさん presents the sales report. In internal meetings, keigo is still used between subordinate and superior, though less formal than with clients. Notice させていただく used correctly (both conditions met) and ご〜いたす as a KI+KII hybrid.

Dialog 3: Weekly Meeting

Sato-bucho leads the weekly meeting. Tanaka-san presents the sales report. In internal meetings, keigo is still used between subordinate and superior, though less formal than with clients. Notice させていただく used correctly (both conditions met) and ご〜いたす as a KI+KII hybrid.

佐藤部長: それでは、定例会議ていれいかいぎを始はじめさせていただきます。田中たなかさん、先週せんしゅうの報告ほうこくをお願ねがいします。 Sore dewa, teireikaigi o hajimesasete itadakimasu. Tanaka-san, senshuu no houkoku o onegai shimasu. Well then, I will begin the regular meeting. Tanaka-san, please give last week’s report.

田中: はい。それでは、ご報告ほうこくいたします。先週せんしゅうの売上うりあげは前週比ぜんしゅうひで15%増加ぞうかいたしました。新規しんきのお客きゃくさまからのお問とい合あわせも増ふえております。 Hai. Sore dewa, gohoukoku itashimasu. Senshuu no uriage wa zenshuuhi de juugo paasento zouka itashimashita. Shinki no okyaku-sama kara no otoiawase mo fuete orimasu. Yes. I will report. Last week’s sales rose 15% versus the previous week. Inquiries from new customers also increased.

佐藤部長: それは良よいですね。具体的ぐたいてきな数字すうじを教おしえていただけますか。 Sore wa yoi desu ne. Gutaiteki na suuji o oshiete itadakemasu ka. Great. Could you give the specific figures?

田中: 承知しょうちいたしました。資料しりょうをお配くばりいたします。こちらをご覧らんください。 Shouchi itashimashita. Shiryou o okubari itashimasu. Kochira o goran kudasai. Certainly. I will hand out the materials. Please look at this.

佐藤部長: なるほど。皆みなさん、何なにかご質問しつもんはございますか。 Naruhodo. Mina-san, nanika goshitsumon wa gozaimasu ka. I see. Does anyone else have a question?

田中: 補足ほそくさせていただきますと、この数字すうじには今月こんげつの新規しんき契約けいやくも含ふくまれております。 Hosoku sasete itadakimasu to, kono suuji ni wa kongetsu no shinki keiyaku mo fukumarete orimasu. As a supplement, these figures already include this month’s new contracts.

Keigo Annotations

Dialog 4: Business Lunch

Situation: 田中たなかさん invites client 山本やまもとさん to lunch at a restaurant. Business lunch (接待 — settai) is an important part of Japanese business culture. Notice how 美化語びかご appears most often in this dialog because of food and drink, and how Tanaka creates perfect keigo asymmetry.

Dialog 4: Business Lunch

Tanaka-san invites client Yamamoto-san to lunch at a restaurant. Business lunch (接待 — settai) is an important part of Japanese business culture. Notice how 美化語 appears most often in this dialog because of food and drink, and how Tanaka creates perfect keigo asymmetry.

田中: 山本やまもとさま、お食事しょくじのご用意よういができました。こちらへどうぞ。何なにか召めし上あがりたいものはございますか。 Yamamoto-sama, oshokuji no goyoui ga dekimashita. Kochira e douzo. Nanika meshiagaritai mono wa gozaimasu ka. Yamamoto-sama, the meal is ready. Please come this way. Is there anything you would like to eat?

山本: ありがとうございます。メニューを拝見はいけんしてもよろしいですか。 Arigatou gozaimasu. Menyuu o haiken shite mo yoroshii desu ka. Thank you. May I look at the menu?

田中: もちろんでございます。こちらが本日ほんじつのおすすめでございます。 Mochiron de gozaimasu. Kochira ga honjitsu no osusume de gozaimasu. Of course. This is today’s recommendation.

山本: では、この和食わしょくセットをいただきます。 Dewa, kono washoku setto o itadakimasu. Then I will have this Japanese meal set.

田中: 承知しょうちいたしました。私わたしも同おなじものにいたします。お飲のみ物ものはいかがなさいますか。 Shouchi itashimashita. Watakushi mo onaji mono ni itashimasu. Onomimono wa ikaga nasaimasu ka. Certainly. I will order the same. And for drinks?

山本: お茶ちゃをお願ねがいします。 Ocha o onegai shimasu. Tea, please.

田中: 本日ほんじつはお忙いそがしい中なか、お時間じかんをいただきまして誠まことにありがとうございます。 Honjitsu wa oisogashii naka, ojikan o itadakimashite makoto ni arigatou gozaimasu. Thank you very much for making time despite being busy today.

Keigo Annotations

💡 Notice: 田中たなか uses いたします (KII) for his own order, but 召めし上あがる (sonkeigo) when asking about the client’s order. This shows keigo asymmetry — lowering yourself while raising the other party.

Dialog 5: Requesting Leave

Situation: 田中たなかさん asks for leave from 佐藤さとう部長ぶちょう. Requesting leave in Japan needs careful preparation — you must show that your work has already been delegated. This dialog shows the heaviest KI use because many actions point toward the department head as the permission giver.

Dialog 5: Requesting Leave

Tanaka-san asks for leave from Sato-bucho. Requesting leave in Japan needs careful preparation — you must show that your work has already been delegated. This dialog shows the heaviest KI use because many actions point toward the department head as the permission giver.

田中: 佐藤さとう部長ぶちょう、お忙いそがしいところ恐おそれ入いりますが、少々しょうしょうお時間じかんをいただけますでしょうか。 Satou-buchou, oisogashii tokoro osoreirimasu ga, shoushou ojikan o itadakemasu deshou ka. Sato-bucho, sorry to bother you when you are busy; may I have a moment?

佐藤部長: はい、どうぞ。 Hai, douzo. Yes, please go ahead.

田中: 実じつは、来週らいしゅうの金曜日きんようびにお休やすみをいただきたいのですが。家庭かていの事情じじょうがございまして...。 Jitsu wa, raishuu no kinyoubi ni oyasumi o itadakitai no desu ga. Katei no jijou ga gozaimashite... Actually, I would like to take leave next Friday. There is a family matter...

佐藤部長: 来週らいしゅうの金曜日きんようびですか。その日ひは何なにか予定よていがありましたっけ。 Raishuu no kinyoubi desu ka. Sono hi wa nanika yotei ga arimashita kke. Next Friday, is it? Was anything scheduled that day?

田中: はい、午前中ごぜんちゅうに高橋たかはしさまとの打うち合あわせが入はいっておりますが、鈴木すずきさんに代かわっていただけるようお願ねがいしてあります。 Hai, gozenchu ni Takahashi-sama to no uchiawase ga haitte orimasu ga, Suzuki-san ni kawatte itadakeru you onegai shite arimasu. Yes, there is a morning meeting with Takahashi-sama, but I have already asked Suzuki-san to cover it.

佐藤部長: そうですか。鈴木すずきさんに確認かくにんが取とれているなら、問題もんだいないでしょう。 Sou desu ka. Suzuki-san ni kakunin ga torete iru nara, mondai nai deshou. I see. If Suzuki-san has already confirmed, there should be no problem.

田中: ありがとうございます。ご迷惑めいわくをおかけして申もうし訳わけございません。木曜日もくようびまでに引ひき継つぎ資料しりょうをお渡わたしいたします。 Arigatou gozaimasu. Gomeiwaku o okake shite moushiwake gozaimasen. Mokuyoubi made ni hikitsugi shiryou o owatashi itashimasu. Thank you. Sorry for the inconvenience. By Thursday I will hand over the handoff materials.

Keigo Annotations

Summary: Keigo Patterns Across the 5 Dialogs

Patterns you can see:

• 謙譲語けんじょうごII appears most often — because you constantly need to explain your own actions politely in business
• 謙譲語けんじょうごI appears second most often — because many actions are directed at superiors or clients
• 尊敬語そんけいご is rarer — usually used to ask about a superior’s or client’s actions
• 美化語びかご appears mainly when talking about food and drinks

New Vocabulary

Here is the business vocabulary that appears in the five dialogs above. These words are very common in Japanese offices and important to master before working at a Japanese company:

How to Practice with These Dialogs

Reading the dialogs alone is not enough. You need active practice until keigo feels natural. Here are several effective methods:

Method 1: Shadowing (Imitation)

Read each dialog out loud, imitating formal Japanese intonation and rhythm. Notice that keigo tends to be spoken more slowly and with more controlled pitch than casual speech. Repeat each dialog at least three times until the pattern feels comfortable.

Method 2: Role Simulation with a Partner

Ask a study partner to play different roles. Take turns as staff and client in Dialog 1, receptionist and caller in Dialog 2, and so on. After each role simulation, discuss which keigo was used and why — this helps you understand the logic behind keigo choice, not just memorize it.

Method 3: Verb Substitution

After you master the original dialog, try swapping verbs with others from the Keigo Conversion Table. For example, in Dialog 3, replace ご報告ほうこくいたします with ご説明せつめいいたします. This trains you to apply the same pattern with different vocabulary.

Method 4: Self-Analysis

Before reading the keigo annotations, try identifying each keigo in the dialog yourself. Write the category (尊敬語そんけいご, KI, KII, 丁寧語ていねいご, 美化語びかご) and the reason. Then compare your answers with the annotations. This method is very effective for JLPT N2 and N1 preparation.

Method 5: Keep an Error Log

Each time you spot wrong keigo, record it in an “error journal” with this format: original sentence → mistake → fix → correct keigo category. After collecting 10–15 mistakes, you will see patterns — you likely err in the same areas (for example, always confusing KI and KII). Focus the next practice round there. Many Japanese teachers recommend this because it makes your specific weak points visible.

Uchi-Soto Comparison Across the 5 Dialogs

The principle of 内うちと外そと (uchi-soto) is clear across the dialogs. Here is how the same people are treated differently depending on the listener:

Remember: uchi-soto overrides internal hierarchy. A boss you normally honor becomes an “insider” who must be lowered when you speak to outsiders. This is one of the most confusing keigo aspects for foreign learners, because naming a boss without a title feels rude. In Japanese business, however, protecting the outsider’s honor matters more than showing internal respect. If you say "佐藤部長さとうぶちょうがいらっしゃいます" to a client, it is actually unprofessional because you raised an insider toward an outsider.

Conclusion

The five dialogs above show how keigo works as a system in real business conversation. Key patterns you can take away:

1. Keigo asymmetry — you always lower yourself (KI/KII) while raising the other party (sonkeigo). That creates the right “respect distance.”
2. Consistent uchi-soto — when speaking to 外そと, 内うち people are always lowered, even if they are your superiors.
3. KII dominates — in business, you explain your own actions (KII) more often than you comment on others’ actions (sonkeigo).
4. 敬語連結けいごれんけつ is valid — patterns like お〜いたす (KI+KII) are common and are not 二重敬語にじゅうけいご.

Practice these dialogs with a study partner, or record yourself reading them to train natural keigo pronunciation. When you feel ready, test yourself with Keigo Practice: 25 Questions covering all five categories!

Also Read:

• Keigo for Business Email
• Keigo for Business Phone Calls
• Keigo for Meetings & Presentations
• Keigo Practice: 25 Questions for All 5 Categories
• Complete Keigo Guide