Lesson 50

Thursday, March 31st, 2022

Today’s business slang is “Hou-Ren-Sou”.

It does not mean “Spinach”.

It is the abbreviation of “報告(hou-koku)”, “連絡(ren-raku)”, “相談(sou-dann)”.

 

“報告(hou-koku)”, “連絡(ren-raku)”, and “相談(sou-dann)” mean “Report”, “Communicate”, and “Discuss”, respectively.

 

It is important to report, communicate, and discuss everything with your boss at the company.  I was taught this in my 1st year at the company, but it is very important even now.

 

Do you “Hou-ren-sou” at your work?

Lesson 49

Tuesday, March 22nd, 2022

Today’s business Japanese is “Nenkou-jyoretsu (Seniority System)”

 

Many Japanese companies have developed their business based on Lifetime employment (Shuusin-koyou) and Seniority system (Nenkou jyoretsu).

 

“Nenkou-jyoretsu” is the performance measurement based on employee’s age and number of years he/she has served for the company, not on his/her performance.

 

Meaning that the employees will be promoted as long as he/she serves at the firm for a long time even though his performance is not good.  It also means that the employee can not be promoted if he/she is still young even though he/she is capable.

 

Recently some of the Japanese companies have taken the performance-based-measurement system, but old and traditional firms still stick on the “Nenkou-Joretsu”.

 

What do you think about “Nenkou-jyoretsu”?

Do you want to work for the company who takes “Nenkou-jyoretsu”?

Lesson 48

Friday, March 18th, 2022

Today’s business Japanese is “Shuushin koyou (Lifetime employment)”

 

This vocabulary is not slang, but foreign workers at Japanese companies should know.

 

Most of Japanese companies use “Shuushin koyou”(lifetime employment).

Japanese companies hire you after your graduation from universities until your retirement at 60.  They basically do not fire you.

 

Instead, you can not choose the place you work.  You have to go and work at anywhere in Japan and even in the world.  You have to do any job even if it does not fit your career plan.

 

Therefore, many Japanese business persons live alone apart from his family for many years.

 

Japanese business persons are required to show loyalty to the company. 

 

Many Japanese companies developed their business based on “Shuushin koyou” in the past decades.

 

What do you think about “Shuushin koyou”?

 

Which is more important for you?

You private life with your family and career target?

Or being hired by one company for a long time? 

Lesson 47

Tuesday, March 15th, 2022

Today’s business slang is “Kuuki o yomu (Read the air)”.

 

It is often required to “Kuuki o yomu” for your behavior and your discussion in the meeting. It is requested not only in the companies but among friends and even in your family.

 

Then, what does “kuuki o yomu” mean concretely?

It means to behave and speak out based on understanding the positions and thoughts of other people and guessing their expectations on oneself.

 

In Japan the ability to “Kuuki o yomu” is required in various situations.

That is because if you act whatever you feel and say whatever you feel, the harmony with others can not be created.

 

Why do not you speak out after your “kuuki o yomu”?

Lesson 46

Wednesday, March 2nd, 2022

Today’s business slang is “Aotagai”.

 

It is literally “To buy green rice”, meaning to recruit university students before graduation.

This word is also used in case of the investment into the seeds business.

 




Copyright(C) TSUBASA JAPANESE LANGUAGE SCHOOL. All Rights Reserved.