Working in Japan: Understanding Business Phrases
Career development discussions play a crucial role in Japanese business settings, whether during job interviews, performance reviews, or mentoring sessions. Understanding how to discuss future career plans appropriately demonstrates both language proficiency and cultural awareness. Today's phrase provides a polite way to inquire about someone's professional aspirations.
Learning Focus: This lesson teaches you how to discuss career plans in a business context. You'll learn vocabulary related to professional development, proper grammar structures, and culturally appropriate ways to discuss career aspirations in Japanese business settings.
Today's Phrase
| Japanese | Hiragana | Romaji | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| 将来のキャリアプランを聞かせてください。 | しょうらいのきゃりあぷらんをきかせてください。 | Shōrai no kyaria puran o kikasete kudasai. | Could you share your future career plans? |
Let's analyze each component
This phrase combines several important grammatical elements:
- 連体修飾語 (Rentai Shūshokugo - Attributive Modifier): 「将来の」(shōrai no) is a noun + possessive particle の that modifies the following noun "career plan"
- 目的語 (Mokutekigo - Object): 「キャリアプランを」(kyaria puran o) indicates what is being shared, marked with the particle を
- 使役形 (Shieki-kei - Causative Form):
- Base verb: 聞く (kiku) - to hear/listen
- Causative form: 聞かせる (kikaseru) - to let someone hear/to share with someone
- Te-form: 聞かせて (kikasete) - letting hear (connects to request)
- 丁寧な依頼 (Teinei na Irai - Polite Request): 「ください」(kudasai) - please
The causative form 「聞かせて」(kikasete) is softer and more polite than simply asking 「教えて」(oshiete - tell me), as it implies giving the listener the agency to share what they are comfortable with. This nuance is important in Japanese business communication where indirectness is valued.
Industry-Specific Usage
HR professionals frequently use this phrase during job interviews to assess how candidates' career goals align with company opportunities. They often follow with more specific questions like 「当社でどのようなスキルを身につけたいですか？」(Tōsha de dono yōna sukiru o mi ni tsuketai desu ka? - What skills would you like to develop at our company?)
Managers use this phrase during performance reviews (「業績評価」- gyōseki hyōka) and career development meetings to understand their team members' aspirations and provide appropriate growth opportunities. It's typically part of a broader discussion about strengths, weaknesses, and development areas.
Career advisors and mentors use this phrase to begin discussions about professional development, often in university career centers or professional development programs. They might pair it with questions about 「強み」(tsuyomi - strengths) and 「興味分野」(kyōmi bunya - areas of interest).
In formal and informal mentorship arrangements (「メンター制度」- mentā seido), this phrase helps mentors understand mentees' aspirations to provide targeted guidance. Japanese companies increasingly value structured mentorship as a way to develop talent while maintaining traditional knowledge transfer practices.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Being too direct: Using 「あなたのキャリアプランは何ですか？」(Anata no kyaria puran wa nan desu ka? - What are your career plans?) sounds too direct and potentially confrontational. The softer approach with 「聞かせてください」(kikasete kudasai) is more culturally appropriate.
- Incorrect particle usage: Using 「が」(ga) instead of 「を」(o) after キャリアプラン would be grammatically incorrect. 「を」is the correct object marker for what you want to hear.
- Using overly casual language: Dropping the 「ください」(kudasai) and just saying 「将来のキャリアプランを聞かせて」(Shōrai no kyaria puran o kikasete) is too casual for most business settings, especially when speaking to someone you don't know well.
- Poor timing: Asking about career plans during inappropriate moments (like group meetings or when the person is busy with urgent tasks) can create awkwardness. This question is best asked during formal reviews or designated career discussions.
- Misinterpreting responses: Japanese employees might give modest or vague answers out of cultural propriety; this doesn't necessarily mean they lack ambition. Understanding the cultural context of responses is crucial for accurate interpretation.
Learner Note: In Japanese business culture, discussions about career advancement should be approached delicately. The phrase taught here provides a non-threatening way to inquire about someone's professional aspirations while showing genuine interest in their development.
Business Etiquette Points
- Preface this question with some context about why you're asking, such as discussing team development or planning for future projects. For example: 「部署の人材育成の参考にしたいので…」(Busho no jinzai ikusei no sankō ni shitai node... - As a reference for department talent development...)
- When responding to this question, demonstrate commitment to your current role while discussing future aspirations. Balance ambition with loyalty to avoid appearing opportunistic.
- This phrase is typically used by managers, HR professionals, or mentors. Junior employees should be careful about asking seniors about their career plans directly, as it could be perceived as inappropriate.
- When discussing career plans in Japanese companies, acknowledge how your goals align with organizational objectives, not just personal advancement. Use phrases like 「会社の成長に貢献しながら」(Kaisha no seichō ni kōken shinagara - While contributing to the company's growth)
- After someone shares their career plans, respond with encouragement and, if possible, suggestions for resources or opportunities that could help them achieve their goals. This demonstrates supportive leadership valued in Japanese business culture.
Cultural Note: In traditional Japanese companies, career paths were largely determined by the organization rather than individual preference. While this is changing in modern companies, discussions about career development still reflect a balance between personal ambition and organizational harmony.
Related Business Vocabulary
| キャリアパス | きゃりあぱす | Kyaria pasu | Career path |
| 昇進 | しょうしん | Shōshin | Promotion |
| 職業目標 | しょくぎょうもくひょう | Shokugyō mokuhyō | Career goal |
| 自己啓発 | じこけいはつ | Jiko keihatsu | Self-development |
| 長期的な展望 | ちょうきてきなてんぼう | Chōkiteki na tenbō | Long-term outlook |
| 専門性 | せんもんせい | Senmonsei | Expertise/specialization |
Role-Play Scenarios
Scenario 1: Annual Performance Review
ぶちょう：たなかさん、ことしのじっせきについてはなしましたが、しょうらいのきゃりあぷらんをきかせてください。
Buchō: Tanaka-san, kotoshi no jisseki ni tsuite hanashimashita ga, shōrai no kyaria puran o kikasete kudasai.
Department Manager: Tanaka-san, we've discussed your performance this year, but could you share your future career plans?
たなか：はい、わたしはえいぎょうぶのちーむりーだーになることをめざしています。また、えいごりょくをたかめてかいがいのこきゃくともちょくせつやりとりできるようになりたいです。
Tanaka: Hai, watashi wa eigyōbu no chīmu rīdā ni naru koto o mezashite imasu. Mata, eigo-ryoku o takamete kaigai no kokyaku to mo chokusetsu yaritori dekiru yō ni naritai desu.
Tanaka: Yes, I aim to become a team leader in the sales department. I also want to improve my English skills so I can communicate directly with overseas clients.
ぶちょう：すばらしいもくひょうですね。りーだーしっぷけんしゅうとえいごけんしゅうのきかいがありますので、ぜひけんとうしてみてください。
Buchō: Subarashii mokuhyō desu ne. Rīdāshippu kenshū to eigo kenshū no kikai ga arimasu node, zehi kentō shite mite kudasai.
Department Manager: Those are excellent goals. We have opportunities for leadership training and English training, so please consider participating.
Note how Tanaka expresses career goals using two different grammatical patterns:
- 〜になることを目指しています (ni naru koto o mezashite imasu) - "aiming to become..." (for specific positions)
- 〜できるようになりたいです (dekiru yō ni naritai desu) - "want to be able to..." (for skills acquisition)
These patterns are useful for expressing different types of professional goals in Japanese business conversations. The first structure uses the nominalizer 「こと」to turn a verb phrase into a noun that can be the object of 「目指す」(to aim for), while the second uses the pattern 「ようになる」which indicates a change in state or ability.
Scenario 2: Job Interview
めんせつかん：おんしゃでどのようにきゃりあをつみたいか、しょうらいのきゃりあぷらんをきかせてください。
Mensetsu-kan: Onsha de dono yō ni kyaria o tsumitai ka, shōrai no kyaria puran o kikasete kudasai.
Interviewer: How would you like to build your career at our company? Could you share your future career plans?
おうぼしゃ：はい、まずはきしゃのまーけてぃんぐぶもんでじつむけいけんをつみ、せんもんちしきをふかめたいとかんがえています。しょうらいてきには、しんきじぎょうのきかくにもたずさわりたいです。
Ōbosha: Hai, mazu wa kisha no māketingu bumon de jitsumu keiken o tsumi, senmon chishiki o fukametai to kangaete imasu. Shōraiteki ni wa, shinki jigyō no kikaku ni mo tazusawaritai desu.
Applicant: Yes, I first want to gain practical experience in your company's marketing department and deepen my expertise. In the future, I would like to be involved in planning new business ventures.
めんせつかん：なるほど。とうしゃではわかてしゃいんにもちょうせんのきかいをていきょうしていますので、ぜひせっきょくてきにとりくんでいただきたいとおもいます。
Mensetsu-kan: Naruhodo. Tōsha de wa wakateshain ni mo chōsen no kikai o teikyō shite imasu node, zehi sekkyokuteki ni torikunde itadakitai to omoimasu.
Interviewer: I see. Our company provides opportunities for young employees to take on challenges, so we hope you will actively pursue them.
Notice how the job applicant uses more humble and careful language, particularly:
- 貴社 (kisha) - "your esteemed company" instead of just 「会社」(kaisha)
- 考えています (kangaete imasu) - "I am thinking" (showing tentativeness rather than certainty)
- 〜たいと考えています (tai to kangaete imasu) - "I am thinking that I would like to..." (more humble than directly stating 「〜たいです」)
This demonstrates respect and appropriate humility during a job interview in Japanese business culture. The interviewer, meanwhile, uses honorific expressions like 「いただきたい」(itadakitai) to show respect while maintaining their higher position.
Similar Expressions
| 今後のキャリア展望は？ | こんごのきゃりあてんぼうは？ | Kongo no kyaria tenbō wa? | What are your career prospects? |
| 職業人生の目標を教えてください。 | しょくぎょうじんせいのもくひょうをおしえてください。 | Shokugyō jinsei no mokuhyō o oshiete kudasai. | Please tell me your professional life goals. |
| 五年後はどのようなポジションにいたいですか？ | ごねんごはどのようなぽじしょんにいたいですか？ | Gonen go wa dono yōna pojishon ni itai desu ka? | What position would you like to be in five years from now? |
| キャリアにおいてどのような成長を目指していますか？ | きゃりあにおいてどのようなせいちょうをめざしていますか？ | Kyaria ni oite dono yōna seichō o mezashite imasu ka? | What kind of growth are you aiming for in your career? |
These variations use different questioning patterns:
- 〜は？ (wa?) - Direct question marker (more casual)
- 〜を教えてください。 (o oshiete kudasai.) - "Please tell me ~" (polite request)
- 〜ですか？ (desu ka?) - Standard polite question ending
- 〜ていますか？ (te imasu ka?) - Present progressive question (asking about ongoing activity)
These different patterns allow for nuanced questioning appropriate to various business situations. The selection of which pattern to use depends on the relationship between speakers, the formality of the setting, and the specific nuance you want to convey.
Quick Quiz
Pronunciation Tips
The "shō" sound has a slightly elongated "o" sound. Be careful not to pronounce it as "shorai" with a short "o". The difference is subtle but important for correct pronunciation.
Practice: shō-rai (しょう・らい) not sho-rai (しょ・らい)
Ensure that each syllable is pronounced clearly: "ki-ka-se-te", with equal stress on each syllable. The "se" sound is particularly important to distinguish from "ze" which would change the meaning.
Practice: ki-ka-se-te (き・か・せ・て) with clear, distinct syllables
The "u" in "ku" is subtle, almost whispered in natural Japanese speech. The emphasis is more on "da-sai". Avoid saying each syllable with equal stress, which would sound unnatural.
Practice: k'dasai (with a very light "u" sound)
The phrase generally maintains a relatively flat intonation with a slight rise at 「将来の」(shōrai no) and a gradual fall towards the end with 「ください」(kudasai). Avoid the rising intonation at the end that is common in English questions.
Practice: Shō↗rai no kyaria puran o kikasete kuda↘sai.
Try saying the full phrase with natural breaks:
しょうらいの・きゃりあぷらんを・きかせてください。
Shōrai no • kyaria puran o • kikasete kudasai.
Pronunciation Tip: Japanese business language should sound measured and controlled. Practice speaking at a slightly slower pace than you might in casual conversation, with clear enunciation of each syllable. This demonstrates thoughtfulness and precision valued in business settings.
Cultural Context
Understanding the cultural background of career discussions in Japan will help you navigate these conversations more effectively.
In Japanese business culture, career advancement has traditionally been viewed through a collective lens. Career aspirations are expected to contribute to the organization's goals, not just personal achievement. When discussing career plans, framing your ambitions in terms of how they benefit the team or company demonstrates cultural awareness.
Japanese communication values modesty and understatement. When sharing career plans, it's customary to present them with a degree of humility rather than bold confidence. Phrases like 「できれば」(dekireba - if possible) or 「目指したいと思います」(mezashitai to omoimasu - I think I would like to aim for) soften ambitious statements.
While changing in modern companies, the traditional seniority system has influenced how career progression is discussed. Understanding that age and experience are still important factors in many Japanese organizations helps contextualize career conversations. Junior employees should acknowledge this hierarchy in their career discussions.
Japanese business culture traditionally values long-term commitment and gradual progression. Career discussions often focus on steady development rather than rapid advancement. Expressing loyalty and commitment to long-term growth is generally received more positively than ambitions for quick promotion.
Cultural Insight: The Japanese concept of 「根回し」(nemawashi - groundwork) applies to career discussions. Important career conversations often happen informally before formal reviews. Building relationships with mentors and supervisors through regular, casual check-ins can prepare the ground for more formal career advancement discussions.
Quiz Answers
Practice Challenge
Practice using today's phrase and vocabulary by creating your own business conversations about career development. Include the following elements:
For each practice item, focus on using culturally appropriate language, correct grammar structures, and business-level formality.
Practice Tip: Record yourself speaking these phrases and listen for proper pronunciation of long vowels and intonation patterns. Pay special attention to the polite request forms and the natural flow of longer sentences.
Comments
Post a Comment