Negotiating practical solutions in Japanese

Level B1

Negotiating practical solutions in Japanese

Use these phrases to follow up on a problem, explain what you have tried and agree on a practical solution. Japanese puts the main verb at the end and often leaves out people already clear from context: “入れ直してみました” means “I tried switching it back on”, まだ means “still”, and “修理すれば” introduces the condition “if it is repaired” rather than copying English “would”. Use the polite です and ます forms with service staff and unfamiliar people, including respectful requests such as “確認していただけますか”; plain forms with けど, ね or よ suit familiar conversations, and そっち for “you” here should stay within that familiar setting. Confirm the person responsible with が when needed, and distinguish までに for a completion deadline, as in “金曜日までに”, from まで for something continuing until a time and に for an action scheduled on a particular day.

Key words for continuing problems and agreed solutions

Explain what you tried and what is still happening

すでに試したことが、まだ続いている問題。

Explain which action would solve the problem

対処すれば、問題は解決(かいけつ)する。

Clarify a preference or state your availability

確認したいことをはっきりさせたいのですが、確認する質問。

Offer a temporary fix or suggest sharing the work

妥協案(だきょうあん)として、役割分担や一時的な対応の提案。

Confirm the person responsible and the deadline

担当者が期限までに行うこと。

A polite conversation about a temporary heater and repair

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