[Business Manners] Trivia Quiz Useful for Work

You’re breaking up on the phone.

When it’s hard to hear the other person, the key is not to blame them—regardless of whether they’re actually speaking quietly. A common but incorrect phrase is “Your voice seems far away.” The correct expression is “The call seems far away.”

Within 3 rings

In business settings, it is generally considered proper telephone etiquette to answer incoming calls within three rings. Any longer may make the caller feel they are being kept waiting, so be mindful of this. If you are unable to answer within three rings, say, “Thank you for waiting,” when you pick up the phone.

Yamada

When referring to your boss in front of someone outside your company, it’s standard to drop honorifics and use just their last name, because the person you should be showing respect to is the outsider, not your boss. If you’re uncomfortable calling your boss without an honorific, you can add their title before the last name, such as “Department Manager Yamada.”

Hold the business card with both hands and hand it over so it faces the recipient correctly.

The proper way to present a business card is to hold it with both hands and offer it facing the recipient so they can read it. At the same time, clearly state your name and department verbally. Also, handing your card from a slightly lower position than the one offered by the other person shows greater respect.

3 to 4 times

As a matter of etiquette in Japan, three knocks are considered appropriate. However, in global etiquette, it’s said that four knocks are customary. Therefore, the correct number of knocks is three to four. Two knocks are for knocking on a restroom door.

Take off your coat before entering the building.

As a matter of business etiquette, it is considered proper to remove your coat before entering the building, at the company entrance, or at least before approaching reception. It is also good manners to fold the coat so that the lining faces outward. Entering the premises of the company you are visiting while keeping your coat on can be considered discourteous.

I will take a look.

Attaching an additional -reru to ossharu to form ossharareru is redundant honorific (double keigo) and incorrect, and naruhodo is not an honorific expression. Haiken shimasu is the humble form of “to see,” so it is a correct honorific (polite) expression.