Basic shapes: Discussing the shape of elements in a chart

💬 The pattern A は B です means "A is B" and works for explaining any chart key: 線は利益です "the line is profit".

💬 三角 (sankaku) is literally "three corners", and 四角 (shikaku) "four corners" follows the same pattern.

💬 じゃあ "well then" moves the conversation to the next point. It's casual but common at work.

🇯🇵 お客さん "customer(s)" is a polite way to refer to customers. Staff use it when talking about clients, even among themselves.

💬 四角 covers any four-sided box, not just a perfect square. For a strict square, people say 正方形 (seihōkei).

💬 も replaces は or が to mean "too", so 四角もあります means "there are squares too". The ね at the end asks the listener to confirm.

💬 去年 is said (kyonen). Swap in 今年 (kotoshi) "this year": 今年の数字.

🇯🇵 なるほど shows you've followed an explanation. With a senior person, saying it repeatedly can sound a bit like you're judging their point, so mix in そうですか "is that so".

💬 よく is "well" here, so this means "understood well". The past form わかりました is used for "I understand" because the understanding has just happened.

💬 ほかに means "besides that" and goes before what you're asking about: ほかに何かありますか "is there anything else?".

💬 質問 is said (shitsumon). The つ is full size here, so it's not a held beat.

💬 あります means "there is" for things, so this is literally "Are there questions?". Swap in another noun: 時間はありますか "do you have time?".

🇯🇵 This is the standard way to wrap up an explanation or presentation. Japanese audiences often stay quiet even when unsure, so presenters ask this to give an opening.

💬 大丈夫です means "it's fine" and works as a polite "no thanks" for offers too, like more food or help.

💬 The past form ございました thanks someone for something already finished. For ongoing help, use ありがとうございます instead.

🇯🇵 いえいえ is the natural modest reply to thanks, brushing it off as no trouble. It sounds warm and friendly.

💬 どうぞ offers something, like "please go ahead". Here it invites the person back.

🇯🇵 Saying this after helping someone signals they are welcome to ask again. It's a kind way for a colleague to end the conversation.