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How to Say ‘Is Mr. Tanaka from the sales department available?’ in Japanese

営業部の田中さんはいらっしゃいますか。

eigyou bu no tanaka san wa irasshai masu ka

[eh-gyoh boo no tah-NAH-kah sahn wah ee-rahs-SHAI mahss kah]

🇯🇵 In Japan: Callers use さん and respectful words for the person they want. The receptionist, though, will drop さん when talking about their own colleague to an outsider.

Phrase Breakdown

営業部の

eigyou bu no

of the sales department

営業部 (eigyō-bu) means 'sales department'. Say 'ei' like 'ay' and make the 'ō' long.

Example

営業部の山本です。

This is Yamamoto from sales.

Words in this phrase

営業

eigyou

[eh-gyoh]

sales

A job or activity involving selling products or services and building client relationships.

Example

私は営業の仕事に興味があります。

I am interested in sales work.

部

[boo]

department; division

A suffix naming a section of a company.

Example

人事部に電話します。

I'll call the HR department.

の

[no]

's; of

A particle that shows possession or connection between nouns.

Example

知り合いの会社に興味があります。

I am interested in an acquaintance's company.

田中さんは

tanaka san wa

Mr./Ms. Tanaka (topic)

Name + さん, then the topic particle は, read 'wa'.

Example

田中さんは忙しいです。

Mr. Tanaka is busy.

Words in this phrase

田中

tanaka

[tah-NAH-kah]

Tanaka (surname)

A very common Japanese family name.

Example

田中さんは会社員です。

Mr. Tanaka is an office worker.

さん

san

[sahn]

Mr./Ms. (name suffix)

Polite suffix attached to someone's name.

Example

田中さん、こんにちは。

Hello, Mr. Tanaka.

は

[wah]

topic marker; as for

Marks 'today' as the topic. Written は but pronounced 'wa.'

Example

本日はお時間をいただき、ありがとうございます。

Thank you for giving me your time today.

いらっしゃいますか。

irasshai masu ka

is (he/she) there?

Honorific 'is there?' used on the phone. Raise your voice slightly at か.

Example

先生はいらっしゃいますか。

Is the teacher in?

Words in this phrase

いらっしゃい

irasshai

[ee-rahs-SHAI]

to be (honorific)

Honorific form of いる; used to politely ask if someone is present.

Example

部長はいらっしゃいますか。

Is the manager in?

ます

masu

[mahss]

polite ending

A polite ending attached to verbs in formal speech.

Example

まだありますか。

Are there still some available?

か

[kah]

question marker

Placed at the end of a sentence to make it a question.

Example

A席はありますか。

Are there A seats available?

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