Negotiating salary: Asking for a higher salary politely

💬 The ご in front makes 相談 (sōdan) humble and polite, because the discussion involves the person you're speaking to.

🇯🇵 Framing a raise request as a 相談 rather than a demand is the expected approach in Japan. It positions the boss as an advisor and keeps things harmonious.

💬 でしょう here softens the question, so it sounds gentler than a blunt 何ですか.

🇯🇵 Pointing to more responsibilities is a safe justification for a raise in Japan. Personal needs or comparisons with coworkers' pay tend to land badly.

💬 Add ていただけませんか to a verb for a very polite "could you...?": 待っていただけませんか "could you wait?". Asking it as "couldn't you?" makes it softer than a direct request.

💬 ぐらい after an amount means "roughly": 一時間ぐらい "about an hour".

🇯🇵 Expect your boss to ask for a number. Having a modest, specific figure ready is better than leaving it open.

💬 Japanese counts big numbers in units of ten thousand, 万 (man), so 20,000 is "two ten-thousands": 二万 (niman).

💬 に after a time period means "per": 週に三回 "three times a week".

🇯🇵 In Japan, "a little difficult" is a polite way of saying no. Treat it as a refusal and be ready to suggest a lower figure.

💬 The は is said (wa), not (ha), and it sets 20,000 yen as the thing being talked about.

💬 Read it in chunks of ten thousand: 一万 (ichiman) + 五千 (gosen) = 15,000.

💬 Put any option before はどうですか to suggest it: 明日はどうですか "how about tomorrow?".

💬 それで means "with that". Add お願いします to accept any offer politely, such as a time, price, or plan.

💬 それで here means "with that", so それでお願いします accepts an offer as given. It works for any option someone suggests to you.

🇯🇵 Accepting a counteroffer graciously, without pushing further, is the expected move. Haggling a second time with a boss would seem pushy.

💬 人事 is said (jinji).

💬 Adding ておきます to a verb means "do it ahead of time" or "take care of it": 予約しておきます "I'll book it in advance".

💬 いたします is the humble form of します, making this the most polite version of よろしくお願いします.

🇯🇵 This is the standard way to close a request to a superior. It thanks them in advance and leaves things in their hands.

💬 も adds "also, still": これから alone is "from now on", これからも is "from now on as well", meaning you're already doing well.

💬 頑張って is said (ganbatte), with a held beat at the small っ.

🇯🇵 A superior says this to someone below them. You wouldn't say it back to your boss, so reply with はい、頑張ります "yes, I'll do my best".