Negotiating salary: Responding to a job offer

💬 Japanese counts large numbers in units of ten thousand, 万 (man). So 300,000 is thirty 万: 三十万 (sanjū-man).

💬 は here is said (wa), not (ha). It sets up "the monthly salary" as the topic before the amount.

💬 ご + action word + する is a humble way to describe something you do for someone else. Compare ご連絡します "I'll contact you."

💬 This is a more polite version of いいですか "is it OK?". Use it with superiors, clients, and interviewers.

💬 Action + てもよろしいですか politely asks permission. Swap in 質問してもよろしいですか "May I ask a question?"

🇯🇵 Saying 相談 rather than "negotiate" frames a salary request as asking for advice. This softer approach is the expected way to raise pay in Japan.

💬 Topic + ですが is a gentle way to bring up a subject before your request. Swap in 日程ですが "About the schedule..."

🇯🇵 Asking whether a figure would be difficult lets the employer decline without losing face. It's far more natural in Japan than stating "I want 330,000."

🇯🇵 This buys thinking time, and a long pause after it is normal. It often signals that the answer won't be a simple yes.

💬 少々 (shōshō) is a polite word for "a little", and both vowels are long. In casual speech the same request would be ちょっと待って.

🇯🇵 Said after even a short wait, as a set politeness. Expect to hear it, and use it yourself whenever you've kept someone waiting.

💬 This is a polite version of どうですか. Put anything in front with では to make an offer: 来週ではいかがですか "How about next week?"

🇯🇵 Meeting in the middle like this is a typical outcome. Accepting graciously is expected, and pushing further at this point can seem pushy.

💬 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.

💬 で after a noun marks the means of doing something. Swap in 電話で "by phone" or 郵送で "by mail".

💬 お + action stem + します is a humble form for something you do for the other person. Compare お持ちします "I'll carry it for you."

💬 The past form ございました thanks someone for something that's now finished, like this call. Use ございます for ongoing or upcoming help.

🇯🇵 This is the standard way to end a business call. It literally means "I'm being rude," as in leaving your presence. Wait for the higher-status person to hang up first.