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How to Say ‘But sales is my first time.’ in Japanese

でも、営業は初めてです。

de mo eigyou wa hajimete desu

[deh moh eh-gyoh wah hajimete dess]

🇯🇵 In Japan: Admitting you're new to something comes across as modest and sincere in Japan. It also invites your coworkers to help you.

Phrase Breakdown

でも、営業は

de mo eigyou wa

But, sales

でも (demo) means 'but.' Pause briefly after it, then say 営業は (eigyou wa).

Example

でも、時間がありません。

But I don't have time.

Words in this phrase

で

[deh]

but (part of でも)

First half of でも, a conjunction meaning 'but' or 'however' at the start of a sentence.

Example

でも、高いです。

But it's expensive.

も

[moh]

but (part of でも)

Second half of でも; together they mean 'but; however'.

Example

でも、大丈夫です。

But it's okay.

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.

は

[wah]

topic marker

は marks the topic of the sentence.

Example

空席はありますか。

Are there any seats available?

初めてです。

hajimete desu

is my first time

初めて (hajimete) means 'first time.' The final 'u' in desu is soft.

Example

すしは初めてです。

This is my first time eating sushi.

Words in this phrase

初めて

hajimete

[hajimete]

for the first time

Doing something not done before.

Example

彼に初めて会った。

I met him for the first time.

です

desu

[dess]

is; am; are

A basic polite copula used to say 'is/am/are.'

Example

田中です。

I am Tanaka.

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