Japanese - Chatting With Coworkers

最近、けっこう___ですね。

Saikin, kekkō ___ desu ne.

Things have been pretty ___ lately.

Meaning: Things have been pretty ___ lately.

When to use: Insert adjectives like 「忙しい」「大変」 to comment that recent days have been that way; add 「ね」 to invite agreement.

ここはいつもこんなに___ですか？

Koko wa itsumo konna ni ___ desu ka?

Is it always this ___ around here?

Meaning: Is it always this ___ around here?

When to use: Put adjectives like 「静か」「にぎやか」「忙しい」 to ask lightly about the workplace atmosphere.

Tip: Beginners sometimes use the adjective without adjusting for 「に」 (e.g. saying *こんなににぎやかか？*). Keep the polite pattern: こんなに + adjective + ですか。

___のこと、聞きましたか？

___ no koto, kikimashita ka?

Did you hear about ___?

Meaning: Did you hear about ___?

When to use: Insert a news item, person, or plan into ___ to ask if someone has heard about it (add 「のこと」 for 'about').

やっと___方法が分かりました。

Yatto ___ hōhō ga wakarimashita.

I finally figured out how to ___ .

Meaning: I finally figured out how to ___.

When to use: Fill ___ with a phrase that includes a verb in dictionary form (e.g. 経費を申請する方法). Use to share a small work success.

Tip: Make sure the blank contains a phrased action (dictionary form). Beginners sometimes insert a noun without the action form.

お名前は聞いていました。お会いできてうれしいです。

Onamae wa kiite imashita. Oai dekite ureshii desu.

It's nice to put a face to the name.

Meaning: It’s nice to put a face to the name.

When to use: Say this when you knew someone's name but meet them in person for the first time. More formal alternative: 「お名前はうかがっていました」。

おじゃまでしたら言ってください。

Ojama deshitara itte kudasai.

Let me know if I'm interrupting.

Meaning: Let me know if I’m interrupting.

When to use: Use this before starting a chat if the other person looks busy; you can add 「お忙しいところすみません」を前に付けてさらに丁寧に。

お仕事のじゃまになるといけないので、そろそろ失礼します。

Oshigoto no jama ni naru to ikenai node, sorosoro shitsurei shimasu.

I don't want to keep you from your work.

Meaning: I don’t want to keep you from your work, so I’ll let you get back to it.

When to use: Use this polite closing when ending small talk so the other person can return to work.

___はどうでしたか？

___ wa dō deshita ka?

How did ___ go?

Meaning: How did ___ go?

When to use: Put recent events like 会議・発表・面談 into ___ to ask casually about results or impressions.