Question
I’m planning my first business trip to Japan and I have a meeting with a client. I want to make a good impression and offer my business card politely. How do I ask “May I offer you my business card?” in Japanese?
Japango Editor Team
名刺（めいし）をお渡（わた）ししてもよろしいですか。
Meishi o o-watashi shitemo yoroshii desuka?
May I offer you my business card?
Offering a business card, or “meishi,” politely is an essential part of business etiquette in Japan.
The phrase “o-watashi shitemo yoroshii desuka?” is a polite way to ask for permission to hand something over. “Watashi suru” means “to hand over,” and by using “o-” as a prefix and changing the verb into the te-form with “mo yoroshii desuka,” the phrase becomes a formal request.
Making a good impression with this expression is a useful skill in Japanese business situations. Always remember to present your business card with both hands and a slight bow.
