Ep 33: "We Will Consider It Positively" Actually Means "NO" in Japanese Business?! (前向きに検討しますの罠)

Welcome to Episode 33 of Real Japanese Talk with Haruka & Saki! 🗼🐙Saki's foreign friend pitched to a Japanese company and got the reply 「前向きに検討します」 (we will consider it positively) — and went home thrilled. Three months later, still no response. Welcome to the most painful trap in Japanese business communication: phrases that sound positive on the surface but actually mean "no." Today Haruka and Saki decode this minefield — and teach you the two signals that distinguish a real "we'll consider it" from a polite rejection.Three target words today: 検討 (kentou, "consideration" — neutral-positive in dictionary meaning, but in Japanese business it's a 90% rejection signal), 遠回し (toomawashi, "indirect / roundabout" — the Japanese cultural preference for never saying "no" directly), and 期待薄 (kitai-usu, "unlikely / low expectation" — what you should actually feel after hearing 「前向きに検討します」).Plus: a whole family of soft-rejection phrases — 「機会があれば」 (if there's an opportunity), 「難しいですね」 (that's difficult), 「上と相談します」 (I'll consult my supervisor) — and the two reliable signals of REAL interest (specific deadlines, concrete next actions). A spiritual sequel to Ep.22 (Osewa) and Ep.26 (Naru-haya) — your survival guide to vague Japanese business language continues!【Today's Vocabulary / 今日の言葉】・検討 (けんとう) - Examining or considering something from various angles. Equivalent to English "consideration" or "to consider." Originally a neutral-to-slightly-positive word meaning "to think seriously about something." However, in Japanese business contexts, 「検討します」 and 「前向きに検討します」 are frequently used as polite rejection signals. This is part of Japanese 「建前」 (tatemae) culture (see Ep.9) — avoiding direct "no" and using indirect rejection so the other party can save face. Extremely common in business: 「検討する」 (to consider), 「検討中」 (under consideration), 「検討させていただきます」 (we will consider it). Whether it's genuine consideration can be told by whether the other party gives a specific deadline or concrete next action.・遠回し (とおまわし) - Conveying something indirectly, without saying it clearly, expecting the other party to read between the lines. Equivalent to English "indirect" or "roundabout." A core keyword in Japanese communication culture. Japanese people tend to avoid direct expressions to avoid hurting others or disrupting the atmosphere, opting instead for roundabout phrasing. Especially common when delivering refusals, criticism, or negative content. 「前向きに検討します」, 「機会があれば」, 「難しいですね」 — all roundabout refusal expressions. Foreign learners who develop the skill of reading these indirect intentions will find their communication in Japanese society dramatically smoother. Used as 「遠回しに言う」 (to say it indirectly), 「遠回しな表現」 (a roundabout expression).・期待薄 (きたいうす) - When good results or success seem unlikely. Equivalent to English "unlikely" or "low expectation." Combines 「期待」 (hope/expectation) and 「薄」 (thin/low), meaning "thin hopes / not much to expect." In Japanese business, the realistic interpretation when someone says 「前向きに検討します」 is that the chance is 「期待薄」 — about 90% likely a no. Used as 「期待薄だね」 (it's unlikely), 「期待薄な状況」 (a low-hope situation). A similar expression is 「望み薄」. The standard reading is 「きたいうす」 (kitai-usu) — 「きたいはく」 is a minority reading. A handy word for foreign learners to know — it prevents over-optimism in Japanese business situations.📄 Get the Full Transcript with Furigana & Study Guide on our Patreon!シャドーイングに便利な「ふりがな付き台本」はこちら：👉 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/posts/155837588⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Transparency Disclosure: To maximize your learning experience, this podcast is produced using Google's generative AI technology for precise scriptwriting and clear, high-quality audio generation.