Business Japanese – 5 Useful Expressions for Price Negotiations

Table of Contents

1. 勉強べんきょうします ＝ 値引ねびきします？
2. 5 Useful Expressions for Price Negotiations
3. Summary
4. Similer Articles
5. Comment

Q: I was told by a senior colleague that in business Japanese, “勉強べんきょうします” actually means “I’ll give you a discount.” Are there any other similar expressions?

A: In business settings, direct expressions are not always preferred. Especially in sensitive situations like price or contract negotiations, saying things like “we’ll lower the price” or “that’s expensive” too bluntly may make the other party uncomfortable.

That’s why in this article, we’ve selected five polite and indirect Japanese expressions related to pricing and contract terms. These expressions will help you navigate negotiations more smoothly and professionally.

5 Useful Expressions for Price Negotiations

[勉強べんきょうさせていただきます]

“勉強べんきょうする” is a polite and indirect way to say “give a discount” in business Japanese.
It’s used to show a willingness to adjust pricing while maintaining respect for the other party and preserving a trusting business relationship.

[Surface meaning]
We will make a sincere effort to adjust the price while showing respect to the other party.

[True intention]
We’ll give you a discount—but within limits, so please don’t expect too much.

[Examples]
初回しょかいのお取引とりひきということもございますので、今回こんかいはできる限かぎり勉強べんきょうさせていただきます。
Since this would be our first transaction together, we are happy to offer you our best possible price.

弊社へいしゃとしてもぜひご一緒いっしょしたい案件あんけんですので、お見積みつもりは勉強べんきょうさせていただきました。
We would very much like to work with you on this project, so we’ve provided a discounted estimate.

ご予算よさんを踏ふまえて、少すこしでもご希望きぼうに近ちかづけるよう勉強べんきょうさせていただきます。
Taking your budget into account, we’ve adjusted the pricing to get as close as possible to your expectations.

[頑張がんばらせていただきます]

“頑張がんばる” suggests a willingness to adjust pricing or terms in a flexible manner.
It’s an effective way to show a positive attitude without directly saying “we’ll lower the price.”

[Surface meaning]
We’ll make every effort to adjust the pricing or conditions in a positive and proactive way.

[True intention]
A small discount or delivery adjustment might be possible—but internal approval is needed, so we can’t promise anything right away.

[Examples]
ご希望きぼうに添そえるよう、納期のうきと価格かかくともに頑張がんばらせていただきます。
We will do our best to meet both your delivery schedule and pricing expectations.

予算よさんの都合つごうとのこと、社内しゃないでも相談そうだんのうえ精せい一杯いっぱい頑張がんばらせていただきます。
Understanding your budget constraints, we will consult internally and do everything we can to accommodate.

数量すうりょうや納期のうき次第しだいではございますが、ご期待きたいに沿そえるように頑張がんばらせていただきます。
Depending on the quantity and delivery timeline, we will make every effort to meet your expectations.

[ご相談そうだんに応おうじます]

“ご相談そうだんに応おうじます” is a polite way to indicate that flexible responses are possible, without making any specific commitments.
It’s a useful expression to signal that there’s room for negotiation.

[Surface meaning]
We’re open to flexible arrangements, so please feel free to consult with us.

[True intention]
We can consider discounts or changes depending on your terms—but we’d prefer that you state your specific requests first.

[Examples]
価格かかく面めんにつきましては、ご相談そうだんに応おうじますのでお気軽きがるにご連絡れんらくください。
We’re happy to discuss pricing, so please feel free to reach out anytime.

ロット数すうや支払しはらい方法ほうほうについても、柔軟じゅうなんにご相談そうだんに応おうじます。
We can also be flexible regarding order volume and payment methods.

継続けいぞく的てきなお取引とりひきを前提ぜんていに、条件じょうけん面めんについてもご相談そうだんに応おうじられるかと存ぞんじます。
If this will be an ongoing business relationship, we believe we can be flexible with the terms as well.

[厳きびしいご意見いけんをいただいております]

“厳きびしいご意見いけんをいただいております” is a gentle way to say that someone has told us our pricing is too high.
It’s often used to justify a price or condition review without sounding defensive.

[Surface meaning]
We’re taking customer feedback and market reactions seriously and are working on improvements.

[True intention]
People are saying our prices are too high. We want to lower them, but it’s easier to frame it as “based on customer feedback” rather than our own decision.

[Examples]
最近さいきん、同業どうぎょう他社たしゃと比較ひかくして厳きびしいご意見いけんをいただいておりますので、見直みなおしを検討けんとうしております。
Recently, we’ve received some tough feedback when compared with other companies in the industry, so we are reviewing our pricing.

価格かかく帯たいに関かんしては厳きびしいご意見いけんをいただいておりまして、改善かいぜんの余地よちがあると考かんがえております。
We’ve been told that our pricing range may be high, and we believe there is room for improvement.

お客きゃく様さまから厳きびしいご意見いけんをいただいておりますので、今後こんごの参考さんこうにさせていただきたく思おもいます。
We’ve received some critical feedback from customers, and we’d like to take that into account moving forward.

[柔軟じゅうなんに対応たいおうします]

“柔軟じゅうなんに対応たいおうします” is a polite way to show readiness to negotiate pricing without stating specific discount rates.
It helps open the door to negotiation without giving the impression of undervaluing the product.

[Surface meaning]
We’re open to adjusting the price based on your needs.

[True intention]
Yes, we can offer a discount—but we’d prefer not to name a number first, so please tell us your target price.

[Examples]
ご発注はっちゅう数すうに応おうじて、柔軟じゅうなんに対応たいおうさせていただきます。
We can be flexible with pricing depending on the order volume.

年間ねんかん契約けいやくという形かたちであれば、価格かかく面めんも柔軟じゅうなんに対応たいおう可能かのうです。
If we proceed under an annual contract, we can also offer flexibility in pricing.

ご希望きぼうのご予算よさん感かんをお聞きかせいただければ、できる限かぎり柔軟じゅうなんにご対応たいおういたします。
If you could share your target budget, we’ll do our best to respond flexibly within those parameters.

Summary

In price negotiations, it’s essential to choose words that show consideration for the other party.
Using polite and indirect expressions like the ones introduced here helps maintain trust and allows for smooth, respectful discussions.

Indirect Expression	Direct Meaning
勉強べんきょうさせていただきます	We’ll offer a discount
頑張がんばらせていただきます	We’ll lower the price / adjust the terms
ご相談そうだんに応おうじます	We’re open to discounts or changes
厳きびしいご意見いけんをいただいております	We’ve been told our price is high
柔軟じゅうなんに対応たいおうします	A discount is possible

These expressions are useful in various business situations such as sales meetings, quotes, and formal emails. Be mindful of how you use them, and adapt based on the context for effective communication.

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