質問/回答

◎ 質問を切り出す

J
I would like to ask a question.

F
Yes. Please do.

J
I wish to raise a question on whether it would be more appropriate to have the lawyers of both companies present at the next meeting. If we are to talk about contracts，it would be better to have them participate from the beginning.

F
I do not think we will be discussing contracts. What we wish to do is to explore together the possibility of whether there are common grounds for business relation.

J
I see.

いきなり質問を始めるのではなく、最初に質問を切り出す表現を用いると、スムーズにいきます。相手には心の準備をさせ、こちらも落ち着いて質問ができるからです。

★軽く質問を切り出す言い方の例文です。
・I have a question to ask you.
・May I ask you a question?
・Do you mind if I ask you a question?
・Would you mind if I ask you a question?

★強く質問を切り出す言い方の例文です。
・Would you care to answer my question on the warranty? I really need some input from you.
・Your answer to my next question will have a great impact on the whole negotiation. Would you give me your frank opinion so that we both can have a clear understanding?

◎ 発言を聞き返す

J
Sorry，but could you kindly repeat what you just said?

F
I would be happy to. I have a habit of mixing in colloquial expressions. When I do，just raise your hand and stop me.

J
It would help if you could try to speak a little slower.

F
I will try to.

相手が言ったことが聞き取れなかった場合、上記のように丁寧に聞き返すのがよいです。

★"It would help if ～"は「～してくださると助かります」。

★丁寧にお願いするには他に次のような言い方があります。
・I would appreciate it if you could provide your response in writing.
・I hate ask you this，but could you provide your response in writing?
・I hate to trouble you，but would you write down what you just said? I could not quite catch it.

◎ 発言の意味を尋ねる

J
I am not completely clear on what you mean by the words“beneficial owner.”Could you kindly paraphrase it for me?

F
At this stage，perhaps it might be better if left out the lawyer’s jargon and stuck to a layman’s way of speech.
It means the real owner.

J
Thank you.

相手の発言は聞き取れたけれども、その意味がわからない場合の聞き返し方です。

★"to be clear on(something)は「･･･を明確に把握している」。

★"to paraphrase"は「言い換える」。同じ意味の表現に次のようなものがあります。
"to use another expression."
"to put it in another way."

◎ 質問を繰り返す

J
Thank you for your explanation. I apologize if I have not made myself clear. My question was related to the kind of survey you have conducted to reach your conclusion.

F
We can share with you the actual report，in which the details are given. Can you have your assurance that the contents of the report will remain within your company?

J
You have my word that it will be treated the same care as our own confidential information.

相手の答えが不十分な場合は、質問を繰り返さなければなりません。相手が「わざと明確な答えをしなかった」と思われる場合でも、「こちらの質問が悪くて申し訳ない」という感じで答えをも求める方が穏やかです。

★"to apologize"は「謝罪する」。むやみな謝ってはいけませんが、上の例文の場合ではかまいません。

★"to be related to(something)"は「～と関連している」。

◎ 答えを迫る

J
It appears that you are not inclined to address my question today，but we definitely need your answer. When may we expect your answer?

F
It is hard to pinpoint exact date. I have to consult with some other experts，who are very busy.

J
Our project must proceed at a reasonably quick tempo. Surely one month is ample time，isn’t it?

F
I will try，but no promises.

J
I have faith in your capabilities to get an answer within that one month.

答えが必要な場合には、ある程度強く答えを迫ることも検討に値します。

★"to be inclined to (do)は「･･･する気分にある」

★"no promiss"は"I can make no promiss"の略です。似たような表現には次のようなものがあります。
・I cannot promise. （約束できません。）
・I cannot gurantee the outcome. （結果は保証できません。）
・I will do my best. （最善をつくします。）
・I will give it my utmost effort. （最善をつくします。）

★さんざん待たされた場合に、答えを迫る表現の例文です。
・I have been patiently waiting for your answer，but cannot wait any longer. I must have your answer today.
・You have postponed answering our question several times. What seems to be the matter?
・We need your favorable answer by the end of this week. If we do not received it in time，it could be cast a grave influence on our negotiations.

◎ 質問を繰り返してもらう

J
I could not catch your question. Could you repeat it，please?

F
No problem. The question I asked is whether your company is considering diversifying into some other areas.

J
Thank you. You are very kind.

F
You are welcome.

相手から質問されたけれども、質問が聞き取れなかったり、意味がわからなかったりした場合は、質問を繰り返してもらうべきです。

★"to catch"は「聞き取る」「把握する」。

★"to diversity"は「活動視野を広げる」「多角経営化する」。

★質問を繰り返してもらう言い方の例文です。
・I hate to trouble you，but could you state your question again?
・Could you paraphrase your question in laymen’s English.
・In order to understand exactly what you seek，could you write down your questions?

◎ 正式に答える

J
We have duty studied your counterproposal. We hereby provide our official response that we accept it.

F
Thank you for a favorable response.

答えを切り出す場合には、最初にその答えが正式で最終的なものか、仮で一応のものなのかを明らかにしえおく必要があります。

★"duly"は「正式に」

★肯定的な場合の答え方の例文です。
・We are pleased to advise you of our final response as follows.
・We are happy to be able to say that we agree to your prices.

★否定的な場合の答え方の例文です。
・We regret to inform you that your proposal does not allow us to go ahead.
・We are sorry to tell you that our management was not satisfied with the proposal provide by you at the last meeting.

◎ 仮に答える

J
I will give you our provisional reply on that point now. We are able to agree to your proposal subject to various conditions.

F
When can we expect your official reply.

J
Right after we have presented our report to the Executive Committee, which is held every other Monday.

F
We expect your reply as soon as possible.

J
Certainly.

交渉の過程では、最終的な答えではなく、仮に答えることが多いです。初めに「最終的なものではない」と断っておけば、後日、それを撤回したり変更したりする余地を残せます。

★「最終的なものではない」という意味の枕言葉には次のようなものがあります。
・"provisional"…「暫定的な」
・"tentative"…「仮の」
・"personal"…「個人的な」
・"unofficial"…「非公式な」

★仮に答える言い方の例文です。
・The following answer is subject to official confirmation.
・Let me give you an indication.
・Please remember this is not to be taken as final.

◎ 「仮にこう答えたら」と答える

J
As a case study, let us assume for the moment that our answer were to be “yes”on this item. What do you think would happen next?

F
It will clear the way for us to request from our Finance Committee the funds to launch a trial sales campaign.

J
And if our answer were to be “no”?

F
We would probably have to review our whole strategy.

「仮にこう答えたら、相手はどう出るか」を探るため、仮定論として話を進める方法もあります。しかし、この方法は、お互いの信頼関係ができたあとに使うべきです。

★"were to be ～"は、「仮に将来～だったら」という意味で、かなり可能性が低いことを示します。

★仮定論であることを示す言い方の例文です。
・Let us imagine a hypothetical case, where we disagree.
・Just for argument sake, suppose we disagree.

◎ 答えられない

J
Unfortunately, such data is simply not available. We also would like to have it, if it were.

F
Can you think of any other data which may help us? It dose not have to be official statistics. Trade figures will do.

J
Let me look around. I know the nature of the data that you are looking for, and will try to come up with something that may address part of issue, if not all of it.

質問に答えたいけれども、資料不足などの外部的な事情にために「答えられない」場合は理由を述べて断ります。

★"to come up with something"は「何とかする」の意味です。

★「答えられない」理由を示す言い方の例文です。
・There is no such published information.
・Such data is confidential.
・I am not sure data does exist.

◎ いずれ答える

J
Unfortunately, the information you seek will not be available until our Government publishes its official statistics book in June.
We will let you know as soon as it becomes available.

F
Could you purchase it for us when we becomes available? We will reimburse you.

J
Yes. We will make it a point to send it to you without charge. The cost is nominal.

いずれ答えることができ、答える意志がある場合は、その旨を答えておくべきです。

★"to reimburse"は、立替払いしておいてもらったものを「払い戻す」という意味になります。

★"to make it a point to do"は「…すると約束する」という意味です。

◎ 答えない

J
I am afraid our company cannot disclose such detailed information, since it is considered as a trade secret. However, I understand you need some information relating to this matter. I will try to find out something which may help you, such as the estimated average of the trade.

F
Thank you, we would appreciate such figures. However, we do need the detailed information to make the final decision to form a joint venture. What do you require to disclose such detailed information?
A Secrecy Agreement or some form of payment?

J
Let me study the situation. I will let you know at our next meeting what would be required for the disclosure of such detailed information.

内部的な事情で、いっさい答えたくない場合は、相手との関係を悪化させないように合理的な理由をつけるようにします。

★「答えたくない」場合の言い方の例文です。
・Our company policy does not permit us to discuss the matter in such detail.
・I must say that it is somewhat premature to enter into that subject.

◎ 答えられないふりをする

J
Unfortunately, I am not in a position to give you our definitive answer, because, on that point, approval from our management is required.

F
Do you have all the necessary information to seek such approval? Let us assist you to obtain such approval, to the extent we can.

J
Thank you for your offer. If there is anything, I will let you know.

実際には答えられるが、自社に不利になるおそれがあり、答えたくない場合には「～できない」と外部的な事情を理由に答えられないふりをして時間を稼ぎます。

★"I am not in a position to do"は「…する立場、地位にない」。

★答えられないふりをする場合の言い訳の例文です。
・In accordance with our internal rules, we must obtain the opinion of our Legal Department before we answer.
・It is a common practice among Japanese companies that this kind of important decision requires approval from the management. Accordingly, we cannot answer your question until we obtain such approval. We appreciate your understanding.

◎ 質問し返す

J
In order for us to answer your question accurately, could you kindly clarify your position on the potential market and your sales strategy?

F
I would be glad to do so. Before that, could you also let us know your position relevant to each point?

J
As I said, we cannot give you our position before we hear your opinion first.

F
It seems that we are at an impasse. Do you have any idea how to solve this situation?

J
Perhaps we should discuss this issue later when the appropriate time has come.

相手の質問はわかっているが、ストレートの答えたくない場合や相手の真意を探りたい場合に、逆に質問し返すという作戦もあります。

★「逆に質問し返す」場合の言い方の例文です。
・I feel it may be help for me to answer your question, if I am allowed to ask you about the following points first.
・Excuse me, but I believe it would be useful for both of us if I could ask you the following issues before answering your question.

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