It’s better to keep the conversation professional

2025年4月23日

A: I have to give my boss some difficult news. I’m getting nervous. How should I do this?

B: It’s normal to feel nervous, but in this case your feelings aren’t necessary for your boss. So I think it’s better to keep the conversation professional. This will help your boss understand the situation better and he will give you good advice.

In this situation, what should you say ‘it’s better to keep the conversation professional’ in Japanese?

Business

B：ですから、ビジネスライクに話はなすのがよいと思おもいます。

Note: This is not a word-for-word translation.

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A word-for-word translation

B：ですから、会話かいわはプロフェッショナルな雰囲気ふんいきに留とどめた方ほうが良よいと思おもいます。

I think people understand what you want to mean, but we don’t usually say プロフェッショナルな会話かいわ.

If you want to express a conversation that concisely conveys facts without emotion, we say ビジネスライクに話はなす or 事務的じむてきに話はなす.

Both of these expressions can have negative connotations, such as dry or cold conversation, but I think it’s good advice for people who have to deal with a difficult client or having to deliver difficult news.