Polite to Colleague
Workplace · Lunch
You
今日のお昼、一緒にどうですか？近くに新しいお店があるんです。
きょうのおひる、いっしょにどうですか？ちかくにあたらしいおみせがあるんです。
Would you like to have lunch together today? There's a new restaurant nearby.
Romaji: Kyou no ohiru, issho ni dou desu ka? Chikaku ni atarashii omise ga aru n desu. / Reply Romaji: Ii desu ne. Ikimashou!
Reply
いいですね。行きましょう！
いいですね。いきましょう！
Sounds great. Let's go!
Gesture & etiquette
Approach during a natural pause in their work — not during an intense task. Lean slightly toward them and lower your voice to a friendly, informal level. If they hesitate, add 'tanoshii omise desu yo' (it's a fun place) to ease any decision pressure. Smile naturally — this should feel like a friendly, low-pressure invitation.
Lunch invitations are a casual but important social bonding ritual in Japanese workplaces. Using 'dou desu ka?' (how about it?) instead of a direct request gives the colleague an easy, face-saving way to decline if needed. Sharing meals builds trust and informal communication channels (ura channels) that are essential to working smoothly in Japanese teams.