{"id":26,"date":"2026-05-12T12:23:47","date_gmt":"2026-05-12T03:23:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/themindsetarchitects.site\/?p=26"},"modified":"2026-05-21T15:13:36","modified_gmt":"2026-05-21T06:13:36","slug":"what-we-will-consider-it-means-in-japanese-business","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/themindsetarchitects.site\/?p=26","title":{"rendered":"What does \u201cwe will consider it\u201d mean in Japanese business?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/themindsetarchitects.site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/ChatGPT-Image-2026\u5e745\u670812\u65e5-12_03_44-1024x683.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-36\" srcset=\"https:\/\/themindsetarchitects.site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/ChatGPT-Image-2026\u5e745\u670812\u65e5-12_03_44-1024x683.png 1024w, https:\/\/themindsetarchitects.site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/ChatGPT-Image-2026\u5e745\u670812\u65e5-12_03_44-300x200.png 300w, https:\/\/themindsetarchitects.site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/ChatGPT-Image-2026\u5e745\u670812\u65e5-12_03_44-768x512.png 768w, https:\/\/themindsetarchitects.site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/ChatGPT-Image-2026\u5e745\u670812\u65e5-12_03_44.png 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You sent a proposal to a Japanese client. They replied:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWe will consider it.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It sounds polite. It sounds positive. But days pass, then weeks, and you hear nothing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Was it a yes? A maybe? Or a quiet no?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you have ever worked with Japanese clients, you have probably been in this situation. This article explains what \u201cwe will consider it\u201d may mean in Japanese business communication \u2014 and what to do next.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Why \u201cwe will consider it\u201d is difficult to read<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In many Western business contexts, a reply like \u201cwe will consider it\u201d can sound like genuine interest. It may suggest that the conversation is still open.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In Japanese business communication, the same phrase can mean something different depending on the context.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The words on the surface do not always carry the full message.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Japanese business replies often work in layers:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>What the words say literally<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>What the tone suggests<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>What is missing from the reply<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Reading all three together gives you a clearer picture than reading the words alone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">It may mean \u201cwe need more time\u201d<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sometimes, \u201cwe will consider it\u201d means exactly what it says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The client may be genuinely reviewing the proposal internally and may not have reached a decision yet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Signals that this may be the case:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>They asked clarifying questions before this reply<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>There is an active project or timeline in the background<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The tone felt warm and engaged earlier in the conversation<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>They mentioned a possible next step, even if it was not final<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In this case, giving space and following up calmly after a reasonable interval is usually the right move.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">It may mean \u201cthis is not a priority right now\u201d<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Japanese clients may not say directly, \u201cThis is not a priority for us.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Instead, the conversation may slow down quietly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWe will consider it\u201d with no follow-up question and no timeline can be a signal that the matter has been set aside.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It may not be a rejection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But it may also not be moving forward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Signals that this may be the case:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>No timeline or next step was mentioned<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Response time has been getting longer<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Enthusiasm feels lower than earlier in the conversation<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The reply is polite, but very brief<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">It may mean \u201cno\u201d \u2014 said politely<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This is the part that often surprises people working with Japanese clients for the first time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In Japanese business culture, a direct \u201cno\u201d can feel abrupt, especially when both sides want to maintain a polite relationship.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A soft reply may close the conversation without confrontation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWe will consider it\u201d \u2014 with no follow-up, no question, and no timeline \u2014 can sometimes function as a careful refusal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Signals that this may be the case:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>No next step or owner was named<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The reply was formal and brief<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Previous conversations had more detail and warmth<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>A deadline you mentioned passed without response<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In this situation, pushing harder may not help.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It may create more pressure and make the client less likely to respond.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How to respond without pushing too hard<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The instinct when a conversation goes quiet is to follow up more frequently.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In Japanese business communication, this can sometimes have the opposite effect.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Pushing harder after a soft reply may increase discomfort and make the relationship more difficult to recover.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A safer approach is to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Wait longer than you normally would before following up<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Ask one calm, low-pressure question<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Offer a smaller next step rather than repeating the original request<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Leave space for the client to re-engage on their own terms<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A good follow-up example:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThank you for your time. Please let me know if there is anything I can clarify or adjust to make the proposal easier to review.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This keeps the door open without creating unnecessary pressure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">A practical way to read Japanese client replies<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When a Japanese client reply sounds polite but unclear, try reading it at three levels:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Surface meaning<\/strong> \u2014 What do the words say literally?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Missing signals<\/strong> \u2014 Is there a timeline, a next step, or any clear enthusiasm?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Tone shift<\/strong> \u2014 Is this warmer or cooler than earlier messages?<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If the surface meaning sounds positive but the missing signals and tone suggest distance, take the cautious interpretation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Give space before following up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Do not treat a polite reply as a clear yes unless the next step is also clear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Other phrases that work in a similar way<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWe will consider it\u201d is one of several Japanese business replies that can carry more than their literal meaning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Other common examples include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>\u201cWe will discuss it internally.\u201d<\/strong> \u2014 This may mean the conversation is paused, not progressing.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>\u201cThat may be difficult.\u201d<\/strong> \u2014 This often functions as a careful or indirect no.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>\u201cWe will review it.\u201d<\/strong> \u2014 This may mean checking, but not necessarily moving forward.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>\u201cThank you for your understanding.\u201d<\/strong> \u2014 This can carry an expectation that you accept the current situation.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Each phrase has a surface meaning and a context-dependent meaning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Reading both is what helps you avoid misreading Japanese business communication.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">If you work with Japanese clients regularly<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Misreading a polite reply once is usually easy to recover from.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But misreading it repeatedly \u2014 pushing too hard, following up too often, or missing a quiet no \u2014 can gradually damage a client relationship.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you often wonder what a Japanese client\u2019s reply actually means, I created a practical PDF guide that covers common phrases in more detail.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/themindsetarchitects.gumroad.com\/l\/japanese-client-replies\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">What Your Japanese Client Actually Means<\/a><\/strong><br>A practical guide to reading polite, indirect, and context-heavy Japanese business replies.<br>For freelancers, consultants, and teams working with Japanese clients.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>Written by Atsuko Masamoto \u2014 Shiri Architect Office<\/em><br><em>English-to-Japanese communication and localization specialist based in Japan.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"swell-block-button is-style-btn_normal\"><a href=\"https:\/\/themindsetarchitects.gumroad.com\/l\/japanese-client-replies\" class=\"swell-block-button__link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span>Get the PDF Guide \u2013 $27<\/span><\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>You sent a proposal to a Japanese client. They replied: \u201cWe will consider it.\u201d It sounds polite. It sounds pos [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":36,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"swell_btn_cv_data":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-26","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-japanese-client-communication"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/themindsetarchitects.site\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/themindsetarchitects.site\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/themindsetarchitects.site\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/themindsetarchitects.site\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/themindsetarchitects.site\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=26"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/themindsetarchitects.site\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":45,"href":"https:\/\/themindsetarchitects.site\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26\/revisions\/45"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/themindsetarchitects.site\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/36"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/themindsetarchitects.site\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=26"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/themindsetarchitects.site\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=26"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/themindsetarchitects.site\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=26"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}