60 phrases every SSW worker needs.

おはようございます

Ohayō gozaimasu

Good morning

Said when arriving at work each morning

お疲れ様でした

Otsukaresama deshita

Good work / Thank you for your effort

Said when finishing work or leaving for the day

よろしくお願いします

Yoroshiku onegai shimasu

Please treat me well / I'm counting on you

Said when starting a task, meeting someone, or asking for help

失礼します

Shitsurei shimasu

Excuse me / I'll be taking my leave

Said when entering a supervisor's space or leaving early

ただいま戻りました

Tadaima modorimashita

I'm back

Said when returning from a break or errand

行ってきます

Itte kimasu

I'm heading out

Said when leaving for a break or errand

お先に失礼します

Osaki ni shitsurei shimasu

Excuse me for leaving first

Said when leaving before colleagues

はい、わかりました

Hai, wakarimashita

Yes, I understand

Acknowledging an instruction from a supervisor

ありがとうございます

Arigatō gozaimasu

Thank you very much

Formal thank you for a supervisor or senior colleague

すみません

Sumimasen

Excuse me / I'm sorry to bother you

Getting attention or apologizing lightly

もう一度教えてください

Mō ichido oshiete kudasai

Please show me again

When you didn't understand an instruction the first time

これでいいですか？

Kore de ii desu ka?

Is this okay? Is this correct?

Checking your work before continuing

手伝いましょうか？

Tetsudai mashō ka?

Shall I help you?

Offering help to a colleague

～はどこですか？

~ wa doko desu ka?

Where is ~?

Asking location of tools, equipment, or areas

確認しました

Kakunin shimashita

I confirmed / I checked

Reporting that you have verified something

完了しました

Kanryō shimashita

Completed / Finished

Reporting task completion to a supervisor

少々お待ちください

Shōshō omachi kudasai

Please wait a moment

Asking someone to hold on while you check something

ゆっくり話してください

Yukkuri hanashite kudasai

Please speak slowly

When someone is speaking too fast to follow

書いてもらえますか？

Kaite moraemasu ka?

Could you write it down for me?

Requesting written form of a verbal instruction

もう少し詳しく教えてください

Mō sukoshi kuwashiku oshiete kudasai

Please explain in more detail

Asking for a more thorough explanation of a task

危ないです！

Abunai desu!

It's dangerous!

Warning a colleague of an immediate hazard

助けてください！

Tasukete kudasai!

Please help me!

Calling for emergency assistance

救急車を呼んでください

Kyūkyūsha o yonde kudasai

Please call an ambulance

Reporting a medical emergency

火事です！

Kaji desu!

Fire!

Reporting a fire emergency

けがをしました

Kega o shimashita

I got injured

Reporting a workplace injury to a supervisor

保護具を着用してください

Hogugu o chakuyō shite kudasai

Please wear protective equipment

Safety reminder from signs or supervisors

非常口はどこですか？

Hijōguchi wa doko desu ka?

Where is the emergency exit?

Locating emergency exits on your first day

この機械の使い方がわかりません

Kono kikai no tsukaikata ga wakarimasen

I don't know how to use this machine

Before operating unfamiliar equipment — always ask first

気分が悪いです

Kibun ga warui desu

I'm feeling unwell

Telling a supervisor you're feeling sick

報告することがあります

Hōkoku suru koto ga arimasu

I have something to report

Opening phrase when you need to tell a supervisor something important

休憩はいつですか？

Kyūkei wa itsu desu ka?

When is the break?

Asking about break times on a new shift

何時に終わりますか？

Nanji ni owarimasu ka?

What time does it end?

Asking about shift end time

残業がありますか？

Zangyō ga arimasu ka?

Is there overtime today?

Asking if overtime will be required

有給休暇を取りたいです

Yūkyū kyūka o toritai desu

I would like to take paid leave

Requesting paid holiday from a supervisor

シフトを確認してもいいですか？

Shifuto o kakunin shite mo ii desu ka?

May I check the shift schedule?

Asking to see the work schedule

明日は何時からですか？

Ashita wa nanji kara desu ka?

What time does it start tomorrow?

Confirming tomorrow's start time

体調が悪いので休みたいです

Taichō ga warui node yasumitai desu

I'm not well, I'd like the day off

Calling in sick

遅刻します

Chikoku shimasu

I will be late

Informing a supervisor of late arrival

今日の仕事は何ですか？

Kyō no shigoto wa nan desu ka?

What is today's work?

Asking about today's tasks at shift start

次のシフトはいつですか？

Tsugi no shifuto wa itsu desu ka?

When is my next shift?

Asking about an upcoming shift

すみません、日本語がまだ上手じゃないです

Sumimasen, nihongo ga mada jōzu ja nai desu

I'm sorry, my Japanese isn't good yet

Acknowledging a language barrier politely

英語で話せますか？

Eigo de hanasemasu ka?

Can you speak English?

Checking if communication in English is possible

これは何ですか？

Kore wa nan desu ka?

What is this?

Asking about an unfamiliar item or sign

どうすればいいですか？

Dō sureba ii desu ka?

What should I do?

Asking for guidance on next action

誰に聞けばいいですか？

Dare ni kikeba ii desu ka?

Who should I ask?

Finding the right person to speak to

この書類に何を書けばいいですか？

Kono shorui ni nani o kakeba ii desu ka?

What should I write on this form?

Asking for help filling out paperwork

わかりません

Wakarimasen

I don't understand

Telling someone you haven't understood

もう一度言ってもらえますか？

Mō ichido itte moraemasu ka?

Could you say that again?

Asking someone to repeat themselves

これはどう読みますか？

Kore wa dō yomimasu ka?

How do you read this?

Asking how to read a kanji or unfamiliar word

いつまでに終わればいいですか？

Itsu made ni owareba ii desu ka?

When does this need to be finished?

Asking for a deadline on a task

機械が壊れました

Kikai ga kowaremashita

The machine broke / is broken

Reporting equipment failure to a supervisor

在庫が足りません

Zaiko ga tarimasen

Stock is running low

Alerting a supervisor to low supplies

ミスをしてしまいました

Misu o shite shimaimashita

I made a mistake

Honestly reporting an error to a supervisor

給料に問題があります

Kyūryō ni mondai ga arimasu

There is an issue with my salary

Reporting a payslip or payment discrepancy

契約と違います

Keiyaku to chigaimasu

This is different from my contract

Flagging a discrepancy between contract and actual conditions

上司に相談したいです

Jōshi ni sōdan shitai desu

I'd like to speak with my supervisor

Requesting a formal conversation with a manager

作業場所が危険です

Sagyō basho ga kiken desu

The work area is dangerous

Reporting an unsafe work environment

仕事の内容が聞いていたものと違います

Shigoto no naiyō ga kiite ita mono to chigaimasu

The work is different from what I was told

Reporting a role mismatch or broken promise

パスポートを返してください

Pasupōto o kaeshite kudasai

Please return my passport

Requesting return of your passport if it was taken

助けを求めています

Tasuke o motomete imasu

I am asking for help

Formally stating you need assistance — a serious phrase to know