BJT Exam Flashcards

Q: What is the BJT Business Japanese Proficiency Test?

The BJT measures practical Japanese communication ability needed in real business and workplace situations, including keigo (honorific speech), workplace dialogues, chart/document interpretation, and business-document reading. It is administered by the Japan Kanji Aptitude Testing Foundation and delivered year-round as a computer-based test through Pearson VUE.

Q: How is the BJT scored, and is there a pass/fail grade?

The BJT has no pass/fail. It reports an IRT-scaled score from 0 to 800 mapped to six levels: J5 (0-199), J4 (200-319), J3 (320-419), J2 (420-529), J1 (530-599), and J1+ (600-800, the highest). Employers and schools typically set their own minimum acceptable level rather than the test defining one.

Q: How many questions are on the BJT and how long does it take?

The BJT has 80 four-option multiple-choice questions across three parts - Part 1 Listening (~45 min), Part 2 Listening & Reading (~30 min), and Part 3 Reading (~30 min) - for a total of about two hours. This 80-question count is confirmed directly on the official Kanken/Pearson VUE pages.

Q: Can I retake the BJT, and is there a waiting period?

Yes. You may retake the BJT, but you must wait three calendar months from your previous test date (for example, an April 1 test allows a retake on or after July 1). This wait applies flatly after every attempt regardless of score, since the BJT has no pass/fail distinction to trigger an escalating penalty.

Q: How is the BJT different from the JLPT?

The JLPT tests general-purpose Japanese with a pass/fail result across five levels (N5-N1). The BJT instead focuses specifically on business and workplace Japanese - keigo, meetings, phone calls, emails, and business documents - and reports an ability score from 0 to 800 across six levels (J5-J1+) rather than pass/fail.

Q: Do I need employer sponsorship to register for the BJT?

No. Anyone can register directly for the BJT through a Pearson VUE test center; no company or school sponsorship is required. Fees are approximately JPY 8,000 (tax included) in Japan, with international fees varying by country and test center.

Question 1

What are the three registers of Japanese keigo (honorific speech) tested throughout the BJT?

Accepted Answer

Sonkeigo (respectful language, elevates the listener's or a third party's actions/status), kenjougo (humble language, lowers the speaker's own actions to show respect), and teineigo (polite language, the base -masu/-desu register). BJT listening and reading questions constantly test which register fits a given business relationship.

Question 2

Sonkeigo and kenjougo forms of 言う (to say)?

Accepted Answer

Sonkeigo: おっしゃる (used for a customer's or superior's words). Kenjougo: 申す / 申し上げる (used for the speaker's own words to a superior or customer). Using 申す for what your boss said is a common BJT trap.

Question 3

Sonkeigo and kenjougo forms of 行く／来る (to go/come)?

Accepted Answer

Sonkeigo: いらっしゃる or おいでになる (elevates a customer's or superior's arrival). Kenjougo: 参る or 伺う (humbles the speaker's own visit, e.g., 明日15時に伺います, 'I will humbly come at 3pm tomorrow').

Question 4

Sonkeigo and kenjougo forms of 見る (to see/look at)?

Accepted Answer

Sonkeigo: ご覧になる (a customer or superior's viewing). Kenjougo: 拝見する (the speaker's own viewing, e.g., 資料を拝見しました, 'I have humbly looked at the document'). Never tell a superior to 拝見してください — that misapplies humble language to their action.

Question 5

Sonkeigo and kenjougo forms of する (to do)?

Accepted Answer

Sonkeigo: なさる (a customer's or superior's action, e.g., ご注文なさいますか). Kenjougo: いたす (the speaker's own action, e.g., ご案内いたします, 'I will humbly guide you').

Question 6

Sonkeigo and kenjougo forms of いる (to be/exist, for people)?

Accepted Answer

Sonkeigo: いらっしゃる (a customer or superior's presence, e.g., 田中様はいらっしゃいますか). Kenjougo: おる (the speaker's own or their in-group's presence, e.g., 田中はただいま席を外しております, using おる rather than いる when speaking about your own company's staff to an outside caller).

Question 7

Sonkeigo and kenjougo forms of 食べる／飲む (to eat/drink)?

Accepted Answer

Sonkeigo: 召し上がる (offering food/drink to a guest, e.g., どうぞ召し上がってください). Kenjougo: いただく (the speaker accepting food/drink, e.g., ありがたくいただきます).

Question 8

Sonkeigo and kenjougo forms of 会う (to meet)?

Accepted Answer

Sonkeigo: お会いになる (a superior's act of meeting someone). Kenjougo: お目にかかる (the speaker's own humble act of meeting a superior or client, e.g., お目にかかれて光栄です, 'I am honored to meet you').

Question 9

Sonkeigo and kenjougo forms of 知っている (to know)?

Accepted Answer

Sonkeigo: ご存知だ (a customer or superior's knowledge, e.g., ご存知でしょうか). Kenjougo: 存じております / 存じ上げております (the speaker's own knowledge, e.g., 存じております, 'I (humbly) know').

Question 10

What keigo mistake does the BJT most often set up as a wrong answer?

Accepted Answer

Applying kenjougo (humble) language to someone ELSE's action, or sonkeigo (respectful) language to your OWN action. Kenjougo always lowers the speaker or the speaker's in-group; sonkeigo always elevates the listener or an outside third party — never the reverse.

Question 11

What does 「ただいま席を外しております」 mean, and when would you say it?

Accepted Answer

'[He/She] is away from the desk right now.' It is the standard humble phrase an employee uses on the phone to tell an outside caller that a colleague or superior is temporarily not at their seat.

Question 12

What is the function of 「恐れ入りますが」 in business speech?

Accepted Answer

It is a cushion phrase meaning roughly 'I'm sorry to trouble you, but...' — spoken before making a request, asking a favor, or politely interrupting someone, softening the imposition before the main point.

Question 13

What does 「折り返しお電話いたします」 mean?

Accepted Answer

'I will call you back (shortly).' It is the polite way an employee promises to return a phone call, usually said when the person the caller wants to reach is unavailable.

Question 14

What is a クッション言葉 (cushion word) in Japanese business speech, and what is one example?

Accepted Answer

A short phrase inserted before a request, refusal, or unwelcome message to soften its impact. Examples: あいにくですが ('unfortunately...'), 恐れ入りますが ('I'm sorry to trouble you, but...'), and せっかくですが ('though you went to the trouble, but...').

Question 15

What do you say when leaving the office while colleagues are still working?

Accepted Answer

お先に失礼します ('Excuse me for leaving ahead of you'). It is the standard, considerate phrase — using さようなら instead sounds oddly final among coworkers.

Question 16

What does 「差し支えなければ」 mean, and when is it used?

Accepted Answer

'If it's not an inconvenience / if you don't mind' — a polite hedge used before asking something that might be personal, sensitive, or bothersome to the listener.

Question 17

What does 出張 mean in a business context?

Accepted Answer

A business trip — traveling away from one's regular office for work, such as visiting a client or attending a meeting in another city.

Question 18

What counter word is used for copies of a document, and how would you say '25 copies'?

Accepted Answer

部 (ぶ) is the counter for document copies. '25 copies' is 25部 (にじゅうごぶ). BJT listening questions often test adding or subtracting quantities expressed with this counter.

Question 19

What does 前年比 mean on a business chart or graph?

Accepted Answer

'Compared to the previous year' (year-on-year). It is commonly paired with a percentage or trend word, e.g., 前年比10%増 ('up 10% year-on-year').

Question 20

What trend does 横ばい describe on a graph?

Accepted Answer

A flat or level trend — the line stays roughly the same with no significant increase or decrease, e.g., 売上は横ばいです ('sales have been flat').

Question 21

What trend does 右肩上がり describe?

Accepted Answer

A steadily rising/upward trend — literally 'rising toward the upper right,' used for a line or bar chart that keeps climbing, e.g., 業績は右肩上がりだ ('performance keeps improving').

Question 22

How do you read 3割 as a percentage?

Accepted Answer

30%. 割 (わり) is a counter meaning one-tenth, so 1割 = 10% and 3割 = 30%; 割引 (waribiki, 'discount') is built from the same word.

Question 23

What is a 見積書, and where would it appear on the BJT?

Accepted Answer

A quotation/estimate document — a written price proposal a supplier sends before a deal is finalized. Part 2 and Part 3 questions often test reading or listening for details inside a 見積書 such as price, quantity, or delivery date.

Question 24

What does 納期 mean, and why is it important in business questions?

Accepted Answer

The delivery deadline — the date by which goods, services, or completed work must be delivered. BJT questions frequently ask test-takers to identify a specific 納期 mentioned in a dialogue or document.

Question 25

What is a 日程表, and what should you scan for when one appears on screen?

Accepted Answer

A schedule/itinerary table. When paired with an audio question in Part 2, scan the table quickly for the specific date, time, or event named in the spoken question rather than reading every line.

Question 26

What is an 案内状?

Accepted Answer

An announcement or invitation letter — a formal written notice inviting recipients to an event (e.g., a product launch or company anniversary) or informing them of upcoming details.

Question 27

What does 抽選 mean, and in what kind of business scenario does it appear?

Accepted Answer

A lottery or drawing. It appears in scenarios like assigning exhibition booth locations or allocating limited seats/slots when there are more applicants than spots available.

Question 28

What does 集計する mean?

Accepted Answer

To tally or compile (data) — for example, totaling survey responses, vote counts, or preference results before reporting the outcome, e.g., 希望を集計しました ('I tallied the preferences').

Question 29

When addressing a letter or email to a company or department rather than a named individual, what honorific do you use instead of 様?

Accepted Answer

御中 (おんちゅう) — attached after a company, department, or organization name (e.g., ABC商事株式会社 御中). 様 is reserved for a named individual person.

Question 30

What does 各位 mean, and how is it used?

Accepted Answer

'To all (of you)' / 'Dear all' — an honorific suffix attached to a group addressee in a memo or notice sent to multiple recipients at once, e.g., 社員各位 ('to all employees').

Question 31

What does 踏まえる mean in a business sentence like 現状を踏まえて?

Accepted Answer

'Taking into account / based on.' 現状を踏まえて means 'based on the current situation' — used when a decision or proposal follows from a stated fact or condition.

Question 32

What does 念のため mean?

Accepted Answer

'Just in case / as a precaution' — added when someone confirms or repeats something that is probably already fine, purely to be safe, e.g., 念のため、もう一度確認します ('I'll check once more just in case').

Question 33

What does 代理で mean in a sentence like 部長の代理で参りました?

Accepted Answer

'On [someone's] behalf / as a proxy.' 部長の代理で参りました means 'I have come in place of the manager,' indicating the speaker is standing in for someone else.

Question 34

In business Japanese, what does 見送る mean, as opposed to its literal sense of 'seeing someone off'?

Accepted Answer

To postpone or shelve (a plan, purchase, or project) — e.g., 今回の導入は見送ることになった ('we decided to shelve the rollout this time'). This figurative business meaning is distinct from the literal sense of seeing a person off at a station.

Question 35

What does 差し引く mean?

Accepted Answer

'To deduct / subtract' — used in business contexts involving costs, amounts, or figures, e.g., 経費を差し引いた利益 ('profit after deducting expenses').

Question 36

What does the grammar pattern ～次第 mean in a sentence like 確認が取れ次第、送ります?

Accepted Answer

'As soon as ~.' 確認が取れ次第、送ります means 'I will send it as soon as confirmation is obtained' — the second action happens immediately after the first is completed.

Question 37

What does お世話になっております mean, and where does it appear?

Accepted Answer

Roughly 'thank you for your continued support/kindness.' It is the standard opening greeting in Japanese business emails and phone calls, said even to people you have only dealt with briefly before.

Question 38

What is the nuance of よろしくお願いいたします compared to casual speech?

Accepted Answer

A polite, all-purpose closing phrase meaning roughly 'thank you in advance / I appreciate your cooperation.' いたします (kenjougo of する) makes it more formal than よろしくお願いします, appropriate for written business correspondence.

Question 39

Which is more polite: ご確認ください or ご確認いただけますでしょうか?

Accepted Answer

ご確認いただけますでしょうか is more polite — it phrases the request as a humble question ('could I possibly have you confirm...') rather than a direct command form (ご確認ください, 'please confirm'), softening the imposition on a superior or client.

Question 40

What is the most formal way to say 'I am very sorry' in Japanese business speech?

Accepted Answer

誠に申し訳ございません — 誠に ('truly/sincerely') intensifies 申し訳ございません, the most formal register of apology, used for serious errors or complaints rather than minor slip-ups.

Question 41

What does お手数をおかけしますが mean, and when is it used?

Accepted Answer

'I'm sorry for the trouble/inconvenience, but...' — a cushion phrase said before asking someone to do something that requires extra effort on their part, common in emails requesting a task.

Question 42

Why is どうぞよろしくお願い申し上げます more formal than どうぞよろしくお願いします?

Accepted Answer

申し上げる is the kenjougo (humble) form of 言う/する, so replacing します with 申し上げます raises the formality further — appropriate for formal written correspondence such as a first business email or a contract-related letter.

Question 43

What is the general rule for choosing the honorific prefix お- versus ご- before a noun?

Accepted Answer

お- typically attaches to native Japanese (kun-reading) words and ご- to Sino-Japanese (kango) words — e.g., お名前, お荷物 versus ご住所, ご意見. There are common exceptions such as お電話 and お食事, which take お- despite being kango-derived.

Question 44

What is a 議事録, and what does it record?

Accepted Answer

Meeting minutes — a written record of what was discussed and decided in a meeting, including attendees, agenda items, decisions, and action items, distributed afterward for reference.

Question 45

What is a 稟議書, and how does it work?

Accepted Answer

A ringi-sho — an internal approval document unique to Japanese business culture. A proposal is circulated to multiple stakeholders in sequence, each of whom stamps or signs approval, before the decision is finalized.

Question 46

What are the standard parts of a Japanese business email, in order?

Accepted Answer

件名 (subject line), an opening greeting (often お世話になっております), the main body stating the purpose, a closing request (often よろしくお願いいたします), and a signature block with name, company, and contact details.

Question 47

What is the difference between 社内文書 and 社外文書?

Accepted Answer

社内文書 is an internal document circulated within one's own company (often more concise, with a lighter greeting), while 社外文書 is sent to an outside party such as a client or partner and requires fuller honorific greetings and closing phrases.

Question 48

What is the difference between 通知 and お知らせ?

Accepted Answer

通知 is a formal, often mandatory notice (e.g., a legal or contractual notification), while お知らせ is a general, more casual announcement (e.g., an office event reminder). 通知 carries more weight and obligation than お知らせ.

Question 49

What is the most efficient reading strategy for a BJT Part 3 comprehension passage?

Accepted Answer

Read the question stem first to know what you're looking for, then scan the passage for the specific 5W1H detail (who/what/when/where/why/how) the question asks about, rather than reading the entire passage word-for-word first.

Question 50

What is the difference between 報告書 and 提案書?

Accepted Answer

報告書 is a report — describing what has already happened or been completed (e.g., a survey's results). 提案書 is a proposal — recommending a future action or plan for approval, such as a new project idea.

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