報連相
Meaning: Report-Contact-Consult — the fundamental workplace communication framework of reporting, informing, and consulting with colleagues and superiors.
報連相 is an abbreviation of 報告 (report), 連絡 (contact/inform), and 相談 (consult). It's one of the first things new employees learn in Japanese companies and is considered the foundation of workplace communication. The term cleverly sounds like ほうれんそう (spinach), making it easy to remember. While simple in concept, failing to practice 報連相 is considered a serious workplace offense, and it's frequently cited as the most important business skill for new hires.
Examples
- 新入社員研修で報連相の大切さを叩き込まれた。 新员工培训时被狠狠灌输了报联相的重要性。En la formación de nuevos empleados nos inculcaron a fondo la importancia del 報連相.신입사원 연수에서 호렌소(報連相)의 중요성을 철저히 배웠어.
- 報連相ちゃんとしてれば、大きなミスは防げるよ。 只要做好报联相,就能避免重大失误。Si haces bien el 報連相, puedes evitar errores graves.호렌소를 제대로 하면 큰 실수는 예방할 수 있어.
- 報連相が苦手で、つい一人で抱え込んじゃうんだよね。 我不太擅长报联相,总是不自觉地一个人扛着。Se me da mal el 報連相 y tiendo a cargar con los problemas yo solo.호렌소가 서투르다 보니 혼자서 끌어안게 되더라고.
Pronunciation
/hoː.ɾen.soː/
Usage Guide
Context: workplace, business training, casual conversation
Tone: instructive, practical
✓ Do Say
- 困ったことがあったら、まず報連相を徹底して。 (If something's wrong, first and foremost practice 報連相.)遇到困难的话,首先要彻底做好报联相。(如果碰到问题,首要的就是做好报联相。)Si tienes algún problema, lo primero es aplicar el 報連相 a rajatabla.곤란한 일이 있으면 우선 호렌소를 철저히 해. (문제가 생기면 가장 먼저 보고·연락·상담을 철저히 해.)
- 報連相ができる人って信頼されるよね。 (People who practice good 報連相 are trusted.)能做好报联相的人会得到信赖呢。(善于报联相的人会获得他人的信任。)Las personas que practican bien el 報連相 se ganan la confianza de los demás.호렌소를 잘하는 사람은 신뢰받지. (보고·연락·상담을 잘하는 사람은 신뢰를 받아.)
✗ Don't Say
- 外国人の同僚に報連相を押し付けすぎない (Don't over-impose 報連相 on foreign colleagues who may have different communication norms — explain the concept first)不要过度强迫外国同事遵守报联相(对可能有不同沟通习惯的外国同事,不要一味强加报联相——先解释这个概念)No impongas en exceso el 報連相 a compañeros extranjeros que pueden tener normas de comunicación distintas; explícales primero el concepto외국인 동료에게 호렌소를 지나치게 강요하지 않기 (소통 방식이 다를 수 있는 외국인 동료에게 報連相를 과도하게 강요하지 말고, 먼저 개념을 설명해주기)
Common Mistakes
- Thinking 報連相 is just for new employees — it's expected at all levels of the organization
- Overdoing 報連相 to the point of micromanaging or being unable to act independently
Origin & History
Coined by businessman Yamazaki Tomoji (山崎富治) in his 1982 book. The abbreviation 報連相 is a wordplay on ほうれんそう (spinach). It became a cornerstone of Japanese business education and new employee training.
Cultural Context
Era: 1982 coinage, fundamental since the 1980s
Generation: All working-age adults
Social background: Universal in Japanese business culture
Regional notes: Used across all of Japan. Taught in virtually every company's new employee training program.
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