Translation guide
In Japanese, a company name is typically the official registered name, often ending in 株式会社 (kabushiki gaisha) or similar suffixes. When referring to a company in conversation, the suffix is usually omitted or shortened. The name itself is not translated; it is used as-is or with a suffix.
Use the full legal name, including the corporate suffix, in formal or official contexts.
The most common corporate suffix for a stock company. Place the company name before 株式会社.
トヨタ自動車株式会社
Toyota Motor Corporation
Some companies place 株式会社 before the name. This is less common but still used.
株式会社三菱UFJ銀行
MUFG Bank, Ltd.
Used for limited liability companies (often smaller businesses). Less common than 株式会社.
山田商事有限会社
Yamada Trading Co., Ltd.
Use the company name without the corporate suffix, or with a shortened suffix, in casual or spoken contexts.
In conversation, the corporate suffix is usually dropped. Just say the name.
トヨタで働いています。
I work at Toyota.
Adding さん after a company name is a polite, friendly way to refer to the company or its employees, common in business settings.
ソニーさんから連絡がありました。
We heard from Sony.
Use standard phrases to ask what company someone works for or to state your own company affiliation.
Polite way to ask 'What company are you with?' or 'Which company?'
お勤めはどちらの会社ですか？
What company do you work for?
Standard self-introduction format: 'I'm [Name] from [Company Name].'
パナソニックの田中です。
I'm Tanaka from Panasonic.
When the company name is originally in English, it is often written in katakana or left in English.
Foreign company names are usually written in katakana to approximate the pronunciation.
アップル
Apple
In some contexts, especially logos or branding, the English name is used as-is.
Apple Japan
Apple Japan
Company names are proper nouns and should not be translated into Japanese. For example, 'Apple' is アップル, not りんご. Use the official name or its katakana rendering.
On business cards (名刺), the full legal name with 株式会社 is standard. In email signatures, it may be abbreviated as (株).