atarashii busho ni haitta node, douryou no meishi o minagara namae o oboetai desu.

Since I joined a new department, I want to learn my coworkers’ names while looking at their business cards.

Breakdown of atarashii busho ni haitta node, douryou no meishi o minagara namae o oboetai desu.

• です: to be
• に: destination particle
• を: direct object particle
• の: possessive case particle

Questions & Answers about atarashii busho ni haitta node, douryou no meishi o minagara namae o oboetai desu.

What is the reading of the whole sentence?

A natural reading is:

あたらしい ぶしょ に はいった ので、どうりょう の めいし を みながら なまえ を おぼえたい です。

Word readings:

• 新しい → あたらしい
• 部署 → ぶしょ
• 入った → はいった
• 同僚 → どうりょう
• 名刺 → めいし
• 見ながら → みながら
• 名前 → なまえ
• 覚えたい → おぼえたい

Why is に used after 部署?

に marks the destination or place one enters.

So:

• 部署に入る = to join / enter a department

Even though English often says join a department or be assigned to a department, Japanese commonly uses 入る with に.

Similar patterns:

• 会社に入る = join a company
• 部屋に入る = enter a room
• 大学に入る = enter a university

In this sentence, 新しい部署に入った means the speaker has entered or joined a new department.

Why is 入った in the past tense?