Polite to Colleague
Workplace · Meeting
ありがとうございます。一点だけ確認させていただいてもよろしいでしょうか。 — Thank you. If I may, could I just confirm one point? (Workplace · Meeting, Polite to Colleague, JLPT N3)
You
ありがとうございます。一点だけ確認させていただいてもよろしいでしょうか。
ありがとうございます。いってんだけかくにんさせていただいてもよろしいでしょうか。
Thank you. If I may, could I just confirm one point?
Romaji: Arigatou gozaimasu. Itten dake kakunin sasete itadaite mo yoroshii deshou ka. / Reply Romaji: Mochiron desu. Douzo.
Reply
もちろんです。どうぞ。
もちろんです。どうぞ。
Of course. Please go ahead.
Gesture & etiquette
Raise your hand slightly or lean forward subtly to signal you wish to speak. Wait for a natural pause before using this phrase — interrupting in the middle of someone's sentence is considered rude. Maintain a calm, neutral tone — not challenging or urgent. Hold your notepad or pen visibly to signal you are engaged and thinking carefully.
In Japanese meetings, raising a concern directly can feel confrontational. Framing it as 'confirmation' ('kakunin') rather than 'objection' or 'question' is far more effective. Starting with thanks ('arigatou gozaimasu') before asking also softens the interruption. This phrasing is a key skill for diplomatically raising important issues in Japanese group settings.