Polite to Colleague
Workplace · Email
You
先ほどのメールについて確認させてください。〇〇の部分をもう少し詳しくお教えいただけますか？
さきほどのめーるについてかくにんさせてください。〇〇のぶぶんをもうすこしくわしくおしえていただけますか？
I'd like to confirm something about your previous email. Could you please tell me a bit more about the [part]?
Romaji: Sakihodo no meeru ni tsuite kakunin sasete kudasai. OO no bubun wo mousukoshi kuwashiku oshiete itadakemasu ka? / Reply Romaji: Mochiron desu. OO to iu imi desu.
Reply
もちろんです。〇〇という意味です。
もちろんです。〇〇というみです。
Of course. It means [X].
Gesture & etiquette
This is a written communication tool. In the email, quote the specific phrase or section you need clarified by copy-pasting it into your message — this avoids any ambiguity about what you are asking about. Keep the request to one or two specific questions per email for maximum efficiency.
Requesting clarification by email in Japan requires framing the question as your own need to 'confirm' ('kakunin') rather than implying the sender was unclear. Starting with 'sakihodo no meeru ni tsuite' (regarding the email from earlier) precisely identifies which email you mean — important in high-email-volume environments. Keep clarification requests brief and specific.