Polite to Colleague
Workplace · Email
お忙しいところ恐縮ですが、一点だけ教えていただきたいことがございます。 — I'm sorry to bother you while you're busy, but there's just one thing I'd like to ask. (Workplace · Email, Polite to Colleague, JLPT N4)
You
お忙しいところ恐縮ですが、一点だけ教えていただきたいことがございます。
おいそがしいところきょうしゅくですが、いってんだけおしえていただきたいことがございます。
I'm sorry to bother you while you're busy, but there's just one thing I'd like to ask.
Romaji: Oisogashii tokoro kyoushuku desu ga, itten dake oshiete itadakitai koto ga gozaimasu. / Reply Romaji: Hai, douzo. Nan deshou ka?
Reply
はい、どうぞ。何でしょうか？
はい、どうぞ。なんでしょうか？
Yes, please. What is it?
Gesture & etiquette
Email-only. Place the actual question immediately after this preamble — don't make them wait. Keep the question itself concise. Close with 'gokyouryoku no hodo, yoroshiku onegai itashimasu' (please assist if you would).
Even small workplace questions deserve polite framing. 'Oisogashii tokoro' (while you're busy) acknowledges their time. 'Itten dake' (just one point) signals brief scope — the recipient knows this won't become a long conversation. 'Gozaimasu' is the polite copula. Frame even quick questions this way in emails to colleagues you don't work with closely.