Lesson #28: 念のため確認させてください (Nen no tame kakunin sasete kudasai)

Checking that others have understood instructions

English Title: Checking that others have understood instructions

🎧 Audio:
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Role-play Setup

You work at a cleaning company. During the morning meeting, the chief gives instructions about ordering disinfectant supplies. A new employee joined just two weeks ago, and your superior asks you to double-check that he understood the instructions correctly.

Full Script & Explanation

Morning Meeting Instructions

Chief

消毒液についてですが、在庫がなくなりそうな場合は、必ず２日前までに総務に連絡してください。
Shōdokueki ni tsuite desu ga, zaiko ga nakunari-sō na baai wa, kanarazu futsuka-mae made ni sōmu ni renraku shite kudasai.
This is about disinfectant. Contact General Affairs at least two days before we run out.

The speaker is talking about a workplace situation and a potential solution. The phrase「在庫がなくなりそう」refers to a situation where a supply is running out. The speaker is letting the staff members know to order more disinfectant when supplies are low, and not to wait until they’ve run out. The phrase「〜についてですが」is used to share the topic, and the phrase「〜場合は」shows the situation. The phrase「必ず（期日）までに〜てください」gives specific instructions on how to deal with that situation. This combination of phrases is useful, so it may be a good idea to memorize it.

Staff

はい。
Hai.
Okay.

Chief

土日はカウントされませんので、月曜日に必要な場合は、木曜日までに連絡してください。
Donichi wa kaunto saremasen node, getsuyōbi ni hitsuyō na baai wa, mokuyōbi made ni renraku shite kudasai.
That doesn’t include the weekend. So if a new delivery is needed on Monday, contact them by Thursday.

Saturday and Sunday (土曜日と日曜日) are referred to collectively as 「土日」. You can use this construction for other days of the week, too, like Monday and Tuesday「月火（げつか・げっか）」. Note that the pronunciation may vary slightly. In the business world, it’s common to count days using business/operating days only. When in doubt, it’s a good idea to confirm these sorts of things using this construction.

Chief

皆さん、よろしいですか。
Minasan, yoroshii desu ka.
Understood?

The chief is checking to make sure that the staff members have all understood, and that there are no questions. When speaking to a group that may include superiors, it’s a good idea to use 「よろしいでしょうか」.

Staff

はい。
Hai.
Yes.

Getting a Private Word

Chief

ショウエンさん、ちょっといいかな。
Shōen-san, chotto ii ka na.
Shang Yan-san, can I have a word?

When asking someone for a quick word, it’s best to use their name first to create a sense of closeness. The phrase「ちょっといいかな」lets the speaker ask the listener if now is a good time for a chat. When asking a superior for a word, use the phrase「少々よろしいでしょうか」.

You (Shang Yan)

はい、何でしょうか。
Hai, nan deshō ka.
Sure, what is it?

In response, the speaker first answers with 「はい」. Instead of following up with 「何ですか」it’s more polite to use「何でしょうか」. This phrase lets the listener know that the speaker is prepared to hear what they have to say.

Chief

和田さんは、まだ入って２週間だったよね。
Wada-san wa, mada haitte ni-shūkan datta yo ne.
Wada-san only joined two weeks ago, right?

The phrase「入って２週間」means「会社に入ってから、２週間が経った」(It’s been two weeks since he has joined.). The word「まだ」shows that the speaker thinks this is a comparatively short amount of time. 「よね」is used to confirm.

You (Shang Yan)

そうです。
Sō desu.
That’s right.

Chief

間違いがあるといけないから、さっきの指示がどこまで分かっているか、聞いてみてくれる？
Machigai ga aru to ikenai kara, sakki no shiji ga doko made wakatte iru ka, kiite mite kureru?
We can’t be having any mistakes. Can you ask him how much he understood of what I just said?

Disinfectant is very important when cleaning. The chief wants to make sure that there will be no potential problems, but it would be unpleasant to ask if Wada-san understood in front of the whole group. So instead, he asks Wada-san’s senpai to check with Wada-san instead. The phrase「〜てくれる？」is used by superiors to subordinates, and to people close with each other, to make casual requests.

You (Shang Yan)

分かりました。
Wakarimashita.
Got it.

Checking Understanding

You (Shang Yan)

和田さん、隣いいですか。
Wada-san, tonari ii desu ka.
Wada-san, can I sit here?

This phrase means the same thing as「隣に座ってもいいですか」. 「お」 can also be added in front of this phrase to read「お隣、いいですか」. In this case, we can tell that the speaker is trying to begin a conversation.

Wada

はい、どうぞ。
Hai, dōzo.
Sure, go ahead.

You (Shang Yan)

先ほどの朝礼の話、分かりましたか。
Sakihodo no chōrei no hanashi, wakarimashita ka.
Did you understand what was said at the meeting just now?

The word 朝礼 refers to morning group meetings held at school or in the workplace at the beginning of the day. In the workplace, people share information and relay messages at these meetings. The phrase「先ほどの朝礼の話、分かりましたか」omits 「が」after 「話」. The phrase「先ほど」means the same thing as 少し前. It’s a fairly polite phrase, and it’s often used in the business world.

Wada

分かりました。
Wakarimashita.
Yes, I did.

KEY PHRASE

You (Shang Yan)

大事な内容なので、念のため確認させてください。
Daiji na naiyō na node, nen no tame kakunin sasete kudasai.
This is important, so please let me confirm just to be sure.

The phrase「念のため」basically means「分かっているとは思うけれど、行き違いがないように」(I think you understood, but I just want to make sure.) . The phrase「大事な内容なので」shows that the speaker is double-checking because the information is important. This avoids hurting the listener’s feelings, and provides a reasonable justification for an insistence on checking. Communicating in this way avoids creating negative feelings for the listener.

Wada

はい。消毒液の在庫がなくなりそうなときは、２日前までに総務に連絡します。
Hai. Shōdokueki no zaiko ga nakunari-sō na toki wa, futsuka-mae made ni sōmu ni renraku shimasu.
Okay. When it looks like the disinfectant is going to run out, contact General Affairs at least two days in advance.

The speaker is responding to the listener’s request, and is explaining what he has just heard at the morning meeting in his own words. In this way, the two can make a verbal check, and ensure that there has been no misunderstanding.

Wada

土日はカウントされません。
Donichi wa kaunto saremasen.
That doesn’t include Saturdays and Sundays.

The speaker continues his explanation to say that Saturdays and Sundays don’t count.

You (Shang Yan)

ありがとうございます。
Arigatō gozaimasu.
Thank you.

You (Shang Yan)

確認できて良かったです。
Kakunin dekite yokatta desu.
I’m glad we were able to confirm that.

Vocabulary

所長 (shochō) - chief
所長 can be the chief of many places, such as a research facility, an outpost, or an office—anywhere ending with the kanji 所. The person next in line after the 所長 is the 副所長.
Example: 次の所長は山田さんだそうだ。(It seems like Yamada-san will be the next chief.)
Example: 明朝、所長の挨拶がある。(Tomorrow morning the chief will be visiting.)

消毒液 (shōdokueki) - disinfectant
消毒, or disinfecting, means getting rid of disease-causing bacteria through chemical products, heat, or UV light. 消毒液 is a liquid disinfectant. It’s used when cleaning, but has become especially important since COVID-19 started spreading.
Example: 消毒用アルコール (disinfecting alcohol)
Example: 消毒液を買っておく。(buying disinfectant)
Example: 消毒液にはスプレータイプのものもある。(There are spray-type disinfectants.)

総務 (sōmu) - general affairs department
総務, or general affairs, involves overseeing various parts of a company or organization. The duties involved in this can vary. They may include planning and running employee entrance ceremonies, managing documents and welfare, sharing information among management, and more.
Example: 採用面接で営業部を希望していたが、総務部に配属された。(During my interview I asked to be placed in sales, but I was assigned to general affairs.)
Example: 総務部で働くことは、会社の全体を見る機会になった。(Working in general affairs was a good chance to see how the company functions.)

Cultural Notes

Checking Understanding Without Causing Embarrassment

In Japanese workplace culture, directly asking “Did you understand?” in front of others can be embarrassing for new employees. Better approaches:

  1. Private check-ins - Ask the person aside, not in front of the group
  2. Use cushion phrases - 「念のため」makes it about being careful, not about doubting their ability
  3. Explain the reason - 「大事な内容なので」shows why you’re checking
  4. Have them explain back - This confirms understanding without making them feel tested

The Role of Senpai in Training

Senior employees (senpai) are expected to:

Grammar Points

Using「〜についてですが」to Introduce Topics

Pattern: [topic] + についてですが

This pattern is used to introduce a new topic, especially in meetings or when giving instructions.

Examples:

Using「念のため」

This phrase means “just to be sure” or “just in case” and softens requests for confirmation.

Examples:

Using「〜てくれる？」for Casual Requests

Pattern: Te-form + くれる？

This is a casual way to ask someone to do something, used by superiors or between close colleagues.

Examples:

Tips from this Dialogue

How to Confirm Understanding Politely

  1. Create privacy - Don’t embarrass someone in front of others
  2. Explain your reason - 「大事な内容なので」
  3. Use “念のため” - Shows you’re being careful, not doubting them
  4. Have them explain back - This confirms true understanding
  5. Thank them - 「確認できて良かったです」

Morning Meetings (朝礼)

Many Japanese workplaces have morning meetings where:

Keego (Polite Language)

です (desu) - to be
Polite/Respectful Forms:

Kanji

書 - write, book
Reading: しょ (sho), か (ka)
Example: 書類 (shorui - document), 図書館 (toshokan - library), 書く (kaku - to write)

Source

Based on NHK WORLD-JAPAN’s “Easy Japanese for Work” Lesson #28
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/tv/easyjapaneseforwork/skit28.html