Email Requests and Apologies
Learn how to make polite requests and apologise properly in business email: softening requests, declining without damaging the relationship, and writing a clear apology with a recovery plan.
N2 Topic-Based Conversation — Business Email & Report Writing · All lessons · All courses
Vocabulary
- 依頼（いらい） (依頼): request, asking someone to do something
- 催促（さいそく） (催促): reminder, pressing for something overdue
- 恐縮（きょうしゅく） (恐縮): feeling obliged, apologetic (humble)
- 承知しました（しょうちしました） (承知しました): understood, certainly (humble)
- 検討（けんとう） (検討): consideration, review
- 都合（つごう） (都合): convenience, availability
- 延期（えんき） (延期): postponement
- 手配（てはい） (手配): arrangement, making arrangements
- お詫び（おわび） (お詫び): apology
- 不手際（ふてぎわ） (不手際): clumsiness, poor handling
- 再発防止（さいはつぼうし） (再発防止): prevention of recurrence
- 対応（たいおう） (対応): response, handling
In-lesson practice
- Email Requests and Apologies — Exercises (6 questions)
Related JLPT N2 quizzes
- JLPT N2 – Grammar Exercise 25 (10 questions)
- JLPT N2 – Grammar Exercise 24 (10 questions)
- JLPT N2 – Grammar Exercise 23 (10 questions)
- JLPT N2 – Grammar Exercise 22 (10 questions)
- JLPT N2 – Grammar Exercise 21 (10 questions)
- JLPT N2 – Grammar Exercise 20 (10 questions)
- JLPT N2 – Grammar Exercise 19 (10 questions)
- JLPT N2 – Grammar Exercise 18 (10 questions)
- JLPT N2 – Grammar Exercise 17 (10 questions)
- JLPT N2 – Grammar Exercise 16 (10 questions)
- JLPT N2 – Grammar Exercise 15 (10 questions)
- JLPT N2 – Grammar Exercise 14 (10 questions)
Frequently asked questions
- What does 「依頼（いらい）」 mean in this lesson?
- request, asking someone to do something
- What does 「催促（さいそく）」 mean in this lesson?
- reminder, pressing for something overdue
- What does 「恐縮（きょうしゅく）」 mean in this lesson?
- feeling obliged, apologetic (humble)
- What does 「承知しました（しょうちしました）」 mean in this lesson?
- understood, certainly (humble)
- What does 「検討（けんとう）」 mean in this lesson?
- consideration, review
- What does 「都合（つごう）」 mean in this lesson?
- convenience, availability
- What does 「延期（えんき）」 mean in this lesson?
- postponement
- What does 「手配（てはい）」 mean in this lesson?
- arrangement, making arrangements
- What does 「お詫び（おわび）」 mean in this lesson?
- apology
- What does 「不手際（ふてぎわ）」 mean in this lesson?
- clumsiness, poor handling
- What does 「再発防止（さいはつぼうし）」 mean in this lesson?
- prevention of recurrence
- What does 「対応（たいおう）」 mean in this lesson?
- response, handling
- 恐れ入りますが、資料をご確認（ ）。
- 「〜ていただけますでしょうか」is the most polite request form for business email.
- その条件ではお引き受け（ ）。
- 「〜かねます」is the soft refusal pattern.
- ご検討（ ）、よろしくお願い申し上げます。
- 「ご検討のほど」is the fixed softening phrase.
- 「催促」の読み方として正しいものはどれか。
- 催促 = さいそく.
- 取引先に断りを伝える最も適切な表現はどれか。
- Combines a cushion phrase with 「〜かねます」to refuse politely.
- お詫びメールに必ず入れるべき内容はどれか。
- The listening and reading sections both stress a concrete response and prevention measures.