Checking an Email Before Sending | Learn Japanese in English

Japanese lesson set in a contemporary Tokyo everyday setting: Before sending a professional follow-up email, one coworker checks the tone, next step, context, and recipient list with another..

EN → JA / Level: B1

About This Lesson

Use Checking an Email Before Sending to practice Japanese conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

A

このメールを送る前に、文面のトーンを確認してもらえますか。

KOH-noh MAY-roo o oh-KOO-roo MAY-nee, BOON-men no TOHN o KAH-koo-neen she-teh moh-rah-eh-MAHS kah. Could you check the tone of this email before I send it?
B

プロフェッショナルな内容ですが、書き出しが少しきつく感じられます。

proh-feh-SHOH-nah-roo nah nai-YOH deh-soo gah, KAH-kee-dah-shee gah SOH-shee KEET-soo koo-JAN-jee-rah-reh-MAHS. It is professional, but the opening feels a little sharp.
A

せかしているように聞こえずに、その依頼を相手に思い出してもらいたいです。

seh-kah-SHEE-teh-ee-roo YOH-oo-nee KEE-koh-eh-zoo-nee, soh-noh ee-RAI o ah-EE-teh-nee oh-moh-ee-DAH-shee-teh moh-rah-ee-TAI dess. I want to remind them about the request without sounding impatient.
B

フォローアップの連絡だと伝える、もう少しやわらかい書き出しを試してみてください。

foh-ROH-oh-uhp-pu no ren-RAH-koo da toh tsoo-tah-eh-roo, moh-oo SOH-shee yah-wah-rah-KAI KAH-kee-dah-shee o TAH-meh-shee-teh mee-teh koo-DAH-sai. Try a softer opening that says you are following up.
A

そのほうがよさそうです。私の依頼は十分わかりやすいですか。

soh-noh hoh-GAH yoh-sah-SOH dess. wah-TAH-shee no ee-RAI wah JOO-boon wah-kah-ree-YAH-soo-ee dess kah. That sounds better. Is my request clear enough?
B

同じ段落で、次の手順を説明してください。

oh-NAH-jee DAN-rah-koo deh, tsoo-GEE no teh-JOON o sets-MAY she-teh koo-DAH-sai. Explain the next step in the same paragraph.
A

最後のほうに、追加の背景情報も入れました。

sai-GOH no hoh-oo-nee, tsoo-EE-kah no HAI-keh JOH-hoh mo ee-reh-MAH-shee-tah. I also added extra context near the end.
B

背景情報は役に立ちます。送る前に、宛先リストを確認してください。

HAI-keh JOH-hoh wah YAH-koo nee tah-chee-MAHS. oh-KOO-roo MAY-nee, AH-teh-SAH-kee REE-soo-toh o KAH-koo-neen she-teh koo-DAH-sai. The context is helpful. Check the recipient list before you send it.
A

それは見落としやすいですね。誤って別の人が宛先に含まれていました。

soh-REH wah mee-oh-toh-shee-YAH-soo-ee dess neh. ah-YAH-maht-teh BEH-tsoo no HEE-toh gah AH-teh-SAH-kee nee foo-koo-mah-reh-teh ee-MAH-shee-tah. That was easy to miss. The wrong person was included by mistake.
B

その人をリストから外してください。

soh-noh HEE-toh o REE-soo-toh kah-rah hah-zoo-shee-teh koo-DAH-sai. Remove that person from the list.
B

そうすれば、メールを送信できる状態になります。

soh-oo-soo-REH-bah, MAY-roo o soh-oo-SHEEN deh-KEE-roo joh-TAI nee nah-ree-MAHS. Then the email is ready to send.

Word by Word

この この means “this” and points to the email that is being discussed. It appears directly before このメール, so it identifies something near the speaker or already clear in the conversation. A reusable pattern is この＋noun, such as この段落.
メール メール means “email” here. In このメール, it is the message whose tone the speaker wants checked. It commonly combines with を when the email is the object of an action, as in このメールを確認する.
を を marks このメール as the object of the action in このメールを送る. It shows what is sent or acted on. A reusable pattern is nounを＋verb, such as メールを確認する.
送る 送る means “to send” in this dialogue, referring to sending the email. In 送る前に, it names the action that should happen after the checking. A reusable pattern is somethingを送る, such as メールを送る.
前 前 means “before” in 送る前に. It marks an earlier time relative to sending the email. A reusable pattern is verb-dictionary-form＋前に, as in 送る前に確認する.
に に marks the time at which the earlier action should happen in 送る前に. Together with 前, it means “before sending.” It commonly follows a time expression or 前 when specifying when an action takes place.
文面 文面 means the wording or written content of a message, not merely the message as an object. In 文面のトーン, it identifies the wording whose tone is being checked. It is useful when discussing how an email or other written message sounds.
の の links 文面 and トーン in 文面のトーン, showing that the tone belongs to or concerns the wording. It connects two nouns in this type of noun-modifying relationship. A reusable pattern is nounのnoun, such as メールの内容.
トーン トーン means “tone” here, especially the impression created by the wording of the email. In 文面のトーン, it is the aspect that the speaker asks the coworker to check. It is useful when discussing whether written communication sounds professional, sharp, or soft.
確認 確認 means checking or confirming something. In 確認してもらえますか, it is the action the speaker asks the listener to perform for them. A reusable pattern is nounを確認する, such as 内容を確認する.
して して is the form used in the polite request 確認してもらえますか, meaning that the listener should do the checking. Here it connects 確認 with もらえますか rather than standing alone. A reusable request pattern is verbて＋もらえますか.
もらえます もらえます contributes the idea of receiving someone’s help in 確認してもらえますか. The whole expression 確認してもらえますか politely asks whether the listener could check the email as a favor. This pattern is useful when asking someone to do an action for you.
か か marks 確認してもらえますか as a question. It turns the polite request into a question directed to the coworker. It commonly appears at the end of a polite question or request.
プロフェッショナル プロフェッショナル means “professional” in プロフェッショナルな内容. It describes the content of the email as suitable for professional communication. Before a noun, it is followed by な, as in プロフェッショナルな内容.
な な links プロフェッショナル to 内容 in プロフェッショナルな内容. It allows this noun-like description to modify the following noun. A reusable pattern is descriptive noun＋な＋noun.
内容 内容 means the content of the email. In プロフェッショナルな内容, it is the part that is judged to be professional, even though the opening still feels sharp. It commonly combines with を when someone checks or explains the content.
です です politely states that the content is professional in プロフェッショナルな内容です. It gives the sentence a polite tone appropriate for coworkers discussing an email. It commonly follows a noun or noun phrase in a polite statement.
が が connects two contrasting parts in 内容ですが、書き出しが少しきつく感じられます. Here it means “but,” acknowledging that the content is professional while adding a criticism of the opening. It commonly links a positive observation with a contrasting point.
書き出し 書き出し means the opening or first part of a written message. In 書き出しが少しきつく感じられます, it is the part that gives a somewhat sharp impression. It is useful when discussing the beginning of an email, letter, or other written text.
少し 少し means “a little” in 少しきつく, softening the criticism of the opening. It shows that the sharp impression is limited rather than extreme. It commonly comes before an adjective or adverb to indicate a small degree.
きつく きつく describes the opening as sounding sharp or harsh in 少しきつく感じられます. The form connects this description to 感じられます, which expresses the impression received by the reader. It is useful when giving careful feedback about the tone of words or messages.
感じられます 感じられます means “is felt” or “is perceived” here, so the opening gives the reader a somewhat sharp impression. In きつく感じられます, it presents the judgment as an impression rather than a direct accusation. This is useful for politely describing how wording or behavior comes across.
せかして せかして means pressuring or hurrying someone in せかしているように聞こえずに. It describes the possible impression that the email is pushing the recipient to act quickly. The form せかしている can describe an ongoing action or impression of pressure.
いる いる helps form the ongoing expression せかしているように, describing someone as being in the act of pressuring or hurrying. Here it is part of the expression for “as if pressuring.” A reusable pattern is verbている to describe an ongoing action or state.
よう よう expresses an appearance or impression in せかしているように聞こえずに. The whole expression means that the email should not sound as if it is pressuring the recipient. A reusable pattern is verb＋ように見える or verb＋ように聞こえる when describing an impression.
聞こえず 聞こえず means “without sounding” or “without being heard as” in せかしているように聞こえずに. It says the speaker wants to remind the recipient without creating an impatient impression. This form can connect a negative condition to the following purpose or action.
その その means “that” in その依頼, referring to the request already mentioned. It identifies a specific request known from the context. It normally comes directly before a noun, as in そのメール.
依頼 依頼 means “request” in その依頼. It refers to the action or information the recipient was previously asked about. It commonly combines with を in expressions such as 依頼を確認する.
相手 相手 means the other person involved in the communication, here the recipient of the request. In 相手に思い出してもらいたい, it marks the person whom the speaker wants to remember the request. It is useful when referring to the other party in an interaction.
思い出して 思い出して means “remember” in 思い出してもらいたい, where the speaker wants the other person to remember the request. It connects the remembering action to もらいたい. A reusable pattern is personに＋verbて＋もらいたい when expressing a wish for someone to do something.
もらいたい もらいたい expresses the speaker’s wish to have someone perform an action for them in 思い出してもらいたい. The whole expression means “I want them to remember,” not simply “I want to receive.” It is useful when politely describing a desired action by another person.
フォローアップ フォローアップ means “follow-up” in フォローアップの連絡. It identifies the contact as a continuation of an earlier request or exchange. It commonly combines with の連絡 when describing a follow-up message.
連絡 連絡 means contact or communication in フォローアップの連絡. Here it refers to the email as a follow-up contact. It commonly appears with する when describing the act of contacting someone.
だ だ states plainly that the message is a follow-up contact in フォローアップの連絡だと伝える. It appears inside the content being conveyed, before the quotation marker と. This plain form is commonly used inside quoted or reported content.
と と marks フォローアップの連絡だ as the content being conveyed in フォローアップの連絡だと伝える. It links the quoted information to 伝える. A reusable pattern is quoted content＋と伝える when reporting what someone says or what a message conveys.
伝える 伝える means “to convey” or “to communicate” in フォローアップの連絡だと伝える. The suggested opening should communicate that the email is a follow-up contact. It commonly takes the information being conveyed before と.
もう もう means “more” in もう少しやわらかい, asking for a slightly gentler opening than the current one. It does not mean “already” in this sentence. The pattern もう少し＋adjective is useful when requesting a small additional degree.
やわらかい やわらかい means “soft” or “gentle” in もう少しやわらかい書き出し. Here it describes an opening that sounds less sharp and more considerate. It can describe the tone or style of communication as well as physical softness.
試して 試して means “try” in 試してみてください, referring to trying the suggested softer opening. It connects the action to みてください. A reusable pattern is verbてみる when talking about trying an action.
みて みて contributes the idea of trying an action in 試してみてください. The whole expression politely asks the listener to try the softer opening. It commonly follows a verb in the て-form to suggest trying something.
ください ください makes 試してみてください a polite request to try it. It directs the coworker to perform the suggested action without sounding overly forceful. It commonly follows a verb in the て-form in polite requests.
ほう ほう means “option” or “way” in そのほうがよさそうです, referring to the softer opening just discussed. The whole expression says that option seems better. It is useful in comparisons when selecting one option over another.
よさそう よさそう means “seems better” or “looks good” in そのほうがよさそうです. It presents the judgment as an impression about the suggested opening. It commonly follows ほうが when saying that one option seems preferable.
私 私 means “I” or “my” in 私の依頼. Here it identifies the request as belonging to the speaker. It commonly combines with の before a noun to express possession or association.
は は marks 私の依頼 as the topic in 私の依頼は十分わかりやすいですか. The question asks whether the speaker’s request is clear enough. It commonly follows the topic being discussed.
十分 十分 means “enough” or “sufficiently” in 十分わかりやすい. It asks whether the request is clear to a sufficient degree. It commonly comes before an adjective to describe the required degree.
わかりやすい わかりやすい means “easy to understand” or “clear” in 十分わかりやすいですか. It evaluates whether the request can be understood by the reader. It is useful when discussing clear explanations, instructions, or written requests.
同じ 同じ means “same” in 同じ段落, referring to the paragraph that already contains the related explanation. It indicates that the next step should stay in that paragraph. It commonly appears directly before a noun.
段落 段落 means “paragraph” in 同じ段落. It identifies the part of the email where the next step should be explained. It is useful when discussing the organization of written documents.
で で marks 同じ段落 as the place or scope where the explanation should be given in 同じ段落で. It means “in the same paragraph” here. It commonly follows a location or setting in which an action occurs.
次 次 means “next” in 次の手順. It points to the procedure that should happen after the current request. It commonly comes before の＋noun, as in 次の段落.
手順 手順 means a step or procedure in 次の手順. Here it refers to what the recipient should do next after reading the request. It is useful for explaining an ordered action in an email or instruction.
説明 説明 means an explanation in 説明してください, where the coworker asks the speaker to explain the next step. It names the requested communication action. It commonly combines with する or してください when asking someone to explain something.
最後 最後 means “the end” in 最後のほう. Here it refers to the later part of the email, without specifying the exact final position. It commonly combines with のほう when indicating the general area near the end.
追加 追加 means “additional” or “added” in 追加の背景情報. It describes background information that was put into the email in addition to the main request. It commonly comes before の＋noun to identify something extra.
背景情報 背景情報 means background information or context in the email. In 追加の背景情報, it refers to details that help the recipient understand the request. It is useful when giving surrounding facts that support a main point.
も も means “also” in 背景情報も入れました, adding the background information to other material already included in the email. It marks the item as an additional one. It commonly replaces は or が when meaning “also” or “too.”
入れました 入れました means “added” or “put in” here, referring to placing extra context in the email. It presents that action as completed before the conversation. It commonly takes the added item as an object with を.
役に立ちます 役に立ちます means “is helpful” or “is useful” in 背景情報は役に立ちます. The whole expression evaluates the background information as useful to the reader. Inside it, 役 refers to usefulness, に marks that role, and 立ちます expresses serving that role; this pattern is used when saying that something helps.
宛先 宛先 means the recipient or destination address of a message. In 宛先リスト, it refers to the people or addresses selected to receive the email. It is useful when checking where an email or other message will be sent.
リスト リスト means “list” in 宛先リスト. Here it is the list of email recipients that must be checked before sending. It commonly combines with a noun before it to specify the type of list.
それ それ means “that” or “it” in それは見落としやすいですね, referring to the recipient-list issue just mentioned. It lets the speaker point back to an already known matter. It commonly refers to something previously discussed rather than something newly introduced.
見落とし 見落とし means overlooking or missing something in 見落としやすい. Here it refers to failing to notice an incorrect recipient in the list. It commonly combines with やすい to describe something that is easy to overlook.
やすい やすい means “easy to do” in 見落としやすい, so the recipient-list error is easy to miss. It follows the connecting form of a verb to describe an action that is easy for someone to perform, intentionally or accidentally. This pattern is useful for describing actions that happen easily.
ね ね seeks agreement or shared recognition in 見落としやすいですね. The speaker is acknowledging that the mistake is easy to miss and inviting the coworker to agree. It commonly appears at the end of a sentence when sharing an observation.
誤って 誤って means “by mistake” or “accidentally” in 誤って別の人が宛先に含まれていました. It explains that the wrong person was included unintentionally. It commonly comes before the result of an accidental action.
別 別 means “different” or “another” in 別の人. Here it identifies a person other than the intended recipient. It commonly appears as 別の＋noun when referring to another item or person.
人 人 means “person” in 別の人. It refers to the unintended person included in the recipient list. It commonly follows a modifier such as 別の when specifying which person is meant.
含まれて 含まれて means “was included” in 含まれていました. It describes the wrong person as being part of the recipient list. The form connects the inclusion state to いました, and it is useful when describing what is contained in a group or list.
いました いました places the state in the past in 別の人が宛先に含まれていました. Together with 含まれて, it says that another person had been included in the list. It commonly follows a state or ongoing condition when describing how something was in the past.
から から means “from” in リストから外して, marking the list as the place or group from which the person should be removed. It identifies the source of the removal. A reusable pattern is place or groupから外す.
外して 外して means “remove” or “leave out” in その人をリストから外して. It asks the listener to remove that person from the recipient list. The form connects the removal instruction to the following implied request or action.
そうすれば そうすれば means “if you do that” or “then,” referring to removing the person from the list. The whole expression connects that action with the result that the email will be ready to send. Inside it, そう refers back to the preceding action, すれ carries the conditional action, and ば marks the condition; this pattern is useful for stating a result after a proposed action.
送信 送信 means sending or transmission in 送信できる状態. Here it refers specifically to sending the email. It commonly combines with する or with できる when discussing whether a message can be sent.
できる できる means “can” or “be possible” in 送信できる状態. It says that sending is possible once the recipient list has been corrected. It commonly follows a noun or action noun to express the possibility of doing it.
状態 状態 means “state” or “condition” in 送信できる状態. It describes the condition in which the email is ready to be sent. It commonly follows a modifying phrase to identify the condition something is in.
なります なります means “becomes” or “comes to be” in 送信できる状態になります. It describes the change into a condition where sending is possible. It commonly follows a noun or noun phrase with に when expressing what something becomes.

Grammar Points

～てもらえますか

文面を確認してもらえますか。

BOON-men o KAH-koo-neen she-teh moh-rah-eh-MAHS kah

Could you check the wording?

This polite pattern asks someone to do something for you. It is softer than a direct command.

～れていました

宛先リストに誤って含まれていました。

AH-teh-SAH-kee nee ah-YAH-maht-teh foo-koo-mah-reh-teh ee-mah-SHEE-tah

It was accidentally included in the recipient list.

This form describes something that was included or affected, often without naming who caused it.

Japanese Vocabulary

きつく adj
KEET-soo-koo sharply; harshly

少しきつく感じられます

せかしている verb
seh-kah-SHEE-teh-ee-roo sounding impatient; rushing someone

せかしているように聞こえずに

トーン noun
TOHN tone

文面のトーン

フォローアップ noun
foh-ROH-oh-uhp-pu follow-up

フォローアップの連絡

プロフェッショナル adj
proh-feh-SHOH-nah-roo professional

プロフェッショナルな内容

やわらかい adj
yah-wah-rah-KAI soft; gentle

もう少しやわらかい書き出し

わかりやすい adj
wah-kah-ree-YAH-soo-ee clear; easy to understand

十分わかりやすいですか

依頼 noun
ee-RAI request

その依頼を相手に思い出してもらいたいです

確認してもらえますか phrase
KAH-koo-neen she-teh moh-rah-eh-MAHS kah could you check

確認してもらえますか

思い出してもらいたい phrase
oh-moh-ee-DAH-shee-teh moh-rah-ee-TAI want someone to remember

思い出してもらいたいです

書き出し noun
KAH-kee-dah-shee opening

書き出しが少しきつく感じられます

文面 noun
BOON-men wording

文面のトーン

Quiz

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

opening

Show Answer書き出し

professional

Show Answerプロフェッショナル

want someone to remember

Show Answer思い出してもらいたい

could you check

Show Answer確認してもらえますか