Your workplace leave screen says 有休残日数 8.0日, but you expected more. First check the screen’s date, the most recent 付与日 (grant date), any 前年度繰越 (carried-over days), and whether pending requests have already been deducted. A number on a payroll or attendance screen may be a snapshot, so ask HR for the breakdown if it does not match your records.
Japanese labels on a paid leave balance screen
| Japanese | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 年次有給休暇／有休／年休 | nenji yūkyū kyūka / yūkyū / nenkyū | Annual paid leave; abbreviations vary by workplace |
| 基準日／付与日 | kijunbi / fuyobi | Reference date / date leave was granted |
| 付与日数 | fuyo nissū | Days newly granted |
| 前年度繰越／繰越日数 | zennendo kurikoshi / kurikoshi nissū | Days carried over from a prior grant |
| 取得日数／使用日数 | shutoku nissū / shiyō nissū | Days taken / used |
| 残日数 | zan nissū | Remaining days shown in the system |
| 申請中／承認待ち | shinseichū / shōninmachi | Requested / awaiting an internal approval step |
| 失効日／有効期限 | shikkōbi / yūkō kigen | Date a balance expires, if displayed |
| 半日休暇／時間単位年休 | hannichi kyūka / jikan tan’i nenkyū | Half-day leave / hourly leave where available |
| 計画年休 | keikaku nenkyū | Leave taken on dates set under a workplace plan |
Not every employer uses the same screen or labels. Some show separate balances by grant year; others show only a total. A pending request may be reserved, deducted only after it is taken, or displayed separately. Confirm how your own system works.
Check the numbers step by step
- Find the “as of” date. A payslip may reflect an earlier payroll cutoff, while an attendance app may update sooner. Compare records from the same date before deciding there is an error.
- Identify each grant. Note the grant date and days granted, then any unused days carried from the prior period. The statutory grant depends on continued service, attendance and working pattern. The MHLW’s annual paid leave FAQ explains the basic entitlement, including part-time workers.
- Compare leave actually taken. Use approved leave dates, not only requests you submitted. Check whether a half day or hourly use is shown in days or hours and whether the employer has a system for that unit.
- Look at old grants separately. Carried-over statutory leave does not stay available indefinitely. The Osaka Labour Bureau’s paid leave Q&A explains that the older statutory entitlement expires after two years. Company-provided leave beyond the statutory minimum may have different rules, so check the relevant policy.
- Ask for a breakdown if needed. Give HR the date and screen label you are looking at and the dates you believe were granted or taken. Ask which grant was used and how pending leave is reflected. Employers keep an annual leave management record showing grant reference dates and leave taken; the MHLW’s explanation of that record describes the required entries.
A small example
Suppose the screen shows 前年度繰越 3日, 今年度付与 10日 and 取得 2日. A simple illustration gives 3 + 10 − 2 = 11 days, but the actual available balance depends on the dates, expiration, which grant the employer counted first, and whether other requests are pending. Do not use this example to override your own record.
Japanese phrases for HR
| Japanese | English meaning |
|---|---|
| 有休の残日数と内訳を確認したいです。 | I would like to check my paid leave balance and its breakdown. |
| 今年度の付与日と付与日数を教えてください。 | Please tell me this year’s grant date and number of days. |
| 前年度の繰越分は何日残っていますか。 | How many days carried over from the prior year remain? |
| 申請中の休暇は、残日数から差し引かれていますか。 | Are pending leave requests already deducted from the balance? |
| この残日数は、いつ時点の数字でしょうか。 | As of what date is this balance? |
A paid leave balance is different from your company’s holiday calendar: a public holiday may or may not be a scheduled day off under your work terms. See our company holiday calendar guide for that distinction. Once you know the available days, our paid leave request guide walks through the application labels and phrases. If the displayed balance remains disputed, ask for the dated records and consult an appropriate labor advice service for your circumstances.
