A coworker writes 「お手すきの際にご確認ください」 in a work chat. Do they want you to approve something, make an edit, or just read it? Look for the action, the item or link, the person responsible, and the deadline. If any one is missing, reply with a short question instead of silently guessing.
Words that change what you should do
| Japanese | Reading | Practical meaning |
|---|---|---|
| ご確認ください | ごかくにんください (gokakunin kudasai) | Please check; ask what kind of check if unclear |
| ご対応ください | ごたいおうください (gotaiō kudasai) | Please take action; identify the requested action |
| ご返信ください | ごへんしんください (gohenshin kudasai) | Please reply |
| ご承認ください | ごしょうにんください (goshōnin kudasai) | Please approve; use the designated approval process |
| 担当・宛先 | たんとう・あてさき (tantō / atesaki) | Owner / addressee |
| 期限・本日中・明日まで | きげん・ほんじつじゅう・あしたまで (kigen / honjitsu-jū / ashita made) | Deadline / today / by tomorrow; confirm the hour when needed |
| お手すきの際に | おてすきのさいに (otesuki no sai ni) | When you have time; no precise deadline stated |
| 至急・なるべく早く | しきゅう・なるべくはやく (shikyū / narubeku hayaku) | Urgently / as soon as possible; clarify the required time |
| 確認待ち・対応済み | かくにんまち・たいおうずみ (kakunin-machi / taiō-zumi) | Awaiting confirmation / action completed |
| 共有・参考までに | きょうゆう・さんこうまでに (kyōyū / sankō made ni) | Shared / for reference; may not request action |
Read the whole message before replying
- Find the object. Is there a file, customer request, schedule or specific question? A bare 「ご確認ください」 does not explain what standard to check against.
- Find your role. Being mentioned in a group chat does not always make you the owner. Look for 担当, 宛先 or an explicit name. If several people are mentioned, ask who will make the final change.
- Find a usable deadline. 「お手すきの際に」 is flexible wording, while 「本日中」 gives a day but not always an hour. 「至急」 and 「なるべく早く」 express urgency without a clock time. Confirm timing if your other work or a handoff depends on it.
- Reply with what you understood. A useful response names the item, the action and when you will finish. If you cannot meet the proposed time, suggest a realistic alternative early.
- Close the loop. After acting, tell the requester what changed or what remains open and link to the approved work location. A chat acknowledgment alone may not complete a formal approval request.
Replies you can adapt
Confirm the scope: 「資料を確認します。数字の照合と文章の確認、どちらをご希望ですか。」
Shiryō o kakunin shimasu. Sūji no shōgō to bunshō no kakunin, dochira o gokibō desu ka?
“I will check the document. Would you like me to verify the numbers or review the wording?”
Confirm the deadline: 「本日中に対応します。何時までに必要でしょうか。」
Honjitsu-jū ni taiō shimasu. Nanji made ni hitsuyō deshō ka?
“I will handle it today. What time do you need it by?”
Give an achievable time: 「別件の対応中のため、15時から着手し、17時までにご連絡します。」
Bekken no taiō-chū no tame, jūgoji kara chakushu shi, jūshichiji made ni go-renraku shimasu.
“I am handling another matter, so I will start at 3 p.m. and update you by 5 p.m.”
Close the task: 「修正版を共有しました。未確認の箇所は二点あり、担当者の回答待ちです。」
Shūseiban o kyōyū shimashita. Mikakunin no kasho wa niten ari, tantōsha no kaitō-machi desu.
“I shared the revised version. Two points remain unchecked while we wait for the owner’s reply.”
Keep the right record
Use the company’s chat and file rules for sensitive information. A task from meeting minutes may already have an owner and due date; check that record before creating a second version in chat. Put outstanding work into your daily report or handover notes as appropriate. For a message received outside working hours, see the separate guide to after-hours work messages and follow your workplace’s contact rules.
