Polite Ways to Say “Please Tell Me” in Japanese: Keigo and Email Examples

“教えてください” means “please tell me” or “please teach me.” It is a polite request, but the best wording in a business situation depends on who you are asking, how much work the answer requires and what you need to know.

For a routine work question, “教えていただけますか” is often a useful choice. For a specific fact or procedure in formal writing, “ご教示いただけますと幸いです” may fit. More elaborate wording is not automatically more considerate: a clear, answerable question usually helps more than a long chain of honorific expressions.

Choose the wording by situation

Choose the verb that matches the action. If you need a file, ask for the file; if you need an available time, ask the recipient to let you know. “Please teach me” can be broader than the request requires.

Is 教えてください rude?

It is not inherently rude. It uses the polite request form “ください.” However, a direct request may sound abrupt when it appears without context, especially in a first email or when the answer would take considerable effort.

Adding the subject and a brief reason helps: “申請書の記入を進めているため、提出先を教えていただけますか。” This tells the recipient what you need and why.

Keigo expresses relationships and consideration in context. The Agency for Cultural Affairs' guidance is a useful reference for understanding respectful language beyond memorizing fixed phrases.

ご教示 vs. ご教授

For a short email asking how to submit a form, “ご教示” is generally the more natural choice. “ご教授” is not simply a more formal version of the same word. In a conversational workplace message, “教えていただけますか” may be clearer than either.

Email example 1: Ask about a procedure

Subject: [手続き名]の申請方法について

[担当者名]様

お世話になっております。[所属・氏名]です。
[手続き名]の申請を進めており、提出先について確認したく、ご連絡いたしました。

案内資料では[確認できた内容]と記載されていますが、[不明な点]についてご教示いただけますと幸いです。

お忙しいところ恐れ入りますが、よろしくお願いいたします。

[署名]

This version shows what you have already checked and isolates the missing information. Replace every bracketed section with your actual circumstances.

Email example 2: Ask a supervisor for advice

Subject: [案件名]の進め方についてご相談

[担当者名]様

お疲れさまです。[氏名]です。
[案件名]について、現在[A案]と[B案]を検討しています。私は[理由]から[A案]がよいと考えております。

判断にあたり、[確認したい点]についてご助言いただけますでしょうか。
必要であれば、比較内容をまとめた資料をお送りします。

よろしくお願いいたします。

You are asking for input on a defined decision rather than transferring the entire problem to the recipient. Do not claim to have prepared a comparison if you have not done so.

Email example 3: Ask for a reply by a certain time

Subject: [確認事項]のご確認のお願い

[担当者名]様

お世話になっております。[氏名]です。
[目的]のため、[具体的な質問]についてお知らせいただけますでしょうか。

[作業上の理由]の都合で、可能でしたら[月日・時間]までにご回答いただけますと幸いです。
難しい場合は、ご回答可能な時期をお知らせいただけますでしょうか。

よろしくお願いいたします。

Explain the reason for a deadline and use an exact date instead of “as soon as possible.” Allow the recipient to tell you if the requested timing is unrealistic.

Make your question easy to answer

• State the topic before the request.
• Explain what you have already checked.
• Separate multiple questions into a short list.
• Specify whether you need a fact, decision, file or advice.
• Give context for a deadline instead of only marking the message urgent.

For example, replace “すべて教えてください” with “提出先と締切日の二点を確認させてください.” The second request tells the reader exactly what to answer.

Common wording problems

Too many formal expressions

A sentence full of apologies and honorific phrases can hide the question. One appropriate request form and a clear description are usually easier to read.

ご教授 for every request

For a phone number, date or submission procedure, “お知らせ” or “ご教示” better matches the task. Match the word to the information you need.

Asking without the necessary context

“Could you tell me about that?” forces the recipient to reconstruct the conversation. Identify the document, project or question directly.

Frequently asked questions

Is ご教示ください acceptable?

It is a formal request. Depending on the relationship and workload involved, “ご教示いただけますか” or “ご教示いただけますと幸いです” can make the request feel less direct.

Must I use formal keigo in internal chat?

No single phrase fits every workplace. Match the relationship and established tone while keeping the question respectful and precise.

Can I use the same template for a client and a colleague?

Use the structure, but adapt the greeting, level of formality and context. Check names and remove placeholders before sending.

Related guides

How to use Onchu and Sama on Japanese envelopes