Japanese from zero · N2 Lesson 12
Business email
〜次第 ・ なお ・ 一応 ・ 〜かねない
In this lesson, you will learn to promise an action the moment something happens with 〜次第, to add one more point at the end of an email with なお, to do something just in case with 一応, and to warn that something bad could happen with 〜かねない. On the second day of her internship, Ai teaches Lisa how to write a business email.
By the end you will be able to say
資料が 届き次第、ご連絡いたします。I will contact you as soon as the materials arrive.
なお、会議は 四時からです。Please also note that the meeting is at four.
一応 下書きを 見て いただけますか。Could you look at my draft, just in case?
宛先を 間違えると、大問題に なりかねません。A wrong address could become a big problem.
メールに 資料を 添付しました。I attached the materials to the email.
The grammar in this lesson
- 〜次第 — as soon as — The ます stem + 次第 says that an action will follow the moment something is done or arrives.
- なお — please also note — なお starts a sentence that adds one more separate point, usually near the end of an email or an announcement.
- 一応 — just in case; more or less — 一応 says you do something to be safe though it may not be needed, or that something is done well enough for now.
- 〜かねない — could (lead to something bad) — The ます stem + かねない warns that something bad could happen; despite the ない, it means 'might'.