「〜させていただきます」: Humble or troublesome?

If you live and work in Japan, you've probably heard this long phrase everywhere: in business emails, on phone calls, in announcements from store clerks... 📨☎️

Many textbooks teach that this is a super polite form of humble language (謙譲語 - kenjougo). That's true, but it's not the "ultimate weapon" for every situation. Using it incorrectly can turn you from a humble person into a formal, distant, and even a bit... "dramatic" (大げさ - oogesa) person.

With 10 years of "battle" experience, I'll show you the secret to using this phrase "correctly"! 😉

🤔 What is the essence of「〜させていただきます」?

It's a combination of:

• 〜させて: The causative form (使役形) → Allow me to do V
• 〜いただく: The humble form of もらう → I receive

=> Combined, it means: "I humbly receive your permission to do this action".

The core of it is gratitude for being allowed by the other person to do something that benefits you. 🙏

✅ When to USE it?

There are only 2 "golden" cases for you to use this phrase:

1. When the action requires the other person's permission and you feel grateful.

   • Example: You ask your boss for a day off.
   • SOUNDS GOOD: 「明日、お休みをいただきます。」(A common humble way of saying it)
   • MORE ACCURATE: 「明日、お休みを取らせていただきます。」(I will humbly take a day off tomorrow - emphasizing that it's because "my boss allowed me to" that I can take a day off)

2. When your action might affect others (even in the slightest).

   • Example: You're leaving work while your colleagues are still working.
   • SOUNDS NORMAL: 「お先に失礼します。」(Excuse me for leaving first.)
   • MORE ACCURATE: 「お先に帰らせていただきます。」(I will humbly be leaving first - my action of "leaving" might affect/inconvenience everyone, so I'm very grateful for being allowed to leave)

❌ When NOT to use it?

This is the most important part to communicate naturally!

1. When overused for actions that don't need permission.

   • Example: Introducing yourself in a meeting.
   • SOUNDS OVER-THE-TOP: 「自己紹介させていただきます、Aと申します。」
   • MORE ACCURATE: 「自己紹介いたします。Aと申します。」(Using 「〜いたします」, the humble form of する, is formal and natural enough).

2. When the action is not related to the other person's permission.

   • Example: You're at an event and want to say "I'm from Vietnam."
   • SOUNDS STRANGE: 「ベトナムから来させていただきます。」(Who allowed you to come? 🤔)
   • MORE ACCURATE: 「ベトナムから参りました。」(Using 「参る」, the humble form of 来る).

✨ Conclusion

「〜させていただきます」 is a double-edged sword. It shows extreme humility, but only when placed in the right context – with permission and gratitude.

Don't become a machine that says「〜させていただきます」mindlessly. Pay attention to whether your action needs someone's "permission." If not, using other humble forms like「〜いたします」,「〜申します」,「参ります」... will make you sound much more professional and natural!

Good luck with your communication! 🚀