確認する
kakunin suru
To confirm in Japanese is 確認する (kakunin suru).
The term is used to assure. In Japanese culture, it is considered polite to confirm or double-check information to avoid misunderstandings.
Meaning: to assure (verb)
Which one should you use?
確認する is a common and direct way to say "confirm" suitable for formal conversations, business interactions or official contexts, whereas チェックする is an informal way to say "confirm" borrowed from the English word "check".
How does it change in a sentence?
To use this word in different contexts, you can use the past tense 確認した for 'confirmed' or the polite request form 確認してください for 'please confirm'.
How do you pronounce it?
kakunin suru
Did you know?
- While 確認する is standard, in extremely formal settings like high-end hotels or traditional tea ceremonies, one might use the more humble term 承る ('uketamawaru') to mean they have 'confirmed' or 'received' a request.
- In Japanese business culture, the act of confirming is often performed through Hou-Ren-So, a mnemonic for reporting, informing and consulting.
- The kanji used in 確認 are 確 (certain) and 認 (recognize). While English uses 'confirm' to mean making something sure, the Japanese components emphasize the act of recognizing a truth that is already present.
Examples in context
- 明日の予定を確認しておきます。I will confirm tomorrow's schedule.
- お支払い金額を確かめてください。Please confirm the payment amount.
- 今からメールをチェックするよ。I will now confirm/check my emails.
- 明日の予定、確認しておいてね。Please make sure to confirm tomorrow's schedule.
- 予約を再確認する。Yoyaku o saikakunin suru.I will reconfirm the reservation.
- 間違いがないか確認する。Machigai ga nai ka kakunin suru.I will confirm if there are any mistakes.
- メールの内容を確認する。Meeru no naiyou o kakunin suru.I will confirm the contents of the email.
Example conversation
Checking the time for a meeting.
- 陽葵 Himari陽太くん、時間を確認するね。Youta-kun, jikan o kakunin suru ne.Youta, I'll confirm the time.
- 陽太 Yotaお願い。何時だったっけ？onegai. nan-ji datta kke?Please. What time was it again?
- 陽葵 Himari午後三時で間違いないよ。gogo san-ji de machigai nai yo.It is definitely three p.m.
- 陽太 Yotaありがとう。助かったよ。arigato. tasukatta yo.Thanks. That helped.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “confirm” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
