Explore clarifying a task deadline through polite Japanese examples and practice.

The idea

Ask いつまでですか for the deadline. Repeat the day and time with ですね to confirm. With an action, までに means “by that time”; tell the other person early if you cannot make it.

Patterns to compare
JapaneseMeaning
この仕事しごとはいつまでですか。When is this task due?
金曜日きんようびの午後ごご三時さんじまでです。It is due by three on Friday afternoon.
はい、その時間じかんまでに送おくってください。Yes, please send it by that time.

Examples

  • この仕事しごとはいつまでですか。When is this task due?
  • 金曜日きんようびの午後ごご三時さんじまでです。It is due by three on Friday afternoon.
  • 金曜日きんようびの午後ごご三時さんじまでですね。By three on Friday afternoon, right?
  • はい、その時間じかんまでに送おくってください。Yes, please send it by that time.
  • 間まに合あわないときは、早はやめに知しらせます。If I cannot meet the deadline, I will let you know early.
  • わかりました。金曜日きんようびに送おくります。Understood. I will send it on Friday.

Read-aloud uses a synthetic Japanese voice available on your device. Voice quality and availability vary; it does not assess your pronunciation.

Watch out

まで can mark how long an action continues; までに marks the latest time for completing it. Confirm the time of day, not just the date.

Try it yourself

  1. Choose the option in brackets to complete the sentence: この仕事しごとは＿ですか。（いつまで／どこ）

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    いつまで

    いつまで asks “until when?”, making it suitable for a deadline.

  2. Choose the option in brackets to complete the sentence: 三時さんじ＿送おくってください。（までに／から）

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    までに

    までに sets three o’clock as the latest time for sending.

  3. Choose the option in brackets to complete the sentence: 間まに合あわないときは、＿知しらせます。（早はやめに／もう）

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    早めに

    早はやめに means “early” or “in advance”: give notice before the deadline is missed.

Use it today

Role-play this situation with a partner. Change the details, repeat the key information and swap roles.