A useful negotiation checks the other person’s schedule, offers a workable alternative and confirms the result.
The idea
Use ご都合はいかがですか to ask whether a time suits someone. Give a reason with ため, then use でしたら to offer a conditional alternative. から and まで mark the start and end of an available window.
Examples
- 来週の会議は、火曜日の午後でご都合はいかがですか。Would Tuesday afternoon suit you for next week’s meeting?
- 火曜日は別の予定があるため、難しいです。Tuesday is difficult because I have another commitment.
- 水曜日の午前でしたら、参加できます。I can attend on Wednesday morning.
- それでは、水曜日の十時からではいかがでしょうか。Then how about starting at ten on Wednesday?
- 十時から十一時までなら、空いています。I am free from ten until eleven.
- では、水曜日の十時にお願いします。Then let’s make it ten on Wednesday.
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Watch out
難しいです softens a refusal but does not itself propose another time. State an alternative and confirm the day and start time before treating the meeting as settled.
Try it yourself
「火曜日の午後でご＿はいかがですか。」（都合／理由）
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都合
ご都合 asks about the other person’s convenience politely.
「別の予定がある＿、難しいです。」（ため／まで）
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ため
ため connects the conflict to the reason Tuesday is difficult.
「十時から十一時＿空いています。」（まで／から）
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まで
まで marks the end of the available window, at eleven.
Practice round
Answer questions, then rebuild Japanese sentences where available. We keep your score.
「火曜日の午後でご＿はいかがですか。」（都合／理由）
「別の予定がある＿、難しいです。」（ため／まで）
「十時から十一時＿空いています。」（まで／から）
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the words in the right order.
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Ask a colleague about Tuesday, explain a conflict, suggest Wednesday morning and confirm a time.