How to politely and indirectly tell someone they forgot to do something?


Let's say someone who's above me, like a teacher or a boss, forgot to do
something. How would I notify them without being rude?

I only know the basic "~するのを忘れました"(though I'm not even sure if that's
correct), but I want to be a bit more humble and roundabout.

I would appreciate if you could give me multiple different ways to do this.

Thanks in advance!




I would suggest that you humbly inquire whether they have done it already, or
humbly state that it hasn't been done yet.

So if your boss forgot to reply to an email from last week, you could say
something like,

> 「もうメールにお返事されましたか」
>
> "Have you already replied to (the) email?"

or

> 「先方からのメールにはまだお返事頂いていないそうです。」
>
> "It seems that the client hasn't received a response yet."

(be sure to trail off with a long pause and make your face look real
worried...)

  * To avoid being rude, you should try to point out that _**something hasn't happened yet**_ and avoid _" assuming"_ that they forgot ;)

Also, for bonus points try to look and ask them if **you** can do the thing
they forgot.

> 「先方からのメールにお返事させて頂いてもよろしいでしょうか」
>
> "May I reply to the email from the client?"

(this is more effective if you appear to be out of breath...)




I would suggest that you humbly inquire whether they have done it already, or
humbly state that it hasn't been done yet.

So if your boss forgot to reply to an email from last week, you could say
something like,

> 「もうメールにお返事されましたか」
>
> "Have you already replied to (the) email?"

or

> 「先方からのメールにはまだお返事頂いていないそうです。」
>
> "It seems that the client hasn't received a response yet."

(be sure to trail off with a long pause and make your face look real
worried...)

  * To avoid being rude, you should try to point out that _**something hasn't happened yet**_ and avoid _" assuming"_ that they forgot ;)

Also, for bonus points try to look and ask them if **you** can do the thing
they forgot.

> 「先方からのメールにお返事させて頂いてもよろしいでしょうか」
>
> "May I reply to the email from the client?"

(this is more effective if you appear to be out of breath...)

