させていただく
- 1Humbly describes one's own action as done with permission and as a favor received: "allow me to...", "I will...".Ex. 1
- 2In させていただけませんか, asks the listener's permission to do something.Ex. 2
Verb nai-stemWhat is left of the nai-form once ない is removed.
行か・食べ・し・来（こ）
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Its core use is to describe your own action humbly when you have someone's permission and treat being able to do it as a favor: では、説明させていただきます ("Now, allow me to explain"). It is very common in business, speeches and service settings, and also in notices: 本日は休業させていただきます ("We are closed today"). To ask permission, 〜させていただけませんか is softer than させてください. It is also used for actions that have nothing to do with the listener's permission or favor, which is often criticized as excessive politeness.
With godan verbs, add せていただく without an extra さ: 読ませていただく, 休ませていただく, not 読まさせていただく or 休まさせていただく (so-called さ入れ言葉, generally considered incorrect).
It cannot be used to show respect for the other side's action: for something the other person will do, say 先生が説明してくださいます, not 先生が説明させていただきます. But if the 先生 belongs to your side (an organizer introducing its own lecturer: 講師の田中先生が説明させていただきます), it is fine; whether someone counts as your side depends on the situation.
For personal events that have nothing to do with the listener (graduating, getting married), it sounds overly humble; simply say 卒業しました or 結婚しました.
- 1.させてくださいN4「させてください」 asks for permission directly and sounds more insistent; 「させていただけませんか」 is softer; 「させていただきます」 is not a request at all but a humble announcement of what you are going to do.
- 2.〜ていただくN4「ていただく」 means receiving the favor of someone doing something for you (先生に説明していただいた: the teacher kindly explained); 「させていただく」 means you do something with their permission (説明させていただく: allow me to explain). The person acting is reversed.
- 3.ていただけませんかN4「ていただけませんか」 asks someone to do something for you; 「させていただけませんか」 asks their permission for you to do something, with the causative form added.
させてください directly asks to be allowed to do something; させていただく humbly states what you are going to do, and させていただけませんか is a softer request. ていただく describes receiving the favor of someone else doing something for you (先生に説明していただいた), and ていただけませんか asks someone to do something for you; in both someone else (the listener or a third party) acts, the opposite direction.
