1.
no problem; no objection; acceptable
Indicates that something is acceptable or poses no obstacle. A polite and formal way of expressing permission or that something will not cause difficulty.
明日でも差し支えない。
Tomorrow would be fine too.
お名前を伺っても差し支えないでしょうか。
Would it be all right if I asked your name?
差し支えなければ、理由をお聞かせいただけますか。
If it's not a problem, could you tell me the reason?
The negative form of 差し支える (to cause difficulty, to hinder). Almost exclusively used in the negative form. Very common in polite speech and business Japanese as a softer alternative to asking permission or confirming acceptability.
COMMON PATTERNS:
- 差し支えなければ: if it's not a problem...
- 差し支えないでしょうか: would it be all right?
- 差し支えありません: there's no problem (polite)
- 差し支えございません: there's no problem (very polite/humble)
USAGE:
This expression is a hallmark of polite Japanese. Using 差し支えなければ before a request softens it considerably, making it more respectful than 大丈夫ですか or 問題ないですか.
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 構わない: it doesn't matter, it's fine — more casual, while 差し支えない is formal and polite
- 大丈夫: it's okay — everyday and versatile, while 差し支えない is reserved for formal situations
- 問題ない: no problem — relatively neutral in formality, between 大丈夫 and 差し支えない