1.
asking after someone's recent situation; checking in
A polite act of asking how someone has been doing recently. Often the framing of a letter, postcard, or message intended to reconnect with someone the writer has not contacted for a while.
近況伺いのメールを送った。
I sent an email checking in on how things have been.
祖母から近況伺いのはがきが届いた。
A postcard from my grandmother arrived, asking how I'd been.
ご無沙汰しておりますので、近況伺いも兼ねてご連絡いたしました。
It's been some time since we last spoke, so I'm reaching out partly to ask how you've been.
Compound of 近況 (recent state) + 伺い (polite asking, from the humble verb 伺う). Common in letter-writing and formal email contexts. Often paired with an apology for not being in touch (ご無沙汰しております).
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 近況伺いのメール: a check-in email
- 近況伺いを兼ねて: while also asking how you've been
- 近況伺いのはがき: a check-in postcard
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 安否確認: confirming someone's safety — used after disasters or emergencies
- お元気ですか: are you well? — direct equivalent in casual speech