LESSON NOTES · レッスンノート

N3Talking to real people · Sep 28, 2026

How to reschedule in Japanese: リスケ, and the request that has to come with it

リスケ (resuke) is a clipped loanword from "reschedule," used constantly in Japanese business and casual chat alike — but the word by itself isn't the request. A real reschedule always pairs it with either a proposed new date or a direct question about the other person's availability, because "can we reschedule?" alone leaves the other person with nothing to act on.

Unlike English, where "can we reschedule?" is often a complete, standalone question, Japanese treats that half of the sentence as an opener that needs a second half. リスケできますか ("can we reschedule?") on its own sounds unfinished — the natural next clause either offers specific alternative dates or asks the other person to name theirs.

The basics

リスケ: the everyday shorthand

リスケ works in casual conversations and in semi-formal business chat (Slack, LINE, quick emails between coworkers who know each other), and it's understood instantly by anyone who works in an office.

すみません、来週らいしゅうの打ち合うちあわせ、リスケできますか。 — Sorry, could we reschedule next week's meeting? (polite but casual, coworker to coworker)

打ち合うちあわせ ("meeting") is the object being rescheduled here, and リスケ attaches naturally to nearly any kind of appointment — a meeting, a lesson, a dinner plan — without needing to be spelled out further.

The formal version, without the loanword: 日程にっていを変更へんこうする

For more formal writing — outside clients, older colleagues, anything that should read as careful rather than breezy — 日程にっていを変更へんこうする ("to change the schedule") replaces リスケ entirely, since a casual English loanword can feel out of place in a formal register.

大変恐縮たいへんきょうしゅくですが、日程にっていを変更へんこうしていただくことは可能かのうでしょうか。 — I'm very sorry to ask, but would it be possible to change the schedule? (formal, business)

大変恐縮たいへんきょうしゅくですが ("I'm very sorry to trouble you") at the front and 可能かのうでしょうか ("would it be possible") at the end sandwich the request in cushioning language appropriate for a more distant or senior relationship, matching the register used across Japanese business vocabulary generally.

Beyond the basics

Proposing a new date, or asking for theirs

A reschedule request needs a second half. Either you propose specific alternatives, or you hand the choice to the other person — both are complete, natural ways to finish the sentence リスケ or 日程変更にっていへんこう started.

来週らいしゅうの水曜すいようか木曜もくようはいかがでしょうか。 — Would next Wednesday or Thursday work? (polite, proposing alternatives) ご都合つごうのよい日ひを教おしえていただけますか。 — Could you let me know a day that works for you? (polite, asking for their availability instead)

いかがでしょうか ("how would that be?") is a soft way to float a suggestion without pressuring agreement, while ご都合つごうのよい日ひ ("a day convenient for you") puts the scheduling burden explicitly on the other side when you genuinely have no preference yourself.

Giving a reason without over-explaining

As with most Japanese requests that inconvenience someone else, the reason for rescheduling can stay vague without seeming evasive — 都合つごうにより ("due to circumstances") is a standard, acceptable amount of detail.

都合つごうにより、来週らいしゅうの予定よていを変更へんこうさせていただきたく存ぞんじます。 — Due to circumstances on my end, I'd like to change next week's plan. (formal, vague reason on purpose)

させていただきたく存ぞんじます layers extra humility onto the request, appropriate when writing to someone senior or external — a heavier version of the plain お願ねがいできますか used with peers, in the same spirit as making a polite request more generally.

Confirming the new date, in writing

Once a new date is agreed, restating it clearly in writing avoids the exact kind of mix-up a reschedule is supposed to prevent.

では、来週らいしゅう水曜すいよう14時じに変更へんこうさせていただきます。ご確認かくにんのほどよろしくお願ねがいいたします。 — Then I'll change it to next Wednesday at 2pm. Please confirm this works. (polite, closing the loop in writing)

ご確認かくにんのほどよろしくお願ねがいいたします ("please kindly confirm this") is a standard closing line for exactly this purpose — it turns a proposed date into a state both people have explicitly agreed on, rather than leaving it to assumption. The same habit of naming a date applies to work deadlines, and asking for a deadline extension builds the request around 締め切しめきりを25日にちまで延のばしていただくことは可能かのうでしょうか.

The casual version, with friends: ずらす

Between friends, リスケ shrinks even further, often replaced by ずらす ("to shift, to move slightly"), which implies a small adjustment rather than a full do-over.

ごめん、来週らいしゅうの予定よてい、ちょっとずらしてもいい? — Sorry, can we shift next week's plan a bit? (casual, to a friend)

ずらす carries a lighter feel than リスケ or 日程変更にっていへんこう — appropriate for nudging a plan a day or two, rather than the more formal-sounding process implied by 変更へんこう in a business context.

Common mistakes

  • Using キャンセル when you actually want to reschedule. Saying キャンセルしたいです when a new date would solve the problem can lose the booking entirely rather than simply moving it — say 日程変更にっていへんこう or リスケ instead.
  • Asking to reschedule without proposing a date or asking for theirs. リスケできますか alone leaves the other person with nothing to act on; always attach a second half to the request.
  • Using リスケ in a very formal letter or email to an outside client. The casual loanword can feel too breezy in that register — 日程にっていを変更へんこうする is the safer, more neutral choice.
  • Not confirming the final agreed date in writing. Skipping ご確認かくにんのほどよろしくお願ねがいいたします risks the exact mix-up a reschedule request is trying to avoid.
  • Over-explaining the reason for rescheduling. A vague 都合つごうにより is normal and sufficient; a long, detailed justification isn't expected or necessary.

Reschedule phrases at a glance

Phrase Register Use it for
ちょっとずらしてもいい? Casual Friends, a small shift in timing
リスケできますか Casual/semi-formal Coworkers, quick business chat
日程にっていを変更へんこうしていただくことは可能かのうでしょうか Formal Outside clients, senior colleagues
〜はいかがでしょうか Any polite level Proposing a specific alternative date
ご都合つごうのよい日ひを教おしえていただけますか Any polite level Asking the other person to choose

FAQ

Is リスケ appropriate to use with clients, or only with coworkers? It's fine for casual or semi-formal business chat with people you already have a relaxed relationship with, but for outside clients or more formal correspondence, 日程にっていを変更へんこうする is the safer choice.

Do I need to explain why I'm rescheduling? Not in detail — 都合つごうにより ("due to circumstances") is a standard, acceptably vague reason. Over-explaining isn't expected and can feel unnecessary.

What's the difference between リスケ and キャンセル? リスケ keeps the appointment alive on a new date; キャンセル ends it entirely. Using the wrong one can mean losing a booking you only meant to move.

Should I propose a specific date, or ask the other person for theirs? Either is acceptable — propose specific dates with 〜はいかがでしょうか if you have preferences, or hand the choice over with ご都合つごうのよい日ひを教おしえていただけますか if you don't.

Is it necessary to confirm the new date afterward? Yes, especially in writing — restating the agreed date with a line like ご確認かくにんのほどよろしくお願ねがいいたします avoids exactly the kind of confusion a reschedule is meant to resolve.

Practice

1. "Sorry, could we reschedule next week's meeting?" (casual but polite, coworker to coworker)

Show answer

すみません、来週らいしゅうの打ち合うちあわせ、リスケできますか。 — リスケ is the everyday shorthand, understood instantly in office contexts.

2. "I'm very sorry to ask, but would it be possible to change the schedule?" (formal)

Show answer

大変恐縮たいへんきょうしゅくですが、日程にっていを変更へんこうしていただくことは可能かのうでしょうか。 — 日程にっていを変更へんこうする replaces the casual loanword for a more formal register.

3. "Would next Wednesday or Thursday work?"

Show answer

来週らいしゅうの水曜すいようか木曜もくようはいかがでしょうか。 — いかがでしょうか floats the suggestion softly, without pressuring agreement.

4. "Could you let me know a day that works for you?"

Show answer

ご都合つごうのよい日ひを教おしえていただけますか。 — This hands the scheduling choice to the other person when you have no preference yourself.

5. "Sorry, can we shift next week's plan a bit?" (casual, to a friend)

Show answer

ごめん、来週らいしゅうの予定よてい、ちょっとずらしてもいい? — ずらす implies a small shift, lighter than リスケ or 日程変更にっていへんこう.

6. Why does リスケできますか alone sound unfinished in Japanese?

Show answer

Because it needs a second half — either a proposed new date or a question about the other person's availability — or it gives them nothing to act on.

7. Fix this: キャンセルしたいです, said when you actually just want a different date, not to end the appointment.

Show answer

日程にっていを変更へんこうしていただくことは可能かのうでしょうか。 — キャンセル ends the appointment entirely; 日程変更にっていへんこう or リスケ keeps it alive on a new date.

8. What job does ご確認かくにんのほどよろしくお願ねがいいたします do after a new date is agreed?

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It confirms the agreed date explicitly in writing, avoiding the mix-up a reschedule request is supposed to prevent in the first place.

9. True or false: it's normal in Japanese to give a long, detailed reason when asking to reschedule.

Show answer

False. — A vague 都合つごうにより is standard and sufficient; over-explaining isn't expected.

10. Should you use リスケ in a formal email to an outside client?

Show answer

No — 日程にっていを変更へんこうする is safer; the casual loanword can feel too breezy for that more formal, distant relationship.

A bare リスケ is shorthand, not a request, so in a trial lesson, write and say the full version with a new date until it feels natural at work.

Vocabulary from this article

Tap the block to select all of it, then copy. In Anki: File → Import, note type Basic, separator Tab — the first column becomes the front, the second the back.

リスケ	りすけ — reschedule (casual/business shorthand)
日程	にってい — a schedule, itinerary
都合	つごう — circumstances, convenience
ずらす	ずらす — to shift, move slightly (casual)
変更	へんこう — a change
ご都合	ごつごう — your convenience (polite)
いかがでしょうか	いかがでしょうか — how would that be? (soft suggestion)
確認	かくにん — confirmation
打ち合わせ	うちあわせ — a meeting
恐縮	きょうしゅく — sorry to trouble you (formal)

I'm Yuuki, a Japanese teacher based in Tokyo. I've taught on italki as a Top 1% teacher and watched over 1,500 anime, and リスケ is one of those loanwords students hear constantly in real Japanese offices long before any textbook mentions it.

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Sources: the author's own lessons and standard reference grammars.

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