日本語道場
Nihongo Dojo — N3 → N2
N2
~いただけますでしょうか
~itadakemasu deshou ka
could you possibly (do)
When to use it
Use this when making a request of a client, superior, or outside party and you want the softest, most deferential framing available — typical of business email, phone calls, and negotiation. It layers 〜ていただけますか (humble "could you give me the favor of") with でしょうか, which converts the direct question into a tentative inquiry, so the request reads as "might I possibly ask you to…". Strictly speaking ますでしょうか is criticised as 二重敬語, but it is thoroughly established in business register; in neutral or internal contexts 〜ていただけますか / 〜ていただけないでしょうか are enough.
Formation
Examples
I'm sorry to trouble you, but could you possibly check it by the end of today?
Could I possibly ask you to rearrange the meeting date again?
If it's not inconvenient, might we see the breakdown of the quote?
Could you possibly be a little more flexible on the delivery date?
Could you possibly report back to me on their response?