politeLesson 98

Giving Feedback in Code Review — The whole team

Situation

Where
On a pull request
Who
You (reviewer) and a the whole team
Goal
To suggest a change kindly without sounding harsh.

Conversation

Show

A

I looked at the response. Overall I think it's good.

B

Thank you. Was there anything that concerned you?

A

This part might be more readable done this way. What do you think?

B

I see, you're right. I'll fix it.

A

Please do. Let me know once you've applied it.

Vocabulary (10)

haiken

to look (humble)

拝見しました = humble "I looked at it."

zentaitekini

overall

Frames a general impression.

kininaru

to be concerned about

気になる点 = "points of concern."

yomiyasui

easy to read

〜やすい attaches to a verb stem.

ikagadeshouka

how about it? (polite)

Invites the other's opinion politely.

shuusei

fix / correction

修正します = "I'll fix it."

han'ei

reflecting / applying

変更を反映する = to apply changes.

shiryou

materials / documents

資料を共有します = "I will share the materials."

shimekiri

deadline

締め切りはいつですか = "When is the deadline?"

shinchoku

progress

進捗はいかがですか = "How is the progress?"

Grammar

Verb ta-form + 方がいい

Suggests a better option: こうした方がいい = "better to do it this way."

Plain form + かもしれません

Softens to "might/maybe," making feedback gentle.

Verb ta-form + ら

When/if: 反映できたら = "once you've applied it."

Cultural Notes

Workplace etiquette

Japanese code review softens suggestions: 〜方がいいかもしれません + いかがでしょうか invites agreement rather than commanding.

Common mistake

Avoid blunt imperatives like 直して ("fix it"). They read as harsh even when technically correct.

Formality level

Polite. Praising first (全体的に良い) before suggesting changes is standard and keeps morale up.

Quiz

What does "拝見" mean?

What does "全体的に" mean?

What does "気になる" mean?

What does "読みやすい" mean?

What does "いかがでしょうか" mean?

What does "修正" mean?

How is the pattern "〜た方がいい" used?

How is the pattern "〜かもしれません" used?

How is the pattern "〜たら" used?

What is the goal of this conversation?

Flashcards

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