One thing I have noticed among my Japanese coworkers is that it seems that
they overuse the verb "confirm" when translating 確認する:

> テストを確認する ("confirm the tests")
>
> 彼と確認して欲しい ("[I want you to] confirm this with him")
>
> 確認方法 ("method of confirmation")
>
> ご確認の程よろしくお願いします。 ("Please confirm this.")

Or also advice like: "You should improve you confirmation skills". I am not a
native English speaker though, I think that "check" would sound more natural.
As in "check the tests", "please check with him", "how to check" etc...

Can somebody confirm this?
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2011-06-16T12:39:52.597
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2011-06-16T17:33:34.977
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translation
Shouldn't 確認する always be translated into "check"?
"check" is too vague a word to fit all instances, but "confirm" is also too
specific. I would substitute "validate" and other words in there as the
context fits, rewriting entire phrases if necessary.
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2011-06-16T12:43:56.153
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2011-06-16T12:43:56.153
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answer
As mentioned by [Ignacio and
Derek](https://japanese.stackexchange.com/questions/1244/shouldnt-always-be-
translated-into-check/1245#1245), there isn't a single translation for all
situations. It depends both on context and the desired tone.

"Confirm" works fine for most of your examples, it's just a little bit more
formal than "check". If you were trying to sound sophisticated you'd want to
use "confirm" or "validate", but if you were hanging out with a bunch of
teenagers, they would probably look at you funny.

To give you an idea on how a different translation can change the connotation
of the phrase:

> テストを確認する ("confirm the tests")

While any of the possible translations would be appropriate here, "confirm"
and "validate" sound more professional, as if scientists in lab coats were
performing an experiment. "Check" is general enough to apply to all situations
though.

> 彼と確認して欲しい ("[I want you to] confirm this with him")
>
> ご確認の程よろしくお願いします。 ("Please confirm this.")

Both of these I hear a lot in formal settings, like the office, a doctor's
office, or a fancy restaurant. I don't really hear "check" at those places
unless I know the other person.

> ご予約を確認してください ("Please confirm your appointment")

I think "confirm" is the only translation that would work in this case. When
the doctor's office or a hotel is calling to verify that I will show up for an
appointment, I've always heard them use "confirm" rather than "check". This is
probably because since I'm their customer, they want to be more polite and
more formal.

> 確認方法 ("method of confirmation")

This is the only one that sounds a little funny. As mentioned by Ignacio,
"Evaluation Method" would sound better.
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2011-06-16T17:33:34.977
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