RSVP
An abbreviation of the French Répondez s'il vous plaît, a customary expression asking for a reply on whether you will attend an invitation.
RSVP is an abbreviation formed from the initials of the French “Répondez s'il vous plaît” (please reply), used on invitations and event notices to ask for a reply on whether you will attend. It originates in French social culture and is an expression used mainly in the English-speaking world in business and formal settings.
RSVP in business
In business settings, it is written in the form “RSVP by [date]” in meeting invitation emails, seminar notices, announcements of internal events, and so on. Stating the response deadline makes it easier for the organizer to know the number of attendees in advance and to move ahead with preparing the venue and materials. When to set the deadline varies with the nature of the invitation, and settings like those in the table below are given as examples.
| Situation | Example RSVP wording | Typical response deadline |
|---|---|---|
| Internal meeting | Please RSVP by Friday | 2-3 days before |
| Seminar / training | Kindly RSVP by [date] | 1 week before |
| Formal ceremony | RSVP: The favour of a reply is requested | 2-3 weeks before |
Equivalent expressions in Japanese
Japanese business emails rarely use RSVP as is; expressions such as “Please let us know whether you will attend” or “Please reply by [date]” are more common. However, RSVP is sometimes used as is at foreign-affiliated companies and in the context of international conferences. As the process of attendance confirmation, replies in Japan are made with reply postcards or web forms.
Points to note when using it
What the recipient of an RSVP should remember is the implication that “RSVP = always reply, whether attending or not.” The interpretation that no reply is needed because you will not attend departs from the original meaning and is considered rude in formal settings. Conversely, an invitation that says “Regrets only” means “reply only if you will not attend,” the opposite reply requirement from RSVP. When you receive an English invitation, be careful not to overlook the difference between these two.