Which one should you use?
In casual speech, 失礼な can be used as a standalone exclamation. For a more polite way to state that something is rude or to express "how rude!" in a formal setting, use 失礼です. If you wish to express that someone is extremely impolite, you can use the strong, formal expression 失礼極まりない. For informal situations, you might use the phrase 何様のつもりだ？ to question someone's self-perceived importance (meaning "Who do you think you are?") or the casual expression マジで失礼だよ！ among friends to say "Seriously, that's so rude!"
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
For polite or formal settings, use 失礼です. The expression 失礼極まりない is a strong, formal way to imply an outrageous degree of impoliteness, while 何様のつもりだ？ and マジで失礼だよ！ are informal.
How does it change in a sentence?
In casual speech, the phrase can be used as a standalone exclamation by simply saying the adjective form with a falling or sharp intonation.
How do you pronounce it?
shitsureina
Did you know?
- Unlike in English where 'How rude!' is often an outcry, in Japanese, expressing disapproval often involves a sudden silence or a sharp change in polite honorifics to signal offense.
- The expression 何様のつもりだ？ (nanisama no tsumori da?) is a powerful way to call someone rude by attacking their ego, effectively asking 'With what kind of deity do you think you are acting?'
- In a Japanese business setting, saying 失礼します (shitsurei shimasu) is actually a polite way to say 'Excuse me' when entering a room or hanging up a phone.
Examples in context
- 失礼なことを言うんですね。How rude of you to say such a thing.
- 失礼極まりない行為です！This is an outrageously impolite behavior!
- 何様のつもりだ？そんなこと言うなよ！Who do you think you are? Don't say things like that!
- マジで失礼だよ！そんなこと言うなよ！Seriously, that's so rude! Don't say things like that!
- なんて失礼な人なんだろう！Nante shitsureina hito nandarou!What a rude person!
Example conversation
Yui and Hiroto are talking about a clerk at a store.
- 結衣 Yui店員さんの態度がすごく失礼な。Ten'in-san no taido ga sugoku shitsureina.The clerk's attitude was so rude.
- 大翔 Hiroto本当だね。信じられないよ。Hontou da ne. Shinjirarenai yo.You're right. I can't believe it.
- 結衣 Yuiあんなに怒鳴るなんて失礼な！Anna ni donaru nante shitsureina!To yell like that, how rude!
- 大翔 Hirotoもうあのお店には行かないでおこう。Mou ano omise ni wa ikanaide okou.Let's not go to that shop anymore.
